FLAP-0 is the first AI-native CubeSat development kit. It is a modular platform designed to make space research and innovation more accessible. Powered by an Altera Agilex field-programmable gate array, FLAP-0 combines on-board AI acceleration, PCIe/104 expansion, and Ethernet networking in a CubeSat-compatible form factor.

Unlike most CubeSat kits, which stop at education or hobby use, FLAP-0 spans the full path: from classrooms and research labs to mission-ready flight stacks , all at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional solutions. And in order to meet more needs, FLAP-0 has been designed to be made available in three different versions meant for everyone from curious students to those ready to plan their next mission.

Learn and Launch

FLAP-0 is designed for the full spectrum of space innovation. Educators can bring real-world CubeSat design into the classroom with hands-on labs. Researchers can rapidly prototype ML- and AI-accelerated payloads, FPGA workflows, and networking experiments. Builders and innovators can reduce costs and risks by using FLAP-0 as a bridge from prototyping to orbit-ready missions.

Engineering sample of the FLAP-0 frame

In other words, FLAP-0 is the missing link between academic learning, research exploration, and real CubeSat deployment. From on-orbit image filtering to hyperspectral anomaly detection, the powerful Altera FPGA can make your data better. Plus, the ability to upload new bitstreams enables a high degree of flexibility when on-orbit, so when mission goals evolve your satellite can adapt to meet the challenge.

Features & Specifications

• Powered by Altera Agilex 3, 5, and 7 FPGAs with AI acceleration
• Uses the Altera Nios V integrated softcore as its control plane processor
• PCIe/104 stackable expansion interface
• On-board Ethernet networking
• Designed for CubeSat form factor compatibility

Firmware

• Compatible with NASA F’ flight software framework
• Includes FPGA reference designs for AI inference
• Supports rapid prototyping of payload workflows

Variations

Open Source

FLAP-0 is built to be open and extensible. Hardware schematics, board layouts, and 3D-printing designs will be released under permissive licenses to encourage community contributions. Firmware and software, including FPGA reference designs and AI model examples, will be published on GitHub.

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