Reliable digital systems in radiation-heavy environments

Reliable digital systems in radiation-heavy environments ELECTRONICS are increasingly central to how complex systems are designed and operated. Across industries, there is a clear shift toward digital architectures that enable higher precision, standardisation, better data handling, and more flexible system design. In environments exposed to radiation, this evolution comes with additional constraints. Electronics must maintain performance and reliability under conditions that can degrade or disrupt conventional components. Historically, this has led to system designs built around protection, redundancy, and separation of functions. This typically leads to over-engineered systems. As applications demand more integration and performance, there is a growing opportunity to rethink how electronics are implemented in these environments. Nuclear and space systems: From constraint to capability. In both nuclear and space sectors, systems are becoming more data-driven, more automated, and more precise. In nuclear environments, this is visible in inspection, monitoring, and decommissioning activities. Systems are expected to capture and process more information, operate remotely, and function reliably over extended periods. The ability to deploy compact, robust electronic systems directly in high-radiation areas opens up new possibilities for how these operations are conducted. In space, similar dynamics apply. Applications such as Earth observation, communication, and scientific instrumentation require precise timing, synchronisation, and sensing capabilities.