CPS:Small:Non-Volatile Computing for Embedded Cyber-Physical Systems

这项研究的目的是开发非易失性计算设备，允许随时切断电源，但在恢复供电时仍能恢复正常运行，而不会丢失信息。该方法是用非易失性单元替换所有关键的存储器组件，以便在电源中断时保持计算状态。新的闪存器件的进步使这种方法变得可行，使低电压编程/擦除(P/E)在±2V左右和长(预计1016)循环耐力被集成到CMOS工艺中。这项研究工作试图建立一种新的计算范例，其中非易失性存储单元被广泛使用来提高可靠性、抗电源不稳定性、能效和安全性。非易失性计算设备对于嵌入式网络物理系统特别有用，即使在不可靠的电源下也能实现长时间运行的计算和数据收集。通过该项目开发的技术还可以在传统体系结构的功耗优化和内部安全代码生成方面受益。该项目是计算机体系结构和CMOS技术开发小组之间的密切合作，将访问设计层次中的所有级别进行系统和技术评估。该项目通过开发横跨微处理器垂直设计层次的本科生和硕士课程，将其研究工作与教育相结合。这种垂直教育将更好地为未来的劳动力做好准备，以应对跨越多层微处理器的巨大设计挑战。该项目的成果将广泛提供给工业界和学术界。

The objective of this research is to develop non-volatile computing devices, which allow the power source to be cut off at any time, and yet resume regular operation without loss of information when the power comes back. The approach is to replace all critical memory components with non-volatile units so that computing state is maintained over power interruptions. The advancement in new Flash memory devices makes this approach feasible by enabling low-voltage program/erase (P/E) around ±2V and a long (projected 1016) cycling endurance to be integrated into CMOS technology.This research effort seeks to establish a new paradigm of computing where non-volatile memory units are used pervasively to enhance reliability against power source instability, energy-efficiency, and security. The non-volatile computing devices are especially useful for embedded cyber-physical systems enabling long running computations and data collection even with unreliable power sources. The technologies developed from this project can also benefit conventional architecture in its power optimization and internal security code generation. The project is a close collaboration between computer architecture and CMOS technology development groups, where all levels in the design hierarchy will be visited for system and technology evaluation.This project integrates its research efforts with education by developing an undergraduate and Master curriculum that spans over the vertical design hierarchy in microprocessors. This vertical education will better prepare future work force in tackling tremendous design challenges spanning many layers of microprocessors. The results from this project will be made widely available to both industry and academia.