REU Site: New-Generation Power-Efficient Computer Systems Design

这个REU网站计划的目标是为本科生提供一个独特的培训机会，在新一代节能计算机系统设计的多学科领域进行研究。在高性能大规模多核芯片的设计中，功率和热量以及性能现在被认为是主要的限制因素。由于成本、性能、可靠性、可伸缩性和环境影响等原因，越来越多的功耗引起了人们的关注。更具体地说，如果没有降低能耗的整体方法，就无法实现百亿亿次计算的及时进步。拟议的REU计划促进了从应用层到中间件再到低级电路设计的互补、多层学科的研究和培训。由于与校园内的其他REU项目合作，参与的学生将有机会与来自全国各地的REU学生，许多教职员工和研究生进行互动。该计划的智力优势之一是，它将实现高质量的跨学科研究，将编译器和操作系统、片上网络（NoC）、计算机体系结构、并行和分布式计算、复杂网络、优化技术、数字通信和电路设计的思想联系起来，以解决基于多核计算机系统的功率和热效率问题。另一个智力上的优点是，该计划为本科生创造了机会，研究设计新一代节能多核架构的挑战。作为一个独特的特点，参与的学生通过计划访问合作伙伴行业和国家实验室，接触到可持续计算领域的研究和开发活动。该REU计划的更广泛影响包括：(1)为培养可持续计算机系统设计多学科主题培训的劳动力做出贡献；（二）从经济和生态的角度推进计算机节能技术的发现；(3)促进可持续计算的教与学。这种跨学科的努力对本科生来说是有价值的，因为他们接触到的研究思想将对环境的可持续性产生重大影响。

The goal of this REU Site program is to offer a unique training opportunity for undergraduates to conduct research in the multidisciplinary area of New-generation Power-efficient Computer Systems Design. In the design of high-performance massive multicore chips, power and heat, along with performance, are now considered as dominant constraints. The increasing power consumption is of growing concern due to several reasons, e.g., cost, performance, reliability, scalability, and environmental impact. More specifically, timely advances in exascale computing cannot be achieved without a holistic approach to reducing energy. The proposed REU program facilitates research and training in the complementary, multi-layered disciplines ranging from application layer to middleware to low level circuit design. Due to partnering with other REU programs on campus, the participating students will have opportunities to interact with a broad range of REU students from around the country, with many faculty members, and with graduate students. One of the intellectual merits of this program is that it will enable high quality interdisciplinary research that links ideas from compilers and OS, Network-on-Chip (NoC), computer architecture, parallel and distributed computing, complex networks, optimization techniques, digital communications, and circuit design to address power and thermal efficiency in multicore-based computer systems. Another intellectual merit is that the program creates opportunities for undergraduates to study challenges in designing new generation of power efficient multicore architectures. As a unique feature, the participating students are exposed to research and development activities in the sustainable computing area through planned visits to partner industries and a national lab. The broader impact of this REU program includes (1) making contributions to producing a workforce that is trained in the multidisciplinary topic of sustainable computer system design; (2) advancing discovery in energy savings in computers for economical and ecological reasons; and (3) promoting teaching and learning in sustainable computing. This interdisciplinary effort is valuable for undergraduate students as they are exposed to research ideas that will have a significant impact on environmental sustainability.