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

本研究的目标是开发非易失性计算设备，这种设备可以在任何时候切断电源，但在电源恢复后仍能正常运行而不丢失信息。该方法是用非易失性单元替换所有关键内存组件，以便在电源中断时保持计算状态。新型闪存器件的进步使得这种方法可行，可以将±2V左右的低电压程序/擦除（P/E）和长周期（预计为1016）集成到CMOS技术中。这项研究旨在建立一种新的计算范式，在这种范式中，非易失性存储单元被广泛使用，以提高电源不稳定、能源效率和安全性的可靠性。非易失性计算设备对于嵌入式网络物理系统特别有用，即使在电源不可靠的情况下也能实现长时间运行的计算和数据收集。该项目开发的技术也可以使传统架构在功率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，将访问设计层次的所有级别以进行系统和技术评估。该项目通过开发跨越微处理器垂直设计层次的本科和硕士课程，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.