CAREER: Centaur: A Bio-inspired Ultra Low-Power Hybrid Embedded Computing Engine Beyond One TeraFlops/Watt

这项研究的目的是创新一种名为？半人马?采用仿生计算模型和先进的忆阻器技术实现超高功率效率。为了解决主要的技术障碍，本文提出了三个组成要素：(1)结合基于记忆电阻的突触网络和交叉杆结构的节能混合计算系统，分别针对灵活和密集的数据处理。(2) Centaur的稳健设计方法，包括电路和算法增强以及必要的EDA流程。(3) Centaur与现代异构系统的集成及原型演示。通过充分利用Centaur的优势，包括模式识别和视频和图像处理，还将探索对当今移动和嵌入式系统至关重要的创造性应用。该研究可以通过计算架构和硬件设计在功能多样性，能效和成本方面的革命，使嵌入式系统社区受益。该结果可以通过刺激器件工程和计算模型之间的相互作用，进一步使半导体和神经形态社会受益。在与多个行业伙伴的密切合作下，开发的技术将转化为主流实践，并直接影响未来的嵌入式系统。合作的活动还包括在主要会议上就项目的技术方面和新课程的发展提供指导。该教育计划将通过整合新兴的基于忆阻器的计算架构和相关的神经形态计算模型的新模块来增强现有的标准课程。

The objective of the research is to innovate an embedded computing engine named ?Centaur? to achieve ultra-high power efficiency by adopting the bio-inspired computation model and the advanced memristor technology. Three constituent elements are included to address the major technical obstacles: (1) The power-efficient hybrid computing system that integrates memristor-based synapse network and crossbar structure, targeting the flexible and intensive data processing, respectively. (2) The robust design methodology for Centaur, including the circuit and algorithm enhancements as well as the necessary EDA flow. (3) The integration of Centaur into modern heterogeneous systems and the prototype demonstration. Creative applications of critical importance to nowadays mobile and embedded systems by taking the full advantages of Centaur, including pattern recognition and video and image processing, will be also explored.The research can benefit the embedded system community by the revolutions in computing architecture and hardware design for functional variety, power-efficiency, and cost. The results can further benefit the semiconductor and neuromorphic societies at large by stimulating the interaction between the advances in device engineering and computing models. The developed techniques will be transferred to mainstream practices under the close collaborations with several industry partners, and directly impact the future embedded systems. The activities in the collaboration also include the tutorials in the major conferences on the technical aspects of the projects and new course development. The educational plan will enhance the existing standard curricula by integrating new modules on emerging memristor-based computing architecture and the relevant neuromorphic computing model.