Seamless Design Of Smart Edge Processors

随着深度学习(DL)的兴起，我们的世界为每一个边缘设备中的人工智能(AI)做好了准备，创造了对边缘AI处理硬件的迫切需求。与现有解决方案不同，该硬件需要在极短的上市时间内以超低功耗(ULP)支持高吞吐量、可靠和安全的AI处理。凭借其在EDGE解决方案和开放处理平台方面的强大遗产，欧盟处于理想地位，有望成为这一EDGE-AI市场的领导者。然而，某些障碍阻碍了欧盟承担这一领导角色：边缘处理器需要提高100倍的能效；其复杂性要求自动化设计，设计时间减少10倍；它们必须安全可靠才能被接受；最后，它们应该灵活而强大，以支持DL域。CONVOLVE解决了这些障碍，从而使欧盟在Edge-AI领域处于领先地位。为此，它将采取整体方法，在所有设计堆栈级别进行创新，包括：1.用于存储器中计算的ULP记忆电路2.片上系统(SoC)的快速组成设计3.支持自动代码优化和领域特定语言的透明编译器4.通过动态神经网络、基于事件的执行和稀疏性重新思考DL模型5.边缘持续学习，以提高准确性、自我修复和对非静态环境的可靠适应6.支持实时安全执行的SoC中的整体集成保证了CONVOLVE联盟包括一些欧洲最强大的研究小组和行业，覆盖整个设计堆栈和价值链。在社区的努力下，我们将在现实生活中的视觉和音频领域展示Edge-AI计算。通过将这些创新的ULP和FAST设计解决方案相结合，CONVOLVE将首次实现可靠、智能和节能的EDGE-AI设备，并以快速的上市时间和低成本，从而为欧盟在边缘处理领域的领先地位开辟道路。

With the rise of deep learning (DL), our world braces for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in every edge device, creating an urgent need for edge AI processing hardware. Unlike existing solutions, this hardware needs to support high throughput, reliable, and secure AI processing at ultra-low power (ULP), with a very short time to market. With its strong legacy in edge solutions and open processing platforms, the EU is ideally positioned to become the leader in this edge-AI market. However, certain roadblocks keep the EU from assuming this leadership role: Edge processors need to become 100x more energy efficient; Their complexity demands automated design with 10x design time reduction; They must be secure and reliable to get accepted; Finally, they should be flexible and powerful to support the DL domain. CONVOLVE addresses these roadblocks and thereby enables EU leadership in Edge-AI. To that end, it will take a holistic approach with innovations at all design stack levels, including: 1.ULP memristive circuits for computation-in-memory 2.Fast compositional design of System-on-Chips (SoC) 3.Transparent compilers supporting automated code optimizations and domain-specific languages 4.Rethinking DL models through dynamic neural networks, event-based execution, and sparsity 5.On-edge continuous learning for improved accuracy, self-healing, and reliable adaptation to non-stationary environments 6.Holistic integration in SoCs supporting secure execution with real time guarantees The CONVOLVE consortium includes some of Europe's strongest research groups and industries, covering the whole design stack and value chain. In a community effort, we will demonstrate Edge-AI computing in real-life vision and audio domains. By combining these innovative ULP and fast design solutions, CONVOLVE will, for the first time, enable reliable, smart, and energy efficient edge-AI devices at a rapid time-to-market and low cost, and as such open the road for EU leadership in edge-processing.