Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems Paul Havinga University of Twente

Embedded Systems Distributed and Embedded Systems Computer Architecture, Design & Test for Embedded Systems DIESCADTES CADTES Bert Molenkamp DIES Hans Scholten Studieadviseurs

Embedded Systems everywhere Audio and video signal processors Control of machines Watches Medical equipment Cars (motor control, airbag, ABS, traction control) Communication (GSM/UMTS) % of all computers are embedded computers!

… trends …. Bus interface Shared bus PCI / USB Device 1Device 2 CPU Device N

CADTES courses Computer Architecture (with DIES) Computer Organization Digital Design Ubiquitous Computing (With DIES) Hardware/software co-design Fault tolerant digital systems Design of Digital Systems

CADTES research themes Efficient architectures –low-power, high-performance –Reconfigurable architectures Design methods for embedded systems –Transformational design –retargetable code-generation Ubiquitous computing –sensor networks, self-organizing wireless networks, dependability –Personal networks –Mobile computing

Computer Architecture CADTES Research fields Distributed computing Mobile computing CADTES Autonomous Energy efficient Mobility Wireless Ad-hoc routing Robustness Security Co-operation Communication Dependable systems Reconfigurable Energy efficient System-on-Chip HW/SW co-design

Marc Weiser’s vision Desktop computer replaced with embedded computing in physical objects Small and invisible Enhance original functionality of physical objects People would do their work assisted by computer technology, but without having to focus on the computers

Away from the “average device” Powerful, personal capabilities from specialized devices –small, highly mobile or embedded in the environment Intelligence + immense storage and processing in the infrastructure Everything connected Laptops, Desktops Devices

Reconfigurable computing

Technology Changes & Architectural Implications Zillions of Tiny Devices –Proliferation of information appliances, MEMS, etc. “Of course it’s connected!” –Cheap, ample bandwidth –“Always on” networking Vast (Technical) Capacity –Scalable computing in the infrastructure –Rapid decline in processing, memory, & storage cost Adaptive Self-Configuration Loosely Organized “Good Enough” Reliabilty and Availability Any-to-Any Transducers (dealing with heterogeneity, over time--legacy--and space) Communities (sharing)

Emerging Application Paradigms Ubiquitous Computing Smart Spaces Sensor Networks Active Badges and Tags Home Networking, e-everything Information Appliances Wearables...

Deeply Networked Systems “Everything” is networked –Even very small things like sensors and actuators –Explosion in the number of connected end devices Processing moves towards the network edges –Protocol stack plus some ability to execute mobile code in network end devices Processing moves towards the network core –Services executing inside the network

Sensor networks – the vision Network these devices so that they can coordinate to perform higher-level tasks. Requires robust distributed systems of hundreds or thousands of devices. Embed numerous distributed devices to monitor and interact with physical world Exploit spatially and temporally dense, in situ, sensing and actuation

Call to Architecture Technology exists (or will soon) to realize grand visions of where computing can go What’s missing? Architecture Framework that realizes the application vision from emerging technology –systematic application of design methods

Current projects (and thus potential assignments !) Reconfigurable Computing –Chameleon, Gecko, AWGN (chameleon.ctit.utwente.nl)chameleon.ctit.utwente.nl –focus on efficient architectures for mobile and wireless devices Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing –EYES: European project on Energy Efficient Sensor Networks ( –Consensus: collaborative sensor networks –Seamless Services for heterogeneous wireless systems –BigBAN: Body and personal area networks

More information Reconfigurable computing –G.J.M. Smit: Ubiquitous computing –P.J.M. Havinga: