Simulating next-generation cyber-physical computing platforms [REPRINT]

In specific domains, such as cyber-physical systems, platforms are quickly evolving to include multiple (many-) cores and programmable logic in a single system-on-chip, while including interfaces to commodity sensors/actuators. Programmable Logic (e.g., FPGA) allows for greater flexibility and dependability. However, the task of extracting the performance/watt potential of heterogeneous many-cores is often demanded at the application level, and this has strong implication on the HW/SW co-design process. Enabling fast prototyping of a board being designed is paramount to enable low time-to-market for applications running on it, and ultimately, for the whole platform: programmers must be provided with accurate hardware models, to support the software development cycle at the very early stages of the design process. Virtual platforms fulfill this need, providing that they can be in turn efficiently developed and tested in a few months timespan. In this position paper we will share our experience in the sphere of the AXIOM project, identifying key properties that virtual platforms modeling next-generation cyber-physical systems should have to quickly enable simulation-based software development for a these platforms

Simulating next-generation cyber-physical computing platforms

In specific domains, such as cyber-physical systems, platforms are quickly evolving to include multiple (many-) cores and programmable logic in a single system-on-chip, while including interfaces to commodity sensors/actuators. Programmable Logic (e.g., FPGA) allows for greater flexibility and dependability. However, the task of extracting the performance/watt potential of heterogeneous many-cores is often demanded at the application level, and this has strong implication on the HW/SW co-design process. Enabling fast prototyping of a board being designed is paramount to enable low time-to-market for applications running on it, and ultimately, for the whole platform: programmers must be provided with accurate hardware models, to support the software development cycle at the very early stages of the design process. Virtual platforms fulfill this need, providing that they can be in turn efficiently developed and tested in a few months timespan. In this position paper we will share our experience in the sphere of the AXIOM project, identifying key properties that virtual platforms modeling next-generation cyber-physical systems should have to quickly enable simulation-based software development for a these platforms

The AXIOM project (Agile, eXtensible, fast I/O Module)

The AXIOM project (Agile, eXtensible, fast I/O Module) aims at researching new software/hardware architectures for the future Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). These systems are expected to react in real-time, provide enough computational power for the assigned tasks, consume the least possible energy for such task (energy efficiency), scale up through modularity, allow for an easy programmability across performance scaling, and exploit at best existing standards at minimal costs

Program of Research and Development on the THORIUM UTILIZATION IN PWRS : Final Report (1979-1988)

Detailed investigations performed for a standard 1,300 MW$_{e}$ PWR show that (Th,U)O$_{2}$ and (Th,Pu)O$_{2}$ fuels can be inserted in 3 and 4 cycle operating schemes without modifications in the fuel assembly or core design. The most important aspects of the fuel cycle have been covered. Ex-gel pelletizing of (Th,U)O$_{2}$ fuel making use of available LWR and HTR fuel manufacturing technology was demonstrated. The most promising applicationfor Th-based fuels at present was proved to be the use of recycle plutonium in extended burnup once-through fuel cycle. The program was performed in a cooperative way between Brazilian and German partners

Towards EXtreme scale technologies and accelerators for euROhpc hw/Sw supercomputing applications for exascale: The TEXTAROSSA approach

In the near future, Exascale systems will need to bridge three technology gaps to achieve high performance while remaining under tight power constraints: energy efficiency and thermal control; extreme computation efficiency via HW acceleration and new arithmetic; methods and tools for seamless integration of reconfigurable accelerators in heterogeneous HPC multi-node platforms. TEXTAROSSA addresses these gaps through a co-design approach to heterogeneous HPC solutions, supported by the integration and extension of HW and SW IPs, programming models, and tools derived from European research