Designing Adaptive Systems with Run-Time Reconfigurable Architectures

Purpose and goal

Run-time reconfigurable FPGAs combine the flexibility of software with the efficiency of hardware. However, its huge potential remains largely untapped due to the lack of supporting design methodologies.The main goal of this project is to conduct a pre-study aiming to develop the basis for a systematic design flow for dynamic adaptive real-time systems based on run-time reconfigurable architectures. The project covers the main parts of the design flow including application model, platform model, design space exploration, and synthesis.

Expected effects and result

The project will focus on the conceptual analysis, the definition of relevant use-cases and a state-of-the-art survey. The project takes the first important step towards a conceptually sound and tool-supported design methodology for adaptive systems that enables safe dynamic overall service capability in a multiple platform and multi-functionality perspective. If successful, a three-year follow-up project will be defined to continue the research and develop tool support to demonstrate the underlying concepts.

Planned approach and implementation

The project consortium consists of three partners, Saab, KTH, and ITA (Brazil). The universities will research the underlying foundations of the methodology in close contact with Saab, which defines future needs, provides industrial experience, and ensures the industrial relevance of the project. The project will exploit available models and tools of the ForSyDe design methodology framework, which largely have been derived as part of the previous NFFP7 research projects CORRECT and TRANSFORM, and the ITEA3 project PANORAMA.