High Performance Embedded Computing Using Field Programmable Gate Arrays

Over the last decade, the performance capabilities of FPGAs have increased exponentially. Leading vendors such as Xilinx and Altera have improved the functionality of their reconfigurable devices through the inclusion of memory, processors, multi-gigabit transceivers, and multipliers to the basic FPGA architecture. The result is a flexible, high performance processing device able to perform low latency, parallel processing tasks with low power consumption. In order to exploit the obvious benefits of FPGA technology in embedded systems, Nallatech has developed a range of FPGA-centric COTS products based upon the company's modular DIME-II architecture capable of TeraOPS performance. Customers using Nallatech products such as the BenNUEY-PC104+ are able to harness the full capability of advanced Virtex-II and Virtex-II Pro Xilinx FPGAs. With a range of motherboard form factors including PC104plus, VME, PCI and cPCI and a catalogue of plug and play DIME-II modules, embedded system developers can quickly build a flexible, high performance processing system tailored to the requirements of a specific application.

Explore the complete process of developing systems based on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), including the design of electronic circuits and the construction and debugging of prototype embedded devices Key FeaturesLearn the basics of embedded systems and real-time operating systemsUnderstand how FPGAs implement processing algorithms in hardwareDesign, construct, and debug custom digital systems from scratch using KiCadBook Description Modern digital devices used in homes, cars, and wearables contain highly sophisticated computing capabilities composed of embedded systems that generate, receive, and process digital data streams at rates up to multiple gigabits per second. This book will show you how to use Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and high-speed digital circuit design to create your own cutting-edge digital systems. Architecting High-Performance Embedded Systems takes you through the fundamental concepts of embedded systems, including real-time operation and the Internet of Things (IoT), and the architecture and capabilities of the latest generation of FPGAs. Using powerful free tools for FPGA design and electronic circuit design, you'll learn how to design, build, test, and debug high-performance FPGA-based IoT devices. The book will also help you get up to speed with embedded system design, circuit design, hardware construction, firmware development, and debugging to produce a high-performance embedded device – a network-based digital oscilloscope. You'll explore techniques such as designing four-layer printed circuit boards with high-speed differential signal pairs and assembling the board using surface-mount components. By the end of the book, you'll have a solid understanding of the concepts underlying embedded systems and FPGAs and will be able to design and construct your own sophisticated digital devices. What you will learnUnderstand the fundamentals of real-time embedded systems and sensorsDiscover the capabilities of FPGAs and how to use FPGA development toolsLearn the principles of digital circuit design and PCB layout with KiCadConstruct high-speed circuit board prototypes at low costDesign and develop high-performance algorithms for FPGAsDevelop robust, reliable, and efficient firmware in CThoroughly test and debug embedded device hardware and firmwareWho this book is for This book is for software developers, IoT engineers, and anyone who wants to understand the process of developing high-performance embedded systems. You'll also find this book useful if you want to learn about the fundamentals of FPGA development and all aspects of firmware development in C and C++. Familiarity with the C language, digital circuits, and electronic soldering is necessary to get started.

Over the past several decades, applications permeated by advances in digital signal processing have undergone unprecedented growth in capabilities. The editors and authors of High Performance Embedded Computing Handbook: A Systems Perspective have been significant contributors to this field, and the principles and techniques presented in the handbook are reinforced by examples drawn from their work. The chapters cover system components found in today’s HPEC systems by addressing design trade-offs, implementation options, and techniques of the trade, then solidifying the concepts with specific HPEC system examples. This approach provides a more valuable learning tool, Because readers learn about these subject areas through factual implementation cases drawn from the contributing authors’ own experiences. Discussions include: Key subsystems and components Computational characteristics of high performance embedded algorithms and applications Front-end real-time processor technologies such as analog-to-digital conversion, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, and intellectual property–based design Programmable HPEC systems technology, including interconnection fabrics, parallel and distributed processing, performance metrics and software architecture, and automatic code parallelization and optimization Examples of complex HPEC systems representative of actual prototype developments Application examples, including radar, communications, electro-optical, and sonar applications The handbook is organized around a canonical framework that helps readers navigate through the chapters, and it concludes with a discussion of future trends in HPEC systems. The material is covered at a level suitable for practicing engineers and HPEC computational practitioners and is easily adaptable to their own implementation requirements.

"Introduction to Embedded System Design Using Field Programmable Gate Arrays" provides a starting point for the use of field programmable gate arrays in the design of embedded systems. The text considers a hypothetical robot controller as an embedded application and weaves around it related concepts of FPGA-based digital design. The book details: use of FPGA vis-à-vis general purpose processor and microcontroller; design using Verilog hardware description language; digital design synthesis using Verilog and Xilinx® SpartanTM 3 FPGA; FPGA-based embedded processors and peripherals; overview of serial data communications and signal conditioning using FPGA; FPGA-based motor drive controllers; and prototyping digital systems using FPGA. The book is a good introductory text for FPGA-based design for both students and digital systems designers. Its end-of-chapter exercises and frequent use of example can be used for teaching or for self-study.

This book presents the methodologies and for embedded systems design, using field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices, for the most modern applications. Coverage includes state-of-the-art research from academia and industry on a wide range of topics, including applications, advanced electronic design automation (EDA), novel system architectures, embedded processors, arithmetic, and dynamic reconfiguration.

Over the past several years, embedded systems have emerged as an integral though unseen part of many consumer, industrial, and military devices. The explosive growth of these systems has resulted in embedded computing becoming an increasingly important discipline. The need for designers of high-performance, application-specific computing systems has never been greater, and many universities and colleges in the US and worldwide are now developing advanced courses to help prepare their students for careers in embedded computing.High-Performance Embedded Computing: Architectures, Applications, and Methodologies is the first book designed to address the needs of advanced students and industry professionals. Focusing on the unique complexities of embedded system design, the book provides a detailed look at advanced topics in the field, including multiprocessors, VLIW and superscalar architectures, and power consumption. Fundamental challenges in embedded computing are described, together with design methodologies and models of computation. HPEC provides an in-depth and advanced treatment of all the components of embedded systems, with discussions of the current developments in the field and numerous examples of real-world applications. Covers advanced topics in embedded computing, including multiprocessors, VLIW and superscalar architectures, and power consumption Provides in-depth coverage of networks, reconfigurable systems, hardware-software co-design, security, and program analysis Includes examples of many real-world embedded computing applications (cell phones, printers, digital video) and architectures (the Freescale Starcore, TI OMAP multiprocessor, the TI C5000 and C6000 series, and others)

Embedded Computing for High Performance: Design Exploration and Customization Using High-level Compilation and Synthesis Tools provides a set of real-life example implementations that migrate traditional desktop systems to embedded systems. Working with popular hardware, including Xilinx and ARM, the book offers a comprehensive description of techniques for mapping computations expressed in programming languages such as C or MATLAB to high-performance embedded architectures consisting of multiple CPUs, GPUs, and reconfigurable hardware (FPGAs). The authors demonstrate a domain-specific language (LARA) that facilitates retargeting to multiple computing systems using the same source code. In this way, users can decouple original application code from transformed code and enhance productivity and program portability. After reading this book, engineers will understand the processes, methodologies, and best practices needed for the development of applications for high-performance embedded computing systems. Focuses on maximizing performance while managing energy consumption in embedded systems Explains how to retarget code for heterogeneous systems with GPUs and FPGAs Demonstrates a domain-specific language that facilitates migrating and retargeting existing applications to modern systems Includes downloadable slides, tools, and tutorials

Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technologies have increased in popularity in recent years due to their adaptability and high computing potential. Further research in this area illustrates the potential for further advancements and applications of this useful technology. Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Technologies for High Performance Instrumentation presents experimental and theoretical research on FPGA-based design and the development of virtual scientific instrumentation that can be used by a broad segment of scientists across a variety of research fields. Focusing on crucial innovations and algorithms for signal processing, data acquisition mechanisms, FPGA-based hardware design, and parallel computing, this publication is a critical resource for researchers, development engineers, and graduate-level students.

Reconfigurable Computing marks a revolutionary and hot topic that bridges the gap between the separate worlds of hardware and software design— the key feature of reconfigurable computing is its groundbreaking ability to perform computations in hardware to increase performance while retaining the flexibility of a software solution. Reconfigurable computers serve as affordable, fast, and accurate tools for developing designs ranging from single chip architectures to multi-chip and embedded systems. Scott Hauck and Andre DeHon have assembled a group of the key experts in the fields of both hardware and software computing to provide an introduction to the entire range of issues relating to reconfigurable computing. FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) act as the “computing vehicles to implement this powerful technology. Readers will be guided into adopting a completely new way of handling existing design concerns and be able to make use of the vast opportunities possible with reconfigurable logic in this rapidly evolving field. Designed for both hardware and software programmers Views of reconfigurable programming beyond standard programming languages Broad set of case studies demonstrating how to use FPGAs in novel and efficient ways

Over the past several decades, applications permeated by advances in digital signal processing have undergone unprecedented growth in capabilities. The editors and authors of High Performance Embedded Computing Handbook: A Systems Perspective have been significant contributors to this field, and the principles and techniques presented in the handbook are reinforced by examples drawn from their work. The chapters cover system components found in today’s HPEC systems by addressing design trade-offs, implementation options, and techniques of the trade, then solidifying the concepts with specific HPEC system examples. This approach provides a more valuable learning tool, Because readers learn about these subject areas through factual implementation cases drawn from the contributing authors’ own experiences. Discussions include: Key subsystems and components Computational characteristics of high performance embedded algorithms and applications Front-end real-time processor technologies such as analog-to-digital conversion, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, and intellectual property–based design Programmable HPEC systems technology, including interconnection fabrics, parallel and distributed processing, performance metrics and software architecture, and automatic code parallelization and optimization Examples of complex HPEC systems representative of actual prototype developments Application examples, including radar, communications, electro-optical, and sonar applications The handbook is organized around a canonical framework that helps readers navigate through the chapters, and it concludes with a discussion of future trends in HPEC systems. The material is covered at a level suitable for practicing engineers and HPEC computational practitioners and is easily adaptable to their own implementation requirements.