CPS: Synergy: Collaborative Research: Hybrid Continuous-Discrete Computers for Cyber-Physical Systems

CPS：协同：协作研究：用于网络物理系统的混合连续离散计算机

• 批准号: 1239136
• 负责人: Michael Bryant
• 金额: $ 21万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-10-01 至 2017-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1239136&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CPS; Synergy; Collaborative; Research; Hybrid

This research aims at hybrid (discrete-continuous) computation for cyber-physical systems. The research augments the today-ubiquitous discrete (digital) model of computation with continuous (analog) computing, which is well-suited to the continuous natural variables involved in cyber-physical systems, and to the error-tolerant nature of computation in such systems. The result is a computing platform on a single silicon chip, with higher energy efficiency, higher speed, and better numerical convergence than is possible with purely discrete computation. The research has several thrusts: (1) Hardware: modern silicon chip technology is used to merge analog computing hardware on the same chip with digital hardware, the latter used for control and co-computation, (2) Architecture: methods are devised for making hybrid computing functionality accessible to the software, (3) Microarchitecture: Choices are made on the granularity, type and organization of analog and hybrid analog-digital functional units, and (4) Concrete application to a realistic cyber-physical system consisting of a team of robots. The research extends modern computer architecture techniques, and advances in mixed analog/digital chip technology mainly developed in the context of communications, to hybrid computing for cyber-physical systems. It brings higher levels of energy efficiency to error-tolerant workloads that future computers will have to handle. The techniques developed can be extended to other systems in which efficient computation is a must, such as weather forecasting and high-energy physics. The work integrates research with education and includes plans for broad dissemination of the results obtained.

这项研究旨在用于网络物理系统的混合（离散连续）计算。该研究增强了通过连续（模拟）计算的当今统一的离散（数字）计算模型，该模型非常适合于网络物理系统涉及的连续自然变量，以及此类系统中计算的误差性质。结果是在单个硅芯片上的计算平台，具有较高的能量效率，更高的速度和更好的数值收敛性，而不是纯粹的离散计算。该研究具有多个推力：（1）硬件：现代硅芯片技术用于合并同一芯片上的模拟计算硬件与数字硬件，后者用于控制和共同计算，（2）架构：设计用于制造方法来制作方法软件可访问的混合计算功能，（3）微结构：选择模拟和混合模拟数字功能单元的粒度，类型和组织，以及（4）由一个由团队组成的现实网络物理系统的具体应用机器人。该研究将现代计算机架构技术扩展到主要在通信背景下开发的混合模拟/数字芯片技术的进步，即用于网络物理系统的混合计算。它带来了更高水平的能源效率，以使未来计算机必须处理的更容易耐受的工作负载。开发的技术可以扩展到有效计算的其他系统，例如天气预报和高能物理。这项工作将研究与教育融为一体，并包括广泛传播所获得结果的计划。