Open-source Design Tool Research Articles

RECO-ASCON: Reconfigurable ASCON hash functions for IoT applications

The need for reconfigurable lightweight cryptographic processors with low power consumption for securing the Internet of Things (IoT) with adaptive functionalities is getting attracted due to security properties, such as data fidelity, provenance, and privacy concerns. This paper presents RECO-ASCON, a reconfigurable security processor that supports both cryptographic Hash and Hasha ASCON algorithms. The proposed design is implemented in Chisel hardware construction language, an open-source hardware library. It has been evaluated in various hardware platforms such as FPGAs, embedded systems and ASICs with various technology nodes and design flows. In the PYNQ-Z1 board, RECO-ASCON can be mapped to five processors in total with a Micro-Blaze soft-core processor for streaming data to all of them while running at 200MHz without producing any timing violations. Moreover, mapping the proposed RECO-ASCON processor on the Nexsys4-DDR Xilinx Kit (ARTIX-7 chip) would cost ∼ two times fewer resources and run 1.25 × faster than the existing implementation of just one of the ASCON hash functions on the same family of the chip. We implement the proposed processor in 28 nm industry technology with commercial design flow, it achieves a maximum frequency of 1.12 GHz while achieving highest energy efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art implementations. The total area is only 9170.82um2 in 28 nm. To further evaluate the design, we also implement it with all open-source design tools and process technology libraries in 45 nm, it achieves 1 GHz maximum frequency and consumes only 18225um2 in 45 nm. Overall, the proposed reconfigurable processor is compact and more energy efficient, making it a perfect candidate to be deployed in wide range of IoT systems.

Constrained Form-Finding of Tension–Compression Structures using Automatic Differentiation

This paper proposes a computational approach to form-find pin-jointed bar structures subjected to combinations of tension and compression forces. The generated equilibrium states can meet additional structural and geometrical constraints via gradient-based optimization. We achieve this by extending the combinatorial equilibrium modeling (CEM) framework in three important ways. First, we introduce a new topological object, the auxiliary trail, to expand the range of structures that can be form-found with the framework. Then, we leverage automatic differentiation (AD) to obtain an exact value of the gradient of the sequential and iterative calculations of the CEM form-finding algorithm, instead of a numerical approximation. Finally, we encapsulate our research developments into an open-source design tool written in Python that is usable across different CAD platforms and operating systems. After studying four different structures –a self-stressed tensegrity, a tree canopy, a curved bridge, and a spiral staircase– we demonstrate that our approach enables the solution of constrained form-finding problems on a diverse range of structures more efficiently than in previous work. • A computational form-finding method is extended to enhance the form generation of spatial structures in static equilibrium subjected to tension and compression forces. The output forms can satisfy combinations of force and geometric constraints via gradient-based optimization. • A new topological modeling object, the auxiliary trail, is presented which simplifies the representation of a structure as a valid input to the method herein extended. • Automatic differentiation (AD) is leveraged to obtain an exact value of the gradient of a sequential and iterative form-finding algorithm with marginal human intervention. The application of AD leads to significant computational performance gains, especially when solving large constrained form-finding problems. • A standalone, open-source design tool is developed which enables the formulation and the solution of constrained form-finding problems in plain and simple Python code. The design tool is readily usable on three different operating systems and on three distinct 3D modeling software environments.

Effects of impulsive loading and deformation damage on reinforced concrete slabs during building construction

The effects of impulsive loading and deformation damage in reinforced concrete slabs were observed for analyzing the under-construction buildings for specific period of time. To fully harvest the structural capacity of building under constrcution with reinforced slabs sections exposed to combined actions, it is necessary to leave behind the simplicity of treating the verification of structural adequacy for normal stresses separately from that of shear stresses and instead fully exploit the advantages of choosing more efficient stress distributions. By exploring the vast possibilities of other statically admissible systems using optimization routines for deformation damage reduced to 20% from 80% in the work, the longitudinal reinforcement near the neutral axis in reinforced concrete can be utilized much more efficiently. In addition, by adhering to the interdependency constraints between normal and shear stresses in reinforced concrete a much more precise picture of the actual service stress state can be determined for impulsive loading and deformation damage where the maximum deformation and impulsive loading on RC-slab were observed at strain 91s≤t≤97s on RC-slab in the total simulation steps from 0s to 398s. There is therefore a need for a one- step, automated design tool capable of addressing such verifications holistically which was performed in the simulation of this study using Matlab R2019b. In this paper the theoretical basis and a free to use open-source design tool is presented, allowing for easy access to highly optimized designs capable of observing the impulsive loading and deformation damage on reinforced concrete materials to their limits

Landscape virtualization for remote sensing and actuation in urban horticulture based on open-source design tools

Landscape virtualization for remote sensing and actuation in urban horticulture based on open-source design tools

Open Source Synthesis and Verification Tool for Fixed-to-Floating and Floating-to-Fixed Points Conversions

An open source high level synthesis fixed-to-floating and floating-to-fixed conversion tool is presented for embedded design, communication systems, and signal processing applications. Many systems use a fixed point number system. Fixed point numbers often need to be converted to floating point numbers for higher accuracy, dynamic range, fixed-length transmission limitations or end user requirements. A similar conversion system is needed to convert floating point numbers to fixed point numbers due to the advantages that fixed point numbers offer when compared with floating point number systems, such as compact hardware, reduced verification time and design effort. The latest embedded and SoC designs use both number systems together to improve accuracy or reduce required hardware in the same design. The proposed open source design and verification tool converts fixed point numbers to floating point numbers, and floating point numbers to fixed point numbers using the IEEE-754 floating point number standard. This open source design tool generates HDL code and its test bench that can be implemented in FPGA and VLSI systems. The design can be compiled and simulated using open source Iverilog/GTKWave and verified using Octave. A high level synthesis tool and GUI are designed using C#. The proposed design tool can increase productivity by reducing the design and verification time, as well as reduce the development cost due to the open source nature of the design tool. The proposed design tool can be used as a standalone block generator or implemented into current designs to improve range, accuracy, and reduce the development cost. The generated design has been implemented on Xilinx FPGAs.