Research on computing infrastructure aimed at realizing an IoT society to come

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H01712
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Computer system
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Ishihara Tohru 名古屋大学, 情報学研究科, 教授 (30323471)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 増田 豊 名古屋大学, 情報学研究科, 助教 (60845527) ; 小野寺 秀俊 京都大学, 情報学研究科, 教授 (80160927)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 計算機システム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a microprocessor and a power management algorithm running on operating systems, which always minimize the energy consumption of the microprocessor. The algorithm dynamically controls the supply voltage, threshold voltage and clock frequency of the microprocessor so that the energy consumption of the microprocessor is always minimized for a given operation condition which include ambient temperature and workload of the applications running on the microprocessor. We have developed microprocessor chips based on RISC-V, an open source microprocessor design and have confirmed that the microprocessor and the power management algorithm we have developed work effectively. More specifically, we run the power management algorithm on the microprocessor under different ambient temperature conditions using a thermostatic chamber and confirmed that the processor chip we have developed always operates with the minimum energy even in the different operating environments.

Free Research Field

情報工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コンピュータシステムはデータセンターや企業内の計算機サーバーだけでなく、自動車や家電製品に至るまでありとあらゆる物に組み込まれてる。これらの消費エネルギーを削減することは温室ガスの削減や化石燃料の消費量を減らす観点で世界的に重要な意義を持つ。また、超小型バッテリでコンピュータチップを稼働させる仕組みは、例えば体に張り付けて四六時中人の健康管理を行うコンピュータや体内の病気を長期間に渡って精密に検査するコンピュータの実現につながる。本研究の成果は上記のようなコンピュータシステムをマイクロワット級の極めて小さい電力で動作させることを可能にするものであり学術的・社会的意義は極めて大きい。