Researchers develop energy efficient computing platform
Are you a new-age tech enthusiast? If yes, you must be aware of what a computing platform is. Yes, it’s a virtual environment where a software can be installed and run. Also called a digital platform, it can refer to a hardware, an operating system or even a web browser. Some of the popular examples are Java, Linux and Microsoft Windows Vista.
Recently, researchers based at Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), a department of Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bengaluru, have devised a computing platform that is 47 times more energy efficient and 93 times faster than the most computing platforms that are operated by metal-oxide conductors (CMOS) and circuit-based chips. What else? Well, it consumes less amount of space, up to 9 per cent reduction in physical footprint. How will it help? It can improve the performance of the next generation electronic devices!
Now, are you wondering what we are wondering? How did the researchers manage to achieve this feat? By using components known as memristors, instead of the usual CMOS. Do you know what memristors are? They are non-linear, two-terminal software components usually run by electric charge and magnetic flux, with three-in-one functions: of a resistor, capacitor and inductor. Simply put, they can both store data (has a large memory space and capacity) as well as perform computations, simultaneously. This in turn has enabled them to save on the components required to build a circuit of a computing platform and also enhance the speed and energy efficiency in comparison to standard CMOS circuits and chips.
The study, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, revealed how this brand-new computing platform can perform multiple tasks such as conducting complex logical functions and facilitating in-memory computations, that too using minimum number of time steps and elements than the usual.
What you need to understand here is that, in case of existing computing platforms, data needs to be stored separately. Can you guess what happens in such a state? Yes, there is a constant back and forth between the data clusters and the platform that leads to high energy consumption and makes the entire process a lot less efficient. In addition, it takes up a higher computational power. And this latest development will solve all that, it will be energy-efficient, cost-effective as well as time-saving, not to forget it will be robust, consistent and stable (reduce errors).
Do you know what the next step is for the team of researchers? To connect this computing platform to a sensor like a smartphone screen that is equipped to detect touch and study how the platform functions. Researchers have also used metal-organic complexes to construct the latest platform and help it perform various operations.