FPGAs Explored: Pioneering Methods, Theories and Their Applications in Reconfigurable Computing

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the cutting-edge advancements, methodologies, and applications of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and prospects of this technology.

FPGAs have become a pivotal technology in the landscape of reconfigurable computing, offering unmatched flexibility and speed in processing tasks, which can be altered dynamically to meet specific application needs. Over the past decade, the evolution of FPGA technology has been characterized by significant advancements in hardware efficiency, programming models, and application domains. The importance of FPGAs stems from their unique ability to be reconfigured post manufacture, allowing for the customization of hardware to optimize their performance of specific tasks. This has made them instrumental in areas where conventional fixed-logic devices, such as CPUs and GPUs, may not offer the same level of efficiency or flexibility. Their adaptability has opened new horizons in computational research and industry, facilitating rapid prototyping and energy-efficient computation, which is particularly crucial in today’s energy-conscious world. With the advent of high-level synthesis (HLS) tools, the barrier to designing with FPGAs has been significantly lowered, making them accessible to a broader range of developers and researchers. Looking ahead, the future of FPGA technology points towards their even greater integration with artificial intelligence frameworks, further improvements in their energy efficiency, and enhanced design tools that lower the learning curve for new users.

This issue seeks to map the actual state of FPGA architectures and the more powerful and state-of-the-art techniques used for designing, optimizing, and programming these devices, enhancing their performance and energy efficiency. Contributions may include, but are not limited to, advanced synthesis and optimization techniques for FPGAs, design methodologies and tools for reconfigurable computing, the security and reliability aspects of FPGA-based systems, and future research directions for this dynamic field.

Any application of an FPGA which highlights the benefit of using such a device is welcome. Moreover, we are also interested in papers highlighting the application of FPGAs in emerging fields such as deep learning, cloud computing, and big data analytics, showcasing their potential to accelerate complex algorithm processing and improve computational efficiency. Through case studies and practical applications, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of FPGAs and reconfigurable computing, offering insights into how these technologies can solve complex problems and lead to innovative solutions across various industries.

Dr. Fabio Garzetti
Dr. Bruno Da Silva
Guest Editors

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• FPGA
• field-programmable gate arrays
• reconfigurable computing
• cloud computing
• FPGA partial reconfiguration
• SoC