Welcome to SCALOPES

SCALOPES is an ARTEMIS project on SCalable LOw Power Embedded platformS. The project is running from January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2010.

Abstract

The project will focus on cross-domain technology and tool developments for multi-core architectures. These developments will be driven by and proven for 4 different application domains: communication infrastructure, surveillance systems, smart mobile terminals and stationary video systems. Focus in the technology developments will be on application & programming models, composability, dependability, reliability, predictable system design, resource management and tools supporting these new developments. As much as possible generic cross-domain tools and architectures will be worked upon, but also application-specific extensions will be covered. The project will focus on enhancing as much as possible the generic aspects by means of identifying how future cross-domain reference platforms will be made.

Relevance

Embedded systems know-how lies at the heart of European industry's competitiveness, and is a vital element in assuring future economic growth and stability to the benefit of European citizens at large. Embedded Systems are deployed in all market sectors - automotive, aerospace, medical, environment, communications, entertainment, textiles, transport, logistics, printing and chemicals, food & drink, timber and materials. ARTEMIS has identified a number of representative "Application Contexts" to focus upon for the development of new technologies. The identified "Application Contexts" are:

  • "Industrial systems" (1)
  • "Nomadic Environments" (2)
  • "Private Spaces" (3)
  • "Public Infrastructure" (4)

The SCALOPES project is focussing on all four application areas and in addition is looking into a maximum commonality of technological developments across these sectors. The specific applications covered in SCALOPES and their link with the above ARTEMIS Application Contexts, are:

  • Communication infrastructure for next generation networks (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Distributed surveillance systems with audio-video processing & communication capability (1, 3)
  • Smart mobile terminals with mobile multimedia support (2, 3, 4)
  • Stationary video: home TV and distributed quality monitoring environments (1, 3, 4)

Measures of Success

The objectives of the SCALOPES project will be considered as successfully reached when following measures of success will be obtained after the finalization of the Scalopes project:

  • The power consumption is reduced by 30 % while the performance is increasing with 20 % for multi-core embedded systems in all application domains of Scalopes. For video processing performance should be even increased by a factor 1.3 - 1.5 when moving from single core embedded processors to dual core processors for all applications in SCALOPES.
  • More than 75 % reduction in the energy consumption for television sets and displays during the next 2 years, much lower than European directives in this field. Result is to move from Class 6 to Class 7 televisions within the timeframe of SCALOPES.
  • A reference architecture is in-place which does at least have 60 % in common for the different application areas covered in SCALOPES, while 40 % remains application-specific, with a strategy on how to increase the common part in the coming years "beyond SCALOPES" "Design tools developed within SCALOPES allow a reduction of design time of 20 % for the typical embedded system architecture designs for the SCALOPES application areas.
  • The resource management framework for the display controller should allow 50% increase in resource usage with 50% decrease in form factor.

In addition the increase in performance and reduction in power will have no impact on product price. The goal is to keep cost of the new platforms stable. This will open the possibility to include this new technologies in new application areas, which require stringent requirements on cost, performance & power.