Ubitium UB410: Reconfigurable universal processor with RISC-V technology

The Ubitium UB410 is a coarse grain reconfigurable array (CGRA) consisting of several thousand universal computing units, the Processing Elements (PE). Because their interconnection can be dynamically changed, even during operation, Ubitium speaks of a Universal Processing Array (UPA).

The Ubitium processing units can be adapted to different tasks. For example, the chip is intended to be able to function like a common RISC-V processor with out-of-order technology and execute a standard Linux. However, Ubitium has not yet revealed whether this refers to RV32 (32-bit) or RV64 (64-bit).

Furthermore, the PEs can be interconnected to form a Loop Acceleration Mode (L-Mode), similar to parallel processing in Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD). Finally, there is a Thread Acceleration Mode (SIMT, S-Mode), in which the PEs cooperate similarly to how it is typical for GPU units. Ubitium's processing technology is also suitable for flexible data signal processing, thus serving as an alternative to a DSP or FPGA.

Tape-out at Samsung

The UB410 offers a total of 4096 PEs. Each 256 units in a 16x16 arrangement form a UPA. Four UPAs each, i.e., 1024 PEs, form a UPA core, of which the UB410 contains four. In addition, there is a memory controller for up to 64 GB of LPDDR5-SDRAM.

Samsung's chip contract manufacturing division is to produce the UB410 using 8-nanometer-class manufacturing technology. Mass production is planned from the end of 2026. The so-called tape-out is said to have already taken place. Ubitium has thus sent its chip design to Samsung, which is now producing the corresponding manufacturing masks and producing initial pre-series prototypes.

Ideas from PACT XPP

Ubitium's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder Martin Vorbach was involved with the German start-up PACT in the 2000s, which once developed the eXtreme Processor Platform (PACT XPP).

(ciw)