How cocotb saved us £1000s & 1000s of hours

Conference:	DVCLUB Europe \| Cocotb 2.0: Modernize your testbenches for even more productivity
Speaker:	Grant Bowers , Garrison
Speaker Title:	How cocotb saved us £1000s & 1000s of hours
Abstract:	In our verification and build process, we utilize Python scripts to manage hardware variants and simulator runs. Integrating VHDL with Python-generated stimuli became the crux of simulation time. The adoption of cocotb was a natural progression, as it aligns with our Python-based workflow, reducing transition and maintenance effort. Additionally, eliminating the need for pre-generated stimuli significantly cuts down simulation time. As a company with a skilled DevOps team and a strong focus on continuous integration (CI), we handle over 500 daily simulator job runs. Regression testing can become expensive, especially when considering simulator licensing for other methodologies. cocotb and its compatibility with open-source and lower-cost licensed simulators has resulted in substantial savings in both cost and time. Key Points: cocotb Integration: cocotb is a straightforward choice if your workflow heavily relies on Python. Simulator Compatibility: Simulator compatibility in cocotb can significantly save both cost and time. Python Libraries: Python offers a vast array of tools that enhance verification productivity.
Speaker Biography:	Grant Bowers currently leads FPGA verification efforts at Garrison, a UK-based cybersecurity company now part of Everfox. He began his career working on SIL 1 defense projects using UVM. Transitioning to a more CI and software-driven FPGA team, Grant has carved out a niche in cocotb, open-source simulation, and DevOps for FPGAs.

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ML Verification Turns Convention on its Head

The verification of processor architectures designed for Machine Learning (ML) applications represent a departure from conventional techniques. Conventional constrained random testbenches, which focus on stimulus driving coverage, cannot scale for many ML algorithm realizations. ML architectures involve neural networks of processors that “learn” by manipulating coefficients across the network to match ideal outputs to a large quantity of input data. Furthermore, smart compiler technology is employed to leverage the many paths available in the network. An effective verification strategy can leverage planning algorithms that start with the desired output and optimize input values to achieve that output. Ensuring the paths that the compiler might trigger have all been tested, and that the test content can scale from individual processors to the entire network are critical challenges. Breker will share various approaches to this problem, developed through cooperation with three noted AI processor providers.

3 Key Points:

Current verification methodologies cannot scale to meet ML processor challenges

ML verification approach: consider desired outputs, optimize inputs to match

Test Suite Synthesis enable planning algorithm approach to target ML requirements

An Emulation Strategy for Artificial Intelligence Designs

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence is the “next big thing” and presents a unique opportunity for disruptive semiconductor development. End applications could range from ADAS, to 3D facial recognition, to voice and image processing, or to intelligent search. The SoCs for AI applications whether targeted for training or inference will have their own unique characteristics, but present quite common verification challenges that we will present in this session.

Supporting designs as big as 15 billion gates, Mentor’s Veloce Strato has unique virtualization capabilities that enable highly accurate pre-silicon execution of AI benchmarking applications like MLPerf. The Veloce Power App enables analysis of peak and average. We will cover how Veloce Strato and its supporting solutions are the best tool to help address the verification challenges of SoCs targeted for AI applications.

3 Key Points:

Deterministic solution for AI chips verification

Full virtual solution for HW/SW verification

TERAOPS/Watt assessement prior silicon availability

AI chips must get the math right

Most AI chips and hardware accelerators that power machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) applications include floating-point units (FPUs). Algorithms used in neural networks are often based on operations that use multiplication and addition of floating-point values. FPUs are difficult to implement. The IEEE 754 standard defines many corner-case scenarios and non-ordinary values. Even a minor rounding mistake could accumulate over many iterations and produce a large error. An FPU formal verification app compliant with IEEE-754 provides an efficient and rigorous solutions to FPU functional verification

3 Key Points:

Floating-point unit (FPU) for AI chips

FPU Formal Verification App

Compliance with IEEE-754

Name: Mike Bartley

Designation: Senior Vice President – VLSI Design

Title: Introduction

Biography:

Mike Bartley has a PhD in Mathematics from Bristol University, an MSc in Software Engineering, an MBA from the Open University and over 25 years of experience in software testing and hardware verification. He has built and managed state-of-the-art test and verification teams in a number of companies who still use the methodologies he established. Since founding TVS in 2008 he has grown the company to over 100 employees worldwide. Dr Bartley is Chair of both the Bristol branch of the British Computer Society and the West of England Bristol Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). He has had over 50 articles and presentations published on the subjects of hardware verification, software testing and outsourcing.

How cocotb saved us £1000s & 1000s of hours

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ML Verification Turns Convention on its Head

An Emulation Strategy for Artificial Intelligence Designs

AI chips must get the math right

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