CGRA-ME 2.0: A Research Framework for Next-Generation CGRA Architectures and CAD

Abstract

Coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs) belong to the family of configurable processing architectures that have recently attracted increasing interest for their adaptability and efficiency. Research on CGRA architectures and their associated CAD tools is typically conducted empirically, by modelling a CGRA fabric, mapping applications onto it, and then assessing performance, power, and/or area (PPA). In this paper, we describe an open-source framework for such CGRA research - CGRA-ME - CGRA modelling and exploration. We describe the recently released version 2.0 of CGRA - ME, which incorporates a new mapping approach, support for elastic CGRAs, floating point, predication, hybrid RISC-V+CGRA systems, and more.