science

VEGA Microprocessors

VEGA Microprocessors is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand VEGA Microprocessors rather than just read about it. In short: VEGA Microprocessors (also known as VEGA Processors) is an initiative to develop a portfolio of microprocessors, and their hardware ecosystem, by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in India. The portfolio includes several indigenously-developed processors based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA).

Key takeaways

VEGA Microprocessors belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect VEGA Microprocessors to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of VEGA Microprocessors from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

VEGA Microprocessors (also known as VEGA Processors) is an initiative to develop a portfolio of microprocessors, and their hardware ecosystem, by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in India. The portfolio includes several indigenously-developed processors based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA). The India Microprocessor Development Programme (IMDP) was started by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with the objective of designing a set of microprocessors, and developing a product line for commercial purposes, to be used as part of a "Make in India" strategy.

Products The initiative has developed the following product lines:

VEGA microprocessors ASTRA interface controllers THEJAS system on a chip - integrating VEGA and ASTRA devices ARIES microprocessor development boards DHRUV microprocessor

VEGA The initiative has developed 5 RISC-V microprocessors that run on FPGAs boards. The ET1031 is a 32-bit processor, with all other processors being 64-bit. Only the 32-bit variant has been physically manufactured within a THEJAS SOC. Together with affiliated institutions, C-DAC seeks to acquire 10% of the microprocessor market in critical industries like space exploration and defense, where data security is crucial. C-DAC is developing a dual-core chip for high-end applications under the India Microprocessor Development Programme, and the chip is expected to be released in the second half of 2023. From 2024 forward, Dhanush64, Dhruv64, and Dhanush64+ will be released, followed by Octa-core in 2026. Beyond Octa-core, C-DAC chips will feature 48 or 64 cores once the microprocessor and high-performance computing processor programs have converged.

THEJAS From the VEGA processor cores, 2 SOCs have been created running on the Digilent ARTY A7 FPGA. Only the THEJAS32 has been taped-out for manufacturing for the ARIES microcontroller boards. Silterra Malaysia is where THEJAS32 is manufactured. THEJAS64 is produced domestically at Semi-Conductor Laboratory.

Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge On December 7, 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology honored the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge winners. At different phases of the challenge, participants get up to ₹4.40 crore in funding for the development of a hardware prototype and the incubation of a start-up by participating teams. C-DAC and IIT Madras made accessible for the challenge their SoCs, THEJAS32 (VEGA ET1031) and THEJAS64 (VEGA AS1061), based on VEGA 32-bit and 64-bit processors and Shakti. The participating teams successfully implemented the SoCs in a variety of designs. Ten teams became victorious from the 30 finalist teams. Team VEGA FCS FT (AI drone), received a ₹35 lakh cheque for their drone application; second-place winners, Team HWDL, received ₹30 lakh for FM Radio Data System Utilities; and third-place winners, Cytox, received ₹25 lakh for their "cell count" project. Each of the other teams received a check for ₹20 lakh for sharing fourth place. The teams are Astrek Innovations (lower limb exosuit for disabled), Team 6E Resources (remote monitoring and optimization of sewage treatment plant), Team Anshashodhak (unique calibration system for nuclear spectroscopy applications), Team Quicproc (wireless maternal monitoring system), Team Avrio Energy (AI Energy Meter with intelligence at edge and deep learning), and Team JayHawks (anti-theft geofencing based locking system). Thirty finalist teams of the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge have been awarded incubation support by Maker Village, the largest electronic system design and production center in India.

ARIES The ARIES microcontroller boards have been described by researchers as alternatives to Arduino Uno boards. As of May 2023, the ARIES v3.0 board can be purchased for "around 1,000 Rs each, or about $12". It can be programmed with the Arduino IDE.

DHRUV C-DAC created the 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core DHRUV64 microprocessor. It is the third chip produced as part of the DIR-V Programme. In order to support both strategic and commercial applications, DHRUV64 will offer increased efficiency, improved multitasking capability, and dependability. It is appropriate for consumer electronics, automotive systems, 5G infrastructure, industrial automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Commercialization On August 28, 2024, L&T Semiconductor Technologies (LTSCT) and C-DAC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). It will establish a program for the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies created by C-DAC in the areas of electric power systems, embedded software, free and open-source software operating systems, high-performance computing, and semiconductor design and development. LTSCT will leverage C-DAC's extensive pipeline of in-house intellectual property (IP), which includes the VEGA processor, to create global product prospects through application design and validation for field-programmable gate arrays. By facilitating the creation of cutting-edge goods and solutions for the automotive, industrial, information and communications technology infrastructure, and energy sectors, the collaboration to create indigenous ICs and SoCs based in Vega is expected to pick up speed.

See also SHAKTI Series - RISC-V microprocessor developed by IIT Madras

References

External links Official website VEGA Microprocessors's channel on YouTube CNX Software: Article

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with VEGA Microprocessors

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what VEGA Microprocessors claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to VEGA Microprocessors before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about VEGA Microprocessors ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of VEGA Microprocessors

In research: VEGA Microprocessors appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses VEGA Microprocessors in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: VEGA Microprocessors is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 32-bit microprocessors, 64-bit microprocessors, Embedded microprocessors, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for VEGA Microprocessors outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study VEGA Microprocessors in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what VEGA Microprocessors means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain VEGA Microprocessors out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is VEGA Microprocessors in simple terms?

Why does VEGA Microprocessors matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study VEGA Microprocessors?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on VEGA Microprocessors.