An FPGA-Based Dynamically Reconfigurable Platform: From Concept to Realization

Dynamically reconfigurable FPGA-based systems offer a new kind of flexibility such as on-demand computing, self-adaption and self-optimization capabilities by restructuring the hardware at run-time. Using partial dynamic reconfiguration allows the main system to run uninterrupted during the reconfiguration process in addition to the reduced time for the reconfiguration process. However, existing FPGA-based platforms are hampered by physical restrictions limiting the practicability of partial reconfiguration. This led us to the concept of the Erlangen slot machine architecture in order to eliminate the physical and technical constraints