FPGAn

FPGAn is a conceptual form of reconfigurable computing that extends traditional field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) into a networked fabric of interoperable nodes. In this model, multiple FPGA devices communicate over a high-bandwidth interconnect to form a scalable, distributed compute resource. FPGAn aims to combine the configurability of FPGAs with the flexibility of a networked architecture to support streaming data, heterogeneous workloads, and rapid prototyping of hardware accelerators.

At the node level, each device provides programmable logic, configuration memory, and local compute resources. Nodes connect through a configurable network topology, enabling data routing, load balancing, and cooperative execution. A management and control plane coordinates resource allocation, security, and dynamic reconfiguration, while preserving isolation between tenants in multi-tenant deployments. Dynamic partial reconfiguration enables portions of the fabric to be reprogrammed on-the-fly without interrupting ongoing computation.

Programming and toolchains for FPGAn typically combine traditional hardware description languages or high-level synthesis with a network-oriented runtime. Developers describe computational kernels as modular hardware blocks and specify dataflow or streaming connections, which the toolchain maps onto the distributed fabric. A runtime schedules tasks, handles data movement, and orchestrates reconfiguration, aiming to optimize latency, throughput, and energy efficiency.

Applications envisioned for FPGAn include high-throughput data processing, edge and fog computing, real-time signal and video processing, and AI workloads requiring low-latency hardware acceleration across distributed devices. Challenges include toolchain maturity, programming complexity, security, and efficient partitioning across a heterogeneous, networked fabric.

See also: FPGA, reconfigurable computing, high-level synthesis, network-on-chip.