SiliziumModule

SiliziumModule is a modular hardware platform intended for designing scalable embedded systems. The architecture centers on a set of interchangeable silicon-based processing modules, each containing a system-on-a-chip or dedicated processing core, along with memory and I/O capabilities. Modules connect through a standardized interconnect and power interface, allowing users to assemble customized configurations for performance, power, and footprint requirements. The platform aims to simplify rapid prototyping, education, and small-scale production by enabling plug-and-play composition without custom PCB redesign for each configuration.

Design and variants: The core concept relies on modular silicon cards that house processing cores ranging from microcontrollers to multicore SoCs, expandable memory modules, and I/O daughterboards. An optional carrier board provides system-level management, such as clock distribution, thermal monitoring, and power delivery. The standard emphasizes thermal efficiency and signal integrity, with common form factors and connector schemes to support hot-swapping in some configurations.

Applications: Used in research, education, prototyping, robotics, and edge computing, SiliziumModule allows teams to test software against heterogeneous hardware by swapping modules while keeping surrounding system software constant.

Development and ecosystem: The initiative is driven by an open or semi-open ecosystem that promotes compatibility between modules from multiple vendors. Critics point to potential fragmentation and cost, while supporters highlight reduced time-to-market and customizability.