Probabilistic and Approximate Computation in Software and Hardware Models

Bala Ravikumar

Professor Bala Ravikumar
Professor, Chair
Department of Computer Science, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA

Thu, 11/19/2020

Abstract - Everyone knows that modern digital computers are based on deterministic Boolean logic gates that are assumed to perform exact computation of logical operations such as AND, NOT etc. In this talk, we will explore two alternatives to this framework in which the demand on the output being correct on all inputs is relaxed. First, we will consider a state machine model as a way to approximate the solutions of some computational problems. The second one is a stochastic model of logic gates that provides an alternative hardware basis for building digital computers. Some applications of these models will also be presented.

Dr. Ravikumar received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and has taught at many universities including University of Minnesota, University of Rhode Island, San Francisco State University and Sonoma State University. He has supervised many graduate and undergraduate projects. He is an editor of the International Journal of the Foundations of Computer Science and has served on the program committees of many international conferences. He has presented invited and contributed talks in more than fifty international conferences.

Towards Hardware Cybersecurity

Houman Homayoun

Professor Houman Homayoun
Associate Professor
Dept. of ECE, UC Davis, Davis, CA

Thu, 11/05/2020

Abstract - Electronic system security, trust and reliability has become an increasingly critical area of concern for modern society. Secure hardware systems, platforms, as well as supply chains are critical to industry and government sectors such as national defense, healthcare, transportation, and financial. Traditionally, authenticity and integrity of data has been protected with various security protocol at the software level with the underlying hardware assumed to be secure, and reliable. This assumption however is no longer true with an increasing number of attacks reported on the hardware.

In this talk I will address the security and vulnerability challenges in the horizontal integrated hardware development process. I will then present the concept of logic obfuscation through using hybrid spin-transfer torque CMOS look up tables which is our latest effort on developing a cost-effective solution to prevent physical reverse engineering attacks.

Dr. Houman Homayoun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at UC-Davis. He is also the director of National Science Foundation Center for Hardware and Embedded Systems Security and Trust (CHEST). Houman conducts research in hardware security and trust, data-intensive computing and heterogeneous computing, where he has published more than 100 technical papers and directed over $8M in research funding from NSF, DARPA, AFRL, NIST and various industrial sponsors. He received several best paper awards and nominations in various conferences including GLSVLSI 2016, ICDM 2019, and ICCAD 2019, and 2020. He served as Member of Advisory Committee, Cybersecurity Research and Technology Commercialization in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2018. Since 2017 he has been serving as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on VLSI. He was the technical program co-chair of GLSVLSI 2018 and the general chair of 2019 conference.

Supply Chain - New Product Introduction Process

Pelin Mohamed

Dr. Pelin Salem
Senior Test Development Engineer
Cisco, San Jose, CA

Thu, 10/15/2020

Abstract - Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking and is transforming how people connect, communicate, and collaborate. Supply Chain Operations is a key enabler of Cisco’s success which is mainly due to cross-functional Supply Chain Operations teams that manage the relationships between suppliers and contract manufacturers towards building the products its customers need. In short, Supply Chain Operations is what connects suppliers and customers. Supply Chain Operations is responsible for accelerating innovation, enabling profitable growth while establishing sustainability, and delivering excellence in customer experience. Supply Chain Operations spans the entire product lifecycle with accountability for new product introduction, sourcing, and supplier management, planning, manufacturing, logistics, and quality. This talk gives a brief overview of the phases in Cisco’s supply chain flow and defines the roles and responsibilities at each stage.

Dr. Pelin Salem received her BSc. Degree in Electrical-Electronics Engineering from Blacksea Technical University (KTU) in Trabzon, Turkey in 2005, her MSc in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in New Jersey, USA in 2009, her MSc in Bioscience from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia in 2011, and her PhD in Electrical Engineering from NJIT in 2018. She has worked in defense industry designing automated test systems for NATO Avionics and F16 fighter jet Electronic Warfare Systems between 2005-2009, in academia as a researcher and an educator between 2009-2016 in the US, KSA, and China, and in manufacturing industry since 2016. She has been with Cisco Systems as a Senior Test Development Engineer in Internet of Things Business Unit, working on Industrial IOT New Product Introduction since January 2019.

Trends in Electronic Measurement

Jay Alexander

Mr. Jay Alexander
CTO
Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa, CA

Thu, 10/01/2020

Abstract - Electronic measurement is critical for the advancement of the electrical engineering profession, and more broadly for addressing many of the challenges and opportunities facing the world today. Modern electronic measurement instruments are both beneficiaries and enablers of new technology, and as such their architectures and capabilities can provide insight on the patterns of hardware and software technology adoption occurring across the electronics landscape. This talk will cover some of the most important trends at work in electronic measurement, including the ongoing evolution from analog to digital architectures, the dramatically increased role of software, and the emergence of sophisticated multifunction instruments. These trends will be highlighted with examples drawn from three foundational electronic measurement instruments: the oscilloscope, the spectrum analyzer, and the network analyzer.

Mr. Jay Alexander is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Keysight Technologies. He leads Keysight's central technology strategy and development, focusing on market trends and top opportunities for the company to achieve competitive advantage and growth. Prior to Keysight, Mr. Alexander held numerous leadership positions at Agilent Technologies, including serving as VP and GM for the Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. He began his career at Hewlett-Packard as a Manufacturing and Test Engineer after working on robotics at IBM as a co-op student. Mr. Alexander earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Colorado, where his thesis work focused on connectionist (neural network) rule extraction. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Senior Member of the IEEE. He serves on the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology at NIST and holds 24 U.S. patents.

Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems

Mark Baldassari

Mr. Mark Baldassari
Director of Codes and Standards
Enphase Energy, Petaluma, CA

Thu, 09/17/2020

Abstract - Homes and businesses are installer of renewable and storage-based systems to counter act rising energy cost and safeguard against power outages. This presentation will introduce fundamental concepts for resilient, reliable renewable energy generation and storage.

Mr. Mark Baldassari has over 34 years experience in engineering and product development and over 10 years with Enphase Energy, where he holds the position of Director, Codes and Standards. Currently, he actively participates in a number of Codes and Standards development groups both domestically and internationally. Domestically, Mr. Baldassari regularly participates in IEEE 1547 series of standards development with emphasis towards improving the grid integration of Photo Voltaic systems. He is involved with Underwriters Laboratory working on the harmonization of UL and IEC standards and a Standards Technical Panel member for UL 1699B and UL 2703. Mr. Baldassari is an active member of the CalSEIA Codes and Standards and PV Industry Forum. He is very involved with the drafting of the 2020 NEC for articles 690 and chairman for article 705. Mr. Baldassari has bachelor degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from California State University Sacramento, USA.

Pages