Designing with the Versal Adaptive SoC: Design Methodology

Course Description

Use different AMD Versal™ adaptive SoC design methodologies and techniques for developing designs targeting Versal devices. Also learn how to apply application mapping and partitioning, design closure, power, and thermal solutions to enhance the performance of a design
The focus is on:

• Demonstrating the embedded software development flow for Versal devices
• Using the provided design tools and Versal adaptive SoC design methodologies to create complex systems
• Leveraging the Power Design Manager (PDM) tool for power estimation
• Identifying Versal adaptive SoC power and thermal solutions
• Applying common timing closure techniquePerforming system-level simulation and debugging
• Improving Versal adaptive SoC system performance


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What's New for 2024.1

• Versal Adaptive SoC - Application Mapping and Partitioning module: Updated with the system design planning flow
• All labs have been updated to the latest software versions

Level

ACAP 2

Training Duration

2 days

Audience

Software and hardware developers, system architects, and anyone who wants to learn about the Versal adaptive SoC design methodologies

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of AMD FPGAs and adaptive SoCs
• Basic knowledge of the Vivado™ and Vitis™ tools

Software Tools

• Vivado™ Design Suite 2024.1
• Vitis™ Unified IDE 2024.1
• PetaLinux Tools 2024.1

Hardware

• Architecture: Versal adaptive SoC
• Demo board: Versal VCK190 Evaluation Platform

Skills Gained

After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the necessary skills to:

• Describe the embedded software development flow for AMD Versal devices
• Use the provided design tools and Versal adaptive SoC design methodologies to create complex systems
• Leverage the Power Design Manager (PDM) tool for power estimation for Versal devices
• Identify Versal adaptive SoC power and thermal solutions
• Create a custom AMD Vitis platform to run acceleration applications
• Identify and apply common timing closure techniques
• Describe the different debugging options available for the Versal adaptive SoC
• Perform system-level simulation and debugging

Course Outline

Day 1

• Board System Design Methodology - Describes PCB, power, clocking, and I/O considerations when designing a system. {Lecture}
• Embedded Software Development - Describes the software development environments and embedded software development flows for Versal devices. Also introduces embedded software debugging. {Lecture}
• Software Build Flow - Provides an overview of the different build flows, such as the do-it-yourself, Yocto Project, and PetaLinux tool flows. {Lecture, Lab}
• Software Stack - Reviews the Versal device bare-metal, FreeRTOS, and Linux software stack and their components. {Lecture}
• Security Management and Safety Features
  Describes the security management and safety features of the Versal devices. {Lecture}
• System and Solution Planning Methodology - Describes design partitioning, power, and thermal guidelines. Also reviews system debug, verification, and validation planning. {Lecture}
• Application Mapping and Partitioning - Covers the system design methodology and describes how different models of computation (sequential, concurrent, and functional) can be mapped to the Versal adaptive SoC. Also describes what application partitioning is and how an application can be accelerated by using various compute domains in the Versal device. {Lecture}
• Power Design Manager - Discusses using the new Power Design Manager tool, including import and export functions. {Lecture, Lab}
• Power and Thermal Solutions - Discusses the power domains in the Versal adaptive SoC as well as power optimization and analysis techniques. Thermal design challenges are also covered. {Lecture

Day 2

• Hardware, IP, and Platform Development Methodology - Describes the different Versal device design flows and covers the custom platform creation process using the Vivado IP integrator, RTL, HLS, and Vitis environment. {Lecture, Lab}
• Timing Closure Overview - Describes the timing closure and baselining of a design. Also explains QoR reports and timing violation analysis. {Lecture}
• Timing Closure Techniques - Lists the common timing closure techniques for logic optimization, design analysis, and timing closure. Also describes the timing considerations for SSI technology devices. {Lecture}
• System Integration and Validation Methodology - Describes different simulation flows as well as timing and power closure techniques. Also explains how to improve system performance. {Lecture}
• Configuration and Debugging - Describes the configuration and debug process for the Versal devices. Also covers the Versal device debug interfaces, such as the test access port (TAP) and debug access port (DAP) controller. {Lecture}
• Overview of HSDP - Describes the high-speed debug port (HSDP) in the Versal device. Also goes over the steps to use the SmartLynq+ module for high-speed debugging. {Lecture, Lab}
• Fabric Debug - Explains the fabric debug features available in the Versal devices and reviews the different debug IP cores supported for the Versal devices, such as the AXI Debug Hub, AXIS ILA, and AXIS VIO. {Lecture, Lab}
• System Simulation - Explains how to perform system-level simulation in a Versal device design. {Lecture, Lab}