FPGA Insights has engaged in an exclusive interview with Jerry Anto, FPGA Engineer at Tonbo Imaging
Q1) Can you provide an overview of your experience with FPGA design projects mentioning a few that you’ve worked on, starting with a brief introduction?
Mostly I have worked on image processing applications with intel, lattice, and Xilinx FPGAs, since I work on defense imaging systems most of the projects are confidential.
Q2) Can you explain the benefits of using FPGAs over other types of processors?
FPGAs offer several advantages over traditional processors such as CPUs, GPUs, and ASICs.
They are highly customizable and reconfigurable, allowing for tailored architectures optimized for specific tasks, which provides significant performance benefits, particularly in parallel processing and low latency applications.
This flexibility makes them ideal for a wide range of applications, from real-time data processing in telecommunications to advanced driver-assistance systems in automotive.
Q3) What are the most significant trends observed in the FPGA industry over the past year? How will these trends shape the industry’s future?
We see many adaptive SOCs being launched that combine the flexibility of FPGAs with the performance of ASICs, making them suitable for complex applications like AI and autonomous vehicles. And the deployment of 5G makes way for many high-speed FPGAs.
Q4) How do you see FPGA development evolving to meet the demands of modern applications and complex workloads?
Newer FPGAs are designed to be power efficient, FPGA development is evolving through enhanced AI/ML integration, advanced 5G support, improved IoT/edge computing capabilities, better development tools, and increased security features, driving broader adoption and innovation across industries
Q5) Key drivers behind the increasing adoption of FPGAs in various applications and industries?
Key drivers behind the increasing adoption of FPGAs include their ability to handle high-speed parallel processing for AI/ML and 5G applications, their flexibility in IoT and edge computing, and enhanced development tools that simplify customization and deployment.
Q6) Sectors that stand to benefit the most from FPGA integration, and why?
Telecommunication
Automotive
Data centers and AI
Aerospace and Defense
Finance
Q7) The role of FPGAs in accelerating AI applications and advancements expected in the near future.
FPGAs accelerate AI applications through high-speed parallel processing, reconfigurability, and power efficiency, making them ideal for real-time data processing and edge computing.
Expected advancements include enhanced integration with AI frameworks, development of adaptive SoCs, improved development tools, and expanded edge AI applications
Q8) Ensuring the security and integrity of FPGA designs, especially in sensitive applications like finance and defense.
Ensuring the security and integrity of FPGA designs in sensitive applications like finance and defense involves embedding advanced security features such as encryption, secure boot, and tamper detection to protect against unauthorized access and tampering.
Robust development tools and methodologies are essential for secure design and verification processes, ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated early .
Additionally, leveraging hardware-based security modules within FPGAs enhances protection against sophisticated cyber threats.
Regular updates and patches, along with adherence to industry standards and best practices, are critical for maintaining security throughout the FPGA lifecycle.
Collaboration between FPGA vendors and security experts further bolsters design integrity and resilience against attacks
Q9) Advice for students and professionals interested in pursuing a career in FPGA development to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies.
Stay educated with courses and certifications on FPGA technologies from platforms like Coursera and edX.
Engage with FPGA communities on forums like Reddit and GitHub for practical insights and updates .
Follow industry news and technical blogs from leading FPGA companies and websites like EE Times and Semiconductor Engineering.
Attend conferences such as FPGA World and DAC for networking and learning about the latest advancements .
Verification and validation seems to be the future , it’s better to learn about V&V too.
