Computer Architecture

How a processor thinks. Computer architecture describes the operating principles and hardware structures of modern computers. We develop architectures that do more and use less.

What we work on

• Modern processors, in particular superscalar microprocessors
• Parallelism at every level
• Open RISC-V processors and their extensions, for example for AI
• Accelerators working as instruction set extensions right inside the processor

Processors and accelerators

We design accelerators that work as an independent unit or as an instruction set extension right inside the processor, on FPGAs as well as ASICs, and check them early on virtual platforms. Recent work:

• Area-Optimized RISC-V Matrix Extension Implementation for Edge Devices (TELFOR 2025): a compact matrix extension for RISC-V
• Characterising Physical Memory Access Pattern Impact on RISC-V Softcore Performance (ARC 2026): how memory accesses shape the performance of a RISC-V softcore
• Compatibility Ratio as a Guideline for Hardware/DNN Co-Design of Embedded Accelerators (ACM TECS 2026): designing the neural network and the accelerator together
• CeCaS Accelerator Design for Efficient Supercomputing in Automotive Systems (DATE 2026): accelerators for the central vehicle computer of CeCaS

The group is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mladen Berekovic.