Cloud analysis comes to power grid design

Ansys has decided to marry cloud computing with some of the tools used in SoC design that can make use of large amounts of temporary computer power.

The company intends to release a number of tools that will use cloud servers to increase overall throughput, focusing primarily on servers that use combinations of Intel Xeon together with Xeon Phi coprocessors. The first area to receive the cloud treatment is SeaHawk, which focuses on IR-drop and electromigration analysis at the full-chip level.

The intention is for design teams to be able to run more scenarios before sign off in order to check for possible problems caused by the SoC moving into power modes that cause sudden drops in voltage for operating circuits or which may cause early failure through unexpectedly high currents that feed through to increased electromigration.

John Lee, general manager of Ansys, claimed: “SeaHawk bridges the in-design and sign-off needs by bringing unprecedented simulation performance and design insights without sacrificing sign-off accuracy and coverage.”