Title: Evaluating 3D wireless grids as parallel platforms

Authors: Amir Mansoor Kamali; Christopher Bailey; Jim Austin

Addresses: Department of Computer Science, Deramore Lane, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5GH, UK ' Department of Computer Science, Deramore Lane, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5GH, UK ' Department of Computer Science, Deramore Lane, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5GH, UK

Abstract: Wireless connections have not been good choices for connecting processors in a massively parallel computer; mainly because of their higher energy demands and lower data rates compared to wireline. In light of recent developments in wireless technologies, this paper investigates if (and, to what extent) that assumption is still valid. Capacitive coupling, inductive coupling and on-chip radio technologies are reviewed to know how close we are to an efficient wireless parallel computer, especially in terms of energy consumption and data rate. For an evaluation case we utilise a simulated 3D wireless grid as a parallel platform, the 'Ball Computer'. We test the viability of a concept 3D wireless interconnect network for a supercomputer. The behaviour of the proposed platform under different situations are studied using simulation results. We have identified challenges for the second stage of the long-term goal to build a prototype of Ball Computer.

Keywords: wireless networks; capacitive coupling; inductive coupling; on-chip radio communication; parallel computing; interconnect networks; 3D wireless grids; energy consumption; data rate; simulation; supercomputers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2015.070593

International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, 2015 Vol.19 No.3/4, pp.279 - 289

Received: 16 Nov 2013
Accepted: 07 Apr 2014
Published online: 13 Jul 2015 *

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