IV. NANOCOMPUTING: CHALLENGES AND PERSEPCTIVES At this point in time, we have gathered experimental evidences that novel nano-fabricated components could be the basis of future computer architectures. However, practical nanocomputers are still a very long way ahead. Therefore, our research is now focusing on the key challenges that need to be addressed:
• Hybrid fabrication and integration with CMOS, (3D
stacking techniques will definitely play a key role here)
• Design kits, design methodologies and tools for hybrid
CMOS/Nano circuits,
• Handling architectures that uses various data coding
schemes,
• Merging CMOS/Von Neumann and Nano/Neuroinspired
computing paradigms into a symbiotic programming model
Potential applications of nanocomputing are still a very far ahead perspective but there are areas in which they might emerge sooner, in particular within sensors. Sensing is a key part of embedded computing. Nano-fabricated structures could well be placed inside present sensor architectures in order to enhance their functionalities. For example, simple neuroinspired
devices (e.g. classifiers) could be inserted within a matrice of photo-diodes to yield an “intelligent” imaging device.