Five reasons why you need VLSI and RISC-V education board ‘VSDSquadron’

If you're looking to enter the world of digital design and computer architecture, learning VLSI and RISC-V can be incredibly beneficial. These skills are in high demand in the tech industry and can lead to exciting career opportunities. But where do you begin? That's where vsdsquadron comes in. This comprehensive platform offers a unique learning experience that can help you master VLSI and RISC-V in a way that's both effective and enjoyable. In this blog post, we'll explore five reasons why you should consider learning VLSI and RISC-V using vsdsquadron.
1) Limited Chips
Due to the limited availability of RISC-V chips, our supply of "vsdsquadron" boards is also constrained. This presents a rare opportunity to obtain one of these boards, as we are currently experiencing a shortage of chips. It's possible that our next pre-order may be delayed by a quarter or more until we receive additional MPW chips.
2) Lifetime access to VSD VLSI workshops
When you pre-order "vsdsquadron", you gain lifetime access to the course material along with boards delivery. This means you can revisit the workshops at any point in the future to refresh your knowledge or learn something new. With the fast-paced advancements in technology, the course content is periodically updated to ensure it remains relevant and up-to-date. Therefore, having lifetime access ensures that you can keep up with the latest trends and developments in VLSI system design. Additionally, the workshops are designed to be self-paced, allowing you to learn at your own convenience. This makes it easier to balance your studies with other commitments, such as work or family. By taking advantage of lifetime access to VSD VLSI workshops, you can enhance your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments throughout your career.
3) Only board which covers VLSI, RISC-V and Embedded systems
The "vsdsquadron" board is a unique development board that offers a comprehensive learning experience covering VLSI, RISC-V, and Embedded systems. This board is a valuable tool for students, hobbyists, and professionals looking to gain hands-on experience with these technologies. The "vsdsquadron" board allows you to explore these three technologies in one compact package. It features a RISC-V processor that you can program to perform various tasks, and a variety of peripherals to connect to the outside world. The board also provides an interface to connect with other devices, such as a PC or a microcontroller, allowing you to integrate your designs into larger systems.
By using the "vsdsquadron" board, you can gain a deep understanding of VLSI, RISC-V, and Embedded systems, and explore the interaction between these technologies. This unique learning experience can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in these fields or to create your own innovative electronic designs.
4) Fully opensource EDA tools and free access to design files
The "vsdsquadron" board offers a refreshing change by providing access to fully open-source EDA tools. This means that you can use these tools without any licensing fees or restrictions, and you can modify them to suit your needs.

In addition to the open-source EDA tools, "vsdsquadron" also provides free access to the design files for the board. This allows you to examine the board's design and modify it to suit your needs. By providing access to both the EDA tools and the design files, "vsdsquadron" promotes a culture of collaboration and innovation.

This access to free and open-source EDA tools and design files is a game-changer for electronic designers and hobbyists. It allows individuals with limited resources to design and develop innovative electronic systems without the burden of high costs associated with proprietary tools. It also facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration within the electronic design community, leading to new ideas and discoveries. The "vsdsquadron" board's approach to open-source EDA tools and design files democratizes electronic design, making it accessible to a wider audience.

5) Labs using real chips

 

One of the most significant advantages of using "vsdsquadron" for learning VLSI and RISC-V is the opportunity to work with real chips in the labs. The board provides a platform to develop and test digital designs in real-time, allowing you to gain hands-on experience with the technology.

Unlike simulations, working with real chips enables you to experience the practical aspects of designing, testing, and debugging digital systems. This experience is invaluable as it helps you to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts and principles of VLSI and RISC-V.

Working with real chips also provides an opportunity to develop problem-solving skills. You will encounter errors and glitches while working with the chips, and you will need to use your creativity and critical thinking skills to identify and solve the problems. This process helps to build a problem-solving mindset that is essential for success in the field of electronic design.

In conclusion, the labs using real chips offered by "vsdsquadron" provide a unique learning experience that is essential for gaining a deep understanding of VLSI and RISC-V. It allows you to develop hands-on experience with the technology, build practical skills, and foster a problem-solving mindset.

You can pre-order using below link (Last 3 days):

https://www.vlsisystemdesign.com/vsdsquadron/

All the best and happy learning

Registration for Ethical RISC-V IoT Workshop

Welcome to Ethical RISC-V IoT Workshop

The “Ethical RISC-V IoT Workshop” at IIIT Bangalore, organized in collaboration with VSD, is a structured, educational competition aimed at exploring real-world challenges in IoT and embedded systems. Participants progress through three stages: building an application, injecting and managing faults, and enhancing application security. The event spans from May 9 to June 15, 2024, culminating in a showcase of top innovations and an award ceremony. This hands-on hackathon emphasizes learning, testing, and securing applications in a collaborative and competitive environment.

Rules :
  1. Only for Indian Student whose college is registered under VTU
  2. Only team of 2 members can Register
  3. Use only VSDSquadron Mini resources for product development
Awards :
  1. Prize money for final 10 Team
  2. 3 Winner team’s Product will be evaluated for Incubation
  3. 7 consolation prizes
  4. Completion Certificate to final round qualifier
  5. Chance to build a Proud Secured RISC-V Platform for India

Date for Registration : 9th May - 22nd May, 2024
Hackathon Inauguration : 23rd May 2024

VSDSquadron (Educational Board)

VSDSquadron, a cutting-edge development board based on the RISC-V architecture that is fully open-source. This board presents an exceptional opportunity for individuals to learn about RISC-V and VLSI chip design utilizing only open-source tools, starting from the RTL and extending all the way to the GDSII. The possibilities for learning and advancement with this technology are limitless.

Furthermore, the RISC-V chips on these boards should be open for VLSI chip design learning, allowing you to explore PNR, standard cells, and layout design. And guess what? vsdsquadron is the perfect solution for all your needs! With its comprehensive documentation and scalable labs, thousands of students can learn and grow together.

VSD HDP (Hardware Design Program) Duration-10 Week

With VSD Hardware Design Program (VSD-HDP),  you have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what exist in open source and establish the new benchmark for tomorrow.

It will leverage your degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering to work with

  • Programmable logic
  • Analog/ digital IP
  • RISC-V
  • Architecture & microprocessors
  • ASICs and SoCs on high-density digital or RF circuit cards
  • Gain hands-on knowledge during design validation and system integration.

Sounds exciting to just get started with expert mentors, doesn’t it? But we are looking for the next generation of learners, inventors, rebels, risk takers, and pioneers.

“Spend your summer working in the future !!”

Outcomes of VSD Online Research IP Design Internship Program

  1. Job opportunities in Semiconductor Industry
  2. Research work can be submitted to VLSI International journals
  3. Participate in Semiconductor International Conference with Internship Research Work
  4. Paper Publications in IEEE Conference and SIG groups
  5. Tape out opportunity and IP Royalty
  6. Interact with world class Semiconductor designer and researchers
  7. Academic professions where more research projects are encouraged.
  8. All the above research and publication work will help colleges and institutes to improve accreditation levels.

Know More Information

VSD – Intelligent Assessment Technology (VSD-IAT)

VSD – Intelligent Assessment Technology (VSD-IAT) is expertly built training platform and is suited for designer requirements. Semiconductor companies understand the value of training automation and Engineer performance enhancement, and do not need to be convinced of the impact of a virtual platform for learning. VSD trainings are quick, relevant, and easy to access from any device at any time zone.

VSD Intern Webinars

VSD Interns made it happen !!

VSD is working towards creating innovative talent pool who are ready to develop design and products for the new tech world. VSD believes in “Learning by doing principle” , and always prepare the student to apply the knowledge learned in the workshops, webinars and courses. We always push our students to work on new designs, test it and work continuously till it becomes the best performing design. Any student who enrolls to VSD community starts working with small design and grows with us and develops a tapeout level design with complete honesty and dedication towards the Work !!

Check out VSD Interns Achievement!

VSDOpen Online Conference

Welcome to the World’s only online conference in Semiconductor Industry VSDOpen Conference. With enormous support and global presence of audience from different segments of industrial lobby and academia made a highly successful event. Evolution is change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, online conference is one kind evaluation everyone adapt soon. 

  • VSDOpen 2022 is an online conference to share open-source research with the community and promote  hardware design mostly done by the student community.
  • VSDOpen 2022 is based on the theme “How to lower the cost to learn, build, and tapeout chips ?”  , which will provide a platform to community to build stronger designs and strengthen the future of Chip design.
  • VSDOpen is envisioned to create a community based revolution in semiconductor hardware technology.
  • The open source attitude is required to bring out the talent and innovation from the community who are in remote part of world and have least access to the technologies.  And now Google support will help to bring the vision to execution by VSD team

VSD Online Course by Kunal Ghosh

VSD offers online course in complete spectrum of vlsi backend flow from RTL design, synthesis and Verification, SoC planning and design, Sign-off analysis, IP Design, CAD/EDA automation and basic UNIX/IT, Introduction to latest technology – RISC-V, Machine intelligence in EDA/CAD, VLSI Interview FAQ’s.

Current Reach – As of 2021, VSD and its partners have released 41 online VLSI courses and was successfully able to teach  ~35900 Unique students around 151 countries in 47 different languages, through its unique info-graphical and technology mediated learning methods.

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