Introduction to the Special Issue on FPL 2022
Andreas Koch, Kentaro Sano · ACM Transactions on Reconfigurable Technology and Systems · 2024
The International Conference on Field-Programmable Logic and Applications (FPL)is widely regarded to be the premier venue for presenting current research on reconfigurable technology in Europe.As the original conference in this domain, FPL continues to be a most comprehensive gathering for experts, researchers, and enthusiasts in this dynamic and evolving area.In 2022, the 32nd event has returned to Belfast, where it already took place in 2001.Despite this long history, FPL's key topics remain as relevant as ever.Field-programmable devices, notably FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), present a unique blend of the benefits of dedicated hardware-such as enhanced performance and power efficiency-combined with a versatility and user-friendly nature akin to software.This duality positions them as an attractive option in scenarios where traditional computing platforms like CPUs or GPUs fall short in performance or flexibility, and where the deployment of fully application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) is impractical due to their prohibitive nonrecurring costs and the intensive design efforts required for contemporary silicon fabrication technologies.The scope of reconfigurable technology is vast, encompassing a broad spectrum of research areas crucial for its advancement.These areas include the development of innovative tools and design methodologies, the architecture of field-programmable systems, and the exploration of device technology for field-programmable chips.Equally important is the practical application of this technology-understanding how it can be effectively utilized in various domains to translate its potential into tangible benefits for end users.This exploration is fundamental in bridging the gap between theoretical advancements and real-world impacts.Across this wide range of topics, FPL 2022 received an initial 178 abstract submissions and 129 full submissions.After a reviewing process that included a rebuttal phase and at least three reviews for the research papers, 33 contributions could be accepted as full papers and 28 as short papers.In addition, the newly offered FPL journal track, which focused on more mature work profiting from a longer-form presentation, attracted eight submissions.Four of these contributions could be accepted for publication in ACM Transactions on Reconfigurable Technology and Systems (TRETS), and were also presented as regular talks at the event.After the conference, we invited the best 10 papers from the FPL conference to submit extended versions of their work to ACM TRETS for a special issue.