MOUSHIK

Subject: Science and tech

 Context: The Department of Computer Science and Engineering of IIT-Madras recently announced that it had developed a microprocessor christened (named) ‘Moushik’.

Concept:

• It is a processor-cum-system on a chip that can cater to the rapidly-growing IoT devices.
• It was conceptualised, designed and developed at Pratap Subrahmanyam Centre for Digital Intelligence and Secure Hardware Architecture (PS-CDISHA) of RISE group.
• The project was funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The design of the microprocessor, motherboard printed circuit board design, assembly and post-silicon boot-up were done at IIT Madras.
• The foundry-specific back-end design and fabrication was undertaken at Semi-Conductor Laboratory of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• Shakthi Moushik SOC will constitute the heart of an indigenously-developed motherboard called Ardonyx 1.0.
• The field application of Moushik includes smart cards, such as credit and debit cards; ID cards; travel cards for Metros and driving licences; electronic voting machines; office management systems including attendance, surveillance cameras and safe locks; personalised health management systems; consumer electronics, including washing machines and water pump monitoring systems.
• The indigenous effort reduces the risk of deploying systems that may be infected with back-doors and hardware Trojans.

Additional Information: IIT Madras developed a biodegradable wrapping material, with a built in antibacterial compound to prevent food contamination and to reduce plastic waste.

It has won SITARE – Gandhian young technological innovation appreciation 2020.