Multiple projects underway with the world-renowned university.
Our collaboration with this world-renowned university stretches across a wide range of topics, all conceived to help boost and realize the potential of research. None is more important than security, which continues to pose a serious threat to devices, systems, and software use globally.
Backed by funding from DARPA that was allocated to find ways to make computers fundamentally more secure, Cambridge University’s department of computer science and technology developed CHERI, a system to make compartmentalization more efficient and scalable. Arm joined the team to map CHERI into the Arm architecture, resulting in a successful project now known as Morello.
In creating CHERI, the team redesigned security from the ground up, looking at software models, the OS, the run-time system, the applications and how the hardware-software interface and processor microarchitecture could be overhauled to meet the demands of the future. Cambridge University wanted its technology to be open and freely available everywhere and Arm supported that mission with the Morello program based on our A-Profile architecture.
Arm recognizes that research can take many paths and we remain committed to exploring research that matters, no matter how long it takes.
CHERI Blossoms into Morello
Arm has released the prototype architecture specifications for Morello, along with the software simulator (Morello Platform Model) and the Cambridge University software stack that runs on top of it. In the summer of 2021, the UK government awarded 11 grants to fund UK university research using Morello/CHERI.
Beyond the exciting technology, Arm's collaboration with the university has allowed PhD students to flourish, contributing to their research and leading them to internships at Arm. The new wave of engineers is coming and some of them will be experts in everything CHERI.
More than 200 Arm experts worked on the Morello design.
Research Project: Partners in Parallel
When Dr. Timothy Jones finished his PhD and was looking to establish his career, one email to Arm changed everything. It led to new collaborators, invaluable industry insight, and a high-level mentor – opportunities he has since passed on to the next generation of computer scientists. Timothy’s PhD students work on various things:
Working Toward the Same Goals
Timothy Jones is a perfect example of academia working with industry. Academics love a challenge and industry loves the solution. Together, we see real innovation, with great thinking and thoughtful execution. Timothy had access to information, people, and IP, and at the end of his fellowship, Arm provided PhD studentships.
The Next Generation of Engineers
Passing on our knowledge is something we’re passionate about in the Arm Research group. As Timothy worked closely with Arm, it was natural for us to give each student a mentor – to show them the ropes, encourage forward thinking, and provide expert advice at every point. At the end of day, we’re researching five to ten years ahead.
Three patents were generated based on the work of these students, and one student now works for Arm. In addition, the UK government awarded 11 additional university grants related to work on this project.
“The work we have done has had an impact within Arm, and it would be fantastic to be able to pick up a device and say I helped develop some of the stuff inside it. Not many computer architecture academics can say that.”
