The Robin Soft-Core: A Paradigm for Studying VHDL and Computer Architecture

Robin soft-core is a new, small footprint, open-source processor, designed as an educational project, using the hardware description language VHDL. The processor is being developed based on specifications which are detailed in the present paper. Each processor part is implemented as a student project. The relevant documentation is part of the teaching material in the lesson of digital systems design, as well as in other modules of the curriculum, like computer architecture and embedded systems. Being an open project, the development of the Robin soft-core invites students and other contributors to develop their own version of the processor and its peripherals. The current implementation is based on a MAX10 FPGA device by Intel.