Stochastic Computing: An Introduction

Abstract

Stochastic Computing (SC) essentially represents numbers as streams of random bits and reconstructs numbers by calculating frequencies. It employs random bits to calculate via simpler circuits and with greater tolerance for errors. As a computing paradigm, SC is currently undergoing a revival. Since stochastic circuits have a small size, SC has regained interest recently due to its potential usage in some emerging nanotechnologies. In this paper, we briefly present stochastic computing and discuss its applications, benefits, and challenges.