F-LSTM: FPGA-Based Heterogeneous Computing Framework for Deploying LSTM-Based Algorithms

Abstract

Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks have been widely used to solve sequence modeling problems. For researchers, using LSTM networks as the core and combining it with pre-processing and post-processing to build complete algorithms is a general solution for solving sequence problems. As an ideal hardware platform for LSTM network inference, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with low power consumption and low latency characteristics can accelerate the execution of algorithms. However, implementing LSTM networks on FPGA requires specialized hardware and software knowledge and optimization skills, which is a challenge for researchers. To reduce the difficulty of deploying LSTM networks on FPGAs, we propose F-LSTM, an FPGA-based framework for heterogeneous computing. With the help of F-LSTM, researchers can quickly deploy LSTM-based algorithms to heterogeneous computing platforms. FPGA in the platform will automatically take up the computation of the LSTM network in the algorithm. At the same time, the CPU will perform the pre-processing and post-processing in the algorithm. To better design the algorithm, compress the model, and deploy the algorithm, we also propose a framework based on F-LSTM. The framework also integrates Pytorch to increase usability. Experimental results on sentiment analysis tasks show that deploying algorithms to the F-LSTM hardware platform can achieve a 1.8× performance improvement and a 5.4× energy efficiency improvement compared to GPU. Experimental results also validate the need to build heterogeneous computing systems. In conclusion, our work reduces the difficulty of deploying LSTM on FPGAs while guaranteeing algorithm performance compared to traditional work.