Emu Solutions, LLC: Eliminating data ‘bottlenecks’ on microprocessors

As microprocessors have gotten faster, and as computer chip companies place more and more processors on a single “multi-core” chip, a bottleneck has developed that clogs the flow of data between processors and memory.

Emu is developing innovative solutions for reducing or eliminating the data bottleneck through their proprietary “Enhanced Memory Utilization (Emu)” hardware and software technology.

Founded in 2004 by Notre Dame computer science and engineering professors Peter Kogge and Jay Brockman, and California Institute of Technology researcher Ed Upchurch, Emu’s technology draws on patents that Kogge and Brockman obtained through Notre Dame for their work in computer architecture and systems design.

Upchurch, the company’s CEO, says he looked at facilities in California and Texas, but was greatly impressed with what Innovation Park offered.

Dr. Peter Kogge, Dr. Jay Brockman and Shannon Kuntz

“The building, the office space and the state-of-the-art technology are fantastic,” he says. “I also really liked the people and their enthusiasm. It’s fantastic. We couldn’t find anything like this elsewhere.

“Moreover, the way things are set up at Innovation Park is ideal for us. We don’t need a lot of hand-holding, but we do need a private and secure work environment to develop our highly proprietary technology. We appreciate that Innovation Park fulfills and respects this need.”

Upchurch says the fact that the park is across the street from where Kogge and Brockman work is a great advantage.

“It’s ideal, they can just walk over,” he says. “It’s also a great place for meetings. I’m sure potential customers will be impressed. There is a great supply of very good students in computer science and computer engineering that we can tap as potential employees.”

Innovation Park’s central location in the middle of the country also is a plus for Emu, Upchurch says. With potential contracts in Washington, D.C., company officials in South Bend will have a shorter flight to the nation’s capitol than competitors in California.

“Peter and Jake can pop over to D.C. easily,” he says. “So all in all, this is a fine location for us. We’re very pleased.”