Exploiting Half-Wits: Smarter Storage for Low-Power Devices

This work analyzes the stochastic behavior of writing to embedded flash memory at voltages lower than recommended by a microcontroller's specifications to reduce energy consumption. Flash memory integrated within a microcontroller typically requires the entire chip to operate on common supply voltage almost double what the CPU portion requires. The approach tolerates a lower supply voltage so that the CPU may operate in a more energy efficient manner. Energy efficient coding algorithms then cope with flash memory that behaves unpredictably.