journal article·2025-10-24Open access

LLM Agents as Catalysts for Resilient DFT: An Orchestration-Based Framework Beyond Brittle Scripts

Hailong Li, Yun Wang, Jian Liu, Haiyang Liu

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 21

Abstract

As the complexity of Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits escalates, Design-for-Test (DFT) faces significant challenges. Traditional script-based automation flows are increasingly complex and present a high technical barrier for non-specialists. In order to overcome the above issue, this paper introduces DFTAgent, a novel framework that leverages Large Language Models to intelligently orchestrate a DFT toolchain. DFTAgent is evaluated on the ISCAS’85, ISCAS’89, and ITC’99 benchmarks. The results demonstrate that DFTAgent successfully completes the complete ATPG task cycle, achieving fault coverage comparable to a manually scripted baseline while exhibiting significant advantages in flexibility and error handling. By abstracting complex DFT tools behind a natural language interface and a visual workflow, this approach promises to democratize access to advanced VLSI testing methodologies and accelerate design cycles.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation · Security and Verification in Computing · Semiconductor materials and devices

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China

Guangdong Greater Bay Area Institute of Integrated Circuits and Systems, Guangzhou 510530, China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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