Cognition Engines: A Row-Scale HVDC Architecture for Computational Continuity of AI

Abstract

AI training creates synchronized, step-dominant surges with millisecond edges that destabilize constant-power loads (Choukse et al., 2025; arXiv:2508.14318). We propose a physics-anchored row-scale $\pm 400$ Vdc architecture that makes Computational Continuity a structural property. DRUs supply fast energy via controlled droop; SSTs regulate average power with bounded ramps and no reverse power flow and no high-frequency export at the PCC; import is subjected to a bounded dP/dt envelope; film capacitance and clamps absorb the first edge. The contract is explicit: $\pm 1\%$ steady-band, $\leq 2\%$ transient deviation, $\leq 3$ ms recovery, $\geq 45^{\circ}$ margin, reserve floors intact, yields spine and lowest branches. Recharge is valley-following (admitted only below Avg with MW headroom; $\leq 5$ kW/s per row ramps). Protection is time-graded (branch $\mu$s, row ms, MW seconds). Scaling preserves invariants from row to pod/hall/campus without retuning. Conformance is by waveform evidence (microsecond branch clears, $2\%/50$ ms holds, FLISR with no reverse power flow and no high-frequency export at the PCC). The result is not tuning but a contract for continuity.