Next Generation Radar and Signal Processing Using the Cell Broadband Engine

The Cell processor architecture represents a significant shift in deeply coupled multi-core processor architecture. In the first implementation, the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE) has broken new ground in clock speed, density and power dissipation. By creating a design optimized for a specific class of algorithms, the CBE can deliver peak performance of over 250Gflops and has been measured with sustained performance of nearly 50X that of conventional processors on multiple benchmarks. Intended as the core processor for the upcoming PS-3 gaming console, the CBE design in optimized for the high computational demands of real time image and scene manipulation. In this project, we will leverage these capabilities to achieve similar performance improvements for selected Navy compute intensive algorithms. In our phase I program, we will identify, analyze and benchmark the performance of specific algorithms of Navy interest. In Phase II, we will deliver and extensible and parameterized library of pre-coded modules for use in CBE-based development environment for Navy systems. BENEFITS: Given the paradigms shift embodied in the Cell Processor architecture, there will a considerable market for an updated software base capable of exploiting the capabilities of this new generation of processors. Radar and signal processing applications on the current chip has significant military and civilian applications. Certain modeling and simulation applications are also like to be able to exploit this architecture. While the specific libraries developed in this project are likely to be limited to military applications, the system implementation strategy and development environment will be easily ported to additional application domains.