David: A Core-Based Digital Signal Processor

Digital signal processing (DSP), a multiply-accumulate (MAC) intensive technology, is revolutionizing defense planning systems. The next generation of missile systems will have a high DSP content, undoubtedly based on cell-based integrated circuits (CBICs) along with an integrating electronic design automation (EDA) environment. DSP CBICs can range from complex standard cell objects to narrowly focused FPGA macros. The EDA environment will consist of a highly integrated collection of CBIC. IC integration, and board level design and verification tools. The proposed study will provide the Army with a state-of-the-art analysis of this field, plus identify and exploit several new opportunities such as David, an innovative, fast, compact, MAC-centric CBIC technology with built-in testing logic. David will be shown to have the ability to bypass an entire generation of DSP cores. Included in the software integration study will be best-of-breed EDA systems, behavioral level synthesis tools which create a new bridge from VHDL processor to board-level system design activities, an evaluation of the impact of very long instruction word (VLIW) architecture on missile signal processing, and the rigorous and accurate design and simulation of important missile-seeking DSP applications. BENEFITS: The Army has immediate and future needs for smarter missile systems which fully exploit the potential of DSP. DSP CBIC technology will provide robust, low-cost solutions to missile-seeking problems. The same technology will also provide immediate benefits to high-end defense and civilian application areas.