Fast PCI for Smart Networking Radios

Fast PCI bus (GaAs crossbar) technology improves performance of future smart networking radio communication nodes with focus on an application payload on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). SPEC's Fast PCI crossbar of N sockets provides "N/2 X" throughput improvement compared to standard high speed computer bus (implies for N = 2, there is equality, but for N = 4, 8, 16 the factor of improvement is 2X, 4X, 8X respectively). Figure of merit improves Quality of Service (QoS), Speed of Service (SoS), and modularity.In this Phase I program, SPEC will: (1) identify throughput constraints in the smart networking radio, (2) assess these constraints by modeling, and (3) remove constraints by application of Fast PCI crossbar technology. This effort supports adaptive, low weight, low power, low cost digital processors for UAV communications node. Technical strategy planned for Fast PCI integrates technology from two SPEC programs: (1) crossbar technology (Fast Packet Satellite Switch, FPSS, developed by SPEC with Rome Laboratory sponsorship) and (2) port technology, applying a high speed RAM based GaAs Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) also developed by SPEC. SPEC will be assisted in this investigation by Dr. Ron Vidano, Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group, with advice and counsel on current smart network radio technology.