Inrush Current Control Technology Boosts Power Converter Reliability

Tech Recon
Managing and Processing the ISR Data Deluge
GPGPU Technology Eases
Persistent Imaging Processing
Challenges
For the data-intensive processing needs of persistent image processing, GPGPUs
can outperform CPUs at real-time parallel data stream computation.
Anne Mascarin, Solutions Marketing Manager
Mercury Computer Systems
Although used previously in conventional
warfare applications, persistent
imaging is a major new advancement
in the war against terror. Radar,
electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), signals
intelligence (SIGINT) and hyper-spectral
are among the sensor system modalities
that can be used for this purpose. The ability
to collect, process and compare outputs
from these sensor systems captured from
aboard a moving platform such as an Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or from a
stationary airborne platform such as an
aerostat, can provide the warfighter with
invaluable situational awareness.
Since today’s modern sensors can
gather so much data during long collection
missions, extracting the real-time
actionable information from the data
and storing it for later forensic analysis
is a challenging task (Figure 1). There are
some key technologies worth exploring
for addressing this challenge using highperformance
embedded computing to
process and reduce the data from current
and next-generation sensors.
Persistent Imaging Processing
The derivation of real-time actionable
information from sensor data is a
[ 44 ] COTS Journal November 2011
Figure 1
Today’s modern sensors can gather so much data during long collection missions that
extracting the real-time actionable information from the data, and storing it for later
forensic analysis, is a challenge. A Global Hawk UAV shown here gets all pre-flight checks
accomplished from maintenance technicians before a mission.
compute-intensive, real-time operation
that requires SWaP (Size, Weight and
Power)—optimized, ultra-high speed,
real-time processing power. Traditionally
used only in gaming, GPGPUs are
performance powerhouses in terms of
performance and SWaP optimization.
In many instances, GPGPUs can outperform
CPUs. GPGPUs excel at performing
mathematical operations such as image
processing on parallel data streams, because
GPGPUs are actually highly par-