Aladdin processor: a miniaturized target recognition processor with multi-GFLOP throughput

Alliant Techsystem's Aladdin processor is a real-time automatic target recognition processor that provides 2 GFLOPS of 32-bit floating point operations and 1 GOP of 16-bit fixed point operations simultaneously in a soup-can size package only 4.5 inches in diameter by 6.0 inches long. It is highly modular, and can be scaled up to 50 GOPS + 8 GFLOPS to satisfy target recognition and tracking needs using sensors as large as 2048 X 2048 pixels suitable for helicopters and aircraft, or down to 66 MFLOPS on a 2 square inch multichip module for a minimum hardware configuration suitable for missiles and smart munitions. A 6U VME chassis configuration is also available. All hardware configurations are Ada- programmable and share a common Ada software development environment and Ada runtime system for cost-effective life-cycle operation. This paper describes the hardware architecture of the processor along with the Ada runtime system, the software development environment, and the software programming methodology. Typical system applications are included to illustrate the versatility and cost effectiveness of the processor.