FEBRUARY 3--The RACE++ Series VantageRT FCN module from Mercury Computer Systems Inc. (Chelmsford, MA; www.mc.com) is a signal- and image-processing system that integrates both field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and PowerPC microprocessors into a RACE++ multicomputer. Certain types of computational operations run 10 to 50 times faster on an FPGA than on a PowerPC microprocessor. Portions of applications that employ simple, compute-intensive and highly repetitive operations can be directed to the FPGAs, increasing performance and saving customers space, weight, power, and money. More complex portions of applications can be run on PowerPC processors, which are easier to program, so overall development time remains manageable.
The VantageRT FCN is a new design for Mercury's VantageRT PCI product family. The system consists of a PCI form factor module with one FPGA compute node and two PowerPC processors connected to a RACE++ crossbar. Using Mercury's RACE++ Interlink modules, VantageRT FCN modules can be configured with other members of the VantageRT family, including VantageRT 7410 dual-G4 and VantageRT HCD quad-G4 modules.
The VantageRT FCN system is targeted at several applications. In medical imaging, Mercury's FPGA approach has already been demonstrated effectively for back-projection processing using cone-beam reconstruction, as part of a computed-tomography application. In defense electronics, the VantageRT FCN will initially be used near the front end of radar applications, with similar uses planned in signals intelligence applications.
Integrating the VantageRT FCN into a complete application system is simpler and faster with the FDK (FCN Developers Kit) suite of development tools and services for FPGA applications. The FDK contains off-the-shelf, ready-to-use components for managing input and output data flows and memory transfers in FPGA applications, reducing the time and risk involved in developing fully functional applications that exploit the power of FPGA computing.
