2,963 research outputs found
Video Processing Acceleration using Reconfigurable Logic and Graphics Processors
A vexing question is `which architecture will prevail as the core feature of the next state of
the art video processing system?' This thesis examines the substitutive and collaborative
use of the two alternatives of the reconfigurable logic and graphics processor architectures.
A structured approach to executing architecture comparison is presented - this includes a
proposed `Three Axes of Algorithm Characterisation' scheme and a formulation of perfor-
mance drivers. The approach is an appealing platform for clearly defining the problem,
assumptions and results of a comparison. In this work it is used to resolve the advanta-
geous factors of the graphics processor and reconfigurable logic for video processing, and
the conditions determining which one is superior. The comparison results prompt the
exploration of the customisable options for the graphics processor architecture. To clearly
define the architectural design space, the graphics processor is first identifed as part of
a wider scope of homogeneous multi-processing element (HoMPE) architectures. A novel
exploration tool is described which is suited to the investigation of the customisable op-
tions of HoMPE architectures. The tool adopts a systematic exploration approach and a
high-level parameterisable system model, and is used to explore pre- and post-fabrication
customisable options for the graphics processor. A positive result of the exploration is the
proposal of a reconfigurable engine for data access (REDA) to optimise graphics processor
performance for video processing-specific memory access patterns. REDA demonstrates
the viability of the use of reconfigurable logic as collaborative `glue logic' in the graphics
processor architecture
Design of multimedia processor based on metric computation
Media-processing applications, such as signal processing, 2D and 3D graphics
rendering, and image compression, are the dominant workloads in many embedded
systems today. The real-time constraints of those media applications have
taxing demands on today's processor performances with low cost, low power and
reduced design delay. To satisfy those challenges, a fast and efficient
strategy consists in upgrading a low cost general purpose processor core. This
approach is based on the personalization of a general RISC processor core
according the target multimedia application requirements. Thus, if the extra
cost is justified, the general purpose processor GPP core can be enforced with
instruction level coprocessors, coarse grain dedicated hardware, ad hoc
memories or new GPP cores. In this way the final design solution is tailored to
the application requirements. The proposed approach is based on three main
steps: the first one is the analysis of the targeted application using
efficient metrics. The second step is the selection of the appropriate
architecture template according to the first step results and recommendations.
The third step is the architecture generation. This approach is experimented
using various image and video algorithms showing its feasibility
Coarse-grained reconfigurable array architectures
Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Array (CGRA) architectures accelerate the same inner loops that benefit from the high ILP support in VLIW architectures. By executing non-loop code on other cores, however, CGRAs can focus on such loops to execute them more efficiently. This chapter discusses the basic principles of CGRAs, and the wide range of design options available to a CGRA designer, covering a large number of existing CGRA designs. The impact of different options on flexibility, performance, and power-efficiency is discussed, as well as the need for compiler support. The ADRES CGRA design template is studied in more detail as a use case to illustrate the need for design space exploration, for compiler support and for the manual fine-tuning of source code
Virtual Prototyping for Dynamically Reconfigurable Architectures using Dynamic Generic Mapping
This paper presents a virtual prototyping methodology for Dynamically Reconfigurable (DR) FPGAs. The methodology is based around a library of VHDL image processing components and allows the rapid prototyping and algorithmic development of low-level image processing systems. For the effective modelling of dynamically reconfigurable designs a new technique named, Dynamic Generic Mapping is introduced. This method allows efficient representation of dynamic reconfiguration without needing any additional components to model the reconfiguration process. This gives the designer more flexibility in modelling dynamic configurations than other methodologies. Models created using this technique can then be simulated and targeted to a specific technology using the same code. This technique is demonstrated through the realisation of modules for a motion tracking system targeted to a DR environment, RIFLE-62
FPGA-based real-time moving target detection system for unmanned aerial vehicle application
Moving target detection is the most common task for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to find and track object of interest from a bird's eye view in mobile aerial surveillance for civilian applications such as search and rescue operation. The complex detection algorithm can be implemented in a real-time embedded system using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This paper presents the development of real-time moving target detection System-on-Chip (SoC) using FPGA for deployment on a UAV. The detection algorithm utilizes area-based image registration technique which includes motion estimation and object segmentation processes. The moving target detection system has been prototyped on a low-cost Terasic DE2-115 board mounted with TRDB-D5M camera. The system consists of Nios II processor and stream-oriented dedicated hardware accelerators running at 100 MHz clock rate, achieving 30-frame per second processing speed for 640 × 480 pixels' resolution greyscale videos
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