Development of Benchtop Evaluation Capability for Analog Probability Processing Technology

Analog probability processing technology has the ability to provide game-changing performance advances and power savings for on-board data processing applications. Evaluate space environment radiation performance of Analog Devices Lyric Labs' analog probability processing technology. Develop preliminary architecture concepts for demonstration experiments using pre-existing designs, such as forward error correction or fast Fourier transform application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The collaboration with Analog Devices Lyric Labs was enabled via interactions with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Analog Devices Lyric Labs was formerly Lyric Semiconductor before being acquired by Analog Devices, Inc. in the summer of 2011. We will perform lab bench evaluations using Analog Devices Lyric Labs evaluation hardware as well as the NASA/GSFC Radiation Effects and Analysis Group field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based low-cost digital tester. The evaluation hardware will be used to inform spaceflight hardware design decisions. The Analog Devices Lyric Labs probability processing technologies are fabricated in commonly-available commerical complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Part of this project will also be to interface with other technology developers and scientists, both inside and outside of NASA/GSFC. Analog probability processing is enough of a paradigm shift that the end-user applications may not be known a priori and may either be based on insertion into pre-exisiting functions or development of new capabilities that could not be realized with existing hardware. The probability processing hardware utilized for this project is the property of Analog Devices Lyric Labs and was developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract. There is currently follow-on work at DARPA under the Unconventional Processing of Signals for Intelligent Data Exploitation (UPSIDE) program.

Analog probability processing technology promises game-changing performance advances and power savings, particularly for onboard data-processing applications. As a result, the principal investigator is pursuing additional partnerships to promote its infusion and is strengthening his collaboration with DARPA and other government entities, further strengthening NASA's knowledge in this potentially revolutionary technology.

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