A modular massively parallel computing approach to image-related processing

A modular massively parallel computing (Modular-MPC) philosophy to image-related processing is discussed in this paper The approach is based on application-specific configurations of generic fine-grain Single Instruction stream operating on Multiple Data (SIMD) streams massively parallel computing modules to achieve high performance and maximal flexibility and programmability while remaining cost-effective. The need for a software architecture to allow programming such systems is highlighted and the implementations on current Modular-MPC systems are described. The experience with ASTRA, a Modular-MPC testbed system, in image related application development and system performance has led to a technology road-map using VLSI, MCM, and monolithic WSI technologies aiming at 'future proofing' of the Modular-MPC concept and systems achieving T (10/sup 12/) operations per second performance. This experience and progress are discussed together with the implementation of three image-related processing applications.