Computational Acceleration for Next Generation Chemical Standoff Sensors Using FPGAs

Abstract

This research provides the real-time computational resource for three dimensional tomographic chemical threat mapping using mobile hyperspectral sensors from sparse input data. The crucial calculation limiting real-time execution of the algorithm is the determination of the projection matrix using the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART). The computation utilizes the inherent parallel nature of ART with an implementation of the algorithm on a field programmable gate array. The MATLAB Fixed-Point Toolbox is used to determine the optimal fixed-point data types in the conversion from the original floating-point algorithm. The computation is then implemented using the Xilinx System Generator, which generates a hardware description language representation from a block diagram design.