A distributed programmable signal processor and forecast of performance in the eighties

Data processing requirements for military applications, such as real time processing of optical sensor data onboard an interceptor, are discussed with attention to the development of future capabilities. A signal processor capable of operating at extremely high rates (over 16 million instructions per second) when used with current state-of-the-art optical sensors is described. The processor uses silicon TTL logic and memory components, and functions as a 3 processing module test version. It is suggested that GaAs E-JFETs and E-MESFETs will become the fastest of the LSI technologies with speed power products in the femto joule range and that flight signal processors having capabilities in excess of 100 million operations per second will be feasible in the 1980 to 1985 time frame.