System on fabrics architecture using distributed computing

Abstract

This paper describes a novel, distributed sensor network with parallel processing capability based on the Instruction Systolic Array (ISA). A new computing paradigm is introduced where spatially distributed sensors are closely coupled to processing elements and the whole array forms a parallel computer. This may find applications in wearable devices for sensing the position and other metrics of a human body and rapidly processing that data. A new programming model to implement the distributed computer on fabrics is described. The fabric-based distributed computing concept has been validated using a number of parallel applications including a real-time shape sensing and reconstruction application. The exemplar wearable system based on the ISA concept has been realized using off-the-shelf microcontrollers and sensors. Results show that the application executes on the prototype ISA implementation in real time thus confirming the viability of the proposed architecture for fabric-resident computing devices