What is the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe? Can we detect radio, infrared, or visible light signals from alien civilizations? Current and future projects searching for such signals may provide an answer. Dan will describe [email protected], the new PANOSETI observatory, future searches, and show how FPGAs and new technologies are revolutionizing the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI).

This paper deals with system level design considerations for mm-size implantable electronic devices with wireless connectivity. In particular, it focuses on neural sensors as one application requiring such miniature interfaces. Common to all these implants is the need for power supply and a wireless interface. Wireless power transfer via electromagnetic fields is identified as a promising option for powering such devices. Design methodologies, system level trade-offs, as well as limitations of power supply systems based on electromagnetic coupling are discussed in detail. Further, various wireless data communication architectures are evaluated for their feasibility in the application. Reflective impulse radios are proposed as an alternative scheme for enabling highly scalable data transmission at <;1pJ/bit. Finally, design considerations for the corresponding reader system are addressed.

We present an automated placement algorithm for a high-bandwidth, streaming fast Fourier transform (FFT) generated using an open-source core generator. For radio spectral line analysis, we generate a 2048-point FFT for a standard commercial FPGA high-bandwidth spectrometer, which can process 16 digital samples per cycle simultaneously (streaming). Our placement algorithm enables this system to operate at 375 MHz and process a 6 GHz sampling rate, nearly 85% of the theoretical maximum FPGA clock rate. This algorithm is a special case of the junction tree algorithm from machine learning, and allows our design to support a 25% faster clock than the standard Xilinx tool flow implementation while using 50% less CPU time to compile. This gain is equivalent to gains induced by floor planning with no hand placement.

This paper describes the implementation of a large bandwidth multi-GPU signal processing system for radio astronomy observation. This system performs very large Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and spectrum analysis to achieve real-time analysis of a large bandwidth spectrum. This is accomplished by implementing a four-step FFT algorithm in Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA). The key feature of this implementation is that the data size transferred between CPU and GPU is reduced using redundant calculation. We also apply pipeline execution to our system to minimize idle processor time, even with multiple GPUs on a shared bus. Using a single GPU, this system can analyze 1 GB of signal data (128 MHz bandwidth at 1 Hz resolution in single precision floating-point complex format) in 0.44 seconds. With the multi-GPU setup, using four GPUs enables 4 GB of signal data to be processed in 0.82 seconds. This is equivalent to a processing speed of around 60 GFLOPS. In particular, we focus on using this system in the Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations (SERENDIP) project. By using multiple GPUs we can get enough practical performance for high bandwidth radio astronomy projects such as SERENDIP.

The first 42 elements of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA-42) are beginning to deliver data at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in northern California. Scientists and engineers are actively exploiting all of the flexibility designed into this innovative instrument for simultaneously conducting surveys of the astrophysical sky and conducting searches for distant technological civilizations. This paper summarizes the design elements of the ATA, the cost savings made possible by the use of commercial off-the-shelf components, and the cost/performance tradeoffs that eventually enabled this first snapshot radio camera. The fundamental scientific program of this new telescope is varied and exciting; some of the first astronomical results will be discussed.

Summary form only given. Next generation radio telescopes, such as the Allen telescope array and the square kilometer array are composed of hundreds to thousands of smaller telescopes; these large arrays require peta-ops per second of real time processing to combine telescope signals, generate images, and search for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. I will describe these telescopes, their instrumentation, and the motivation for peta-op/sec FPGA systems.