This Round Table will be held on 4th and 5th October.

Introduction
A general purpose processor for digital signal processing is a specific need of a wide range of on-board payload data processing applications and systems in earth observation, science, exploration and telecommunication. Such a processor can be characterized by the ability to sustain a high data throughput combined with a high performance level in terms of (floating point) arithmetic operations. Its architecture and the programming tools need to be easy to use and it shall be suitable for a large variety of different applications.

In the past the workhorse used in digital signal processing for on-board applications was clearly the TSC21020F produced by ATMEL (F). This processor is a radiation hardened version of the ADSP21020 from Analog Devices, pin to pin compatible with its commercial equivalent. Therefore, it benefits from all the tools and other developments performed for the original device. The success of the TSC21020F reached beyond pure DSP and payload applications and addressed also markets outside Europe. Even though it is expected that this processor will still be available for a number of years the performance has to be considered to be out-dated today and not suitable as a basis for new payload data processing developments.

The Round Table on the Next Generation Processor for On-Board Payload Data Processing Applications shall address requirements and possible solutions for a device that needs to be selected or specified along with its development strategy.

Objectives
Through presentations and discussions, the Round Table on the Next Generation Processor for On-Board Payload Data Processing Applications shall lead to the elaboration of a clear roadmap, providing a development route consistent with reviewed requirements.

The workshop will be held along the following overall structure:

	1.	The first session shall focus on the needs of current and future missions and on-board signal processing applications. It shall also provide an overview of the current state of the art of underlying space technologies. The main objective is to derive an harmonised set of requirements addressing in particular processing performance, data throughput, accuracy, programmability, tools etc.
	2.	The second session shall focus on possible options to get a Next Generation Processor that is able to fulfil the requirements of future On-Board Payload Data Processing Applications. Without attempting to prescribe any preferred option, the following non exhaustive list intends to give an overview on possible routes:   a. Radiation hardening of a mainstream COTS DSP in a way similar to the one followed for the TSC21020.   b. Radiation hardening and adaptation of a European DSP core like the DIOPSIS 740 Processor from Atmel able to provide up to 1Gflops @ 100MHz clock speed, with the option of substituting the ARM core with a LEON3 core.   c. Implementation of a LEON3-FT based multi core architecture, with improved Floating Point Unit and possibly other DSP extensions. This would enlarge the successful European space processor family and extend it to signal processing applications.   d. Implementation of a Dynamically Reconfigurable Multi Core Processing Structure on a radiation tolerant ASIC technology providing high throughput data I/O paths and a matrix of configurable array processing cores. This technology is aiming at closing the gap between FPGA and programmable DSP.   e. Using COTS DSP devices complemented by hardening measures against radiation effects, not at component level but by introducing the required error correction at computer board level.   f. Using co-processors or specialised processing devices which are manufactured in radiation hard ASIC technology.
	3.	The third session shall revisit and discuss the presented options with respect to their capability to fulfil the requirements. Preferences shall be established and recommendations shall be agreed.

Deadline
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 28 August 2007.

Abstract Submission
Contributions in forms of well focused oral presentations are welcome.
Please submit your (maximum) 1-page abstract through the on-line submission form available here.

For changes after your submission, use your USER ID and password to access the following page.

Contact Point for Technical Content Matters

Avionics Reference Architectures	Philippe Armbruster Alain Benoit Juan Miro e: ASG @ esa.int
Integrated Modular Avionics	Kjeld Hjortnaes e: Kjeld.Hjortnaes @ esa.int
Control Systems H/W	Roger Jansson e: Roger.Jansson @ esa.int
Automatic Control Needs for Space Applications	Samir Bennani e: Samir.Bennani @ esa.int
Next Generation Processors for Onboard Payload Data Processing Application	Martin Suess e: NGDSP.ADCSS07 @ esa.int