DARPA / Tri-Services

Rapid Prototyping of Application Specific Signal Processors (RASSP)

Program Archive

This site contains archives of the DARPA/Tri-Services RASSP Program output. Highlights of the RASSP program still relevant are listed here below. Full archived material can be perused via the panel at the left. Start with the background description if unfamiliar with this activity.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Benchmark -- VHDL Executable Requirement

The two RASSP developers used this MIT-LL developed VHDL executable requirement, along with a written document, as the description of functional and timing requirements for the real-time SAR image processor. Both used it as a starting point in construction of a virtual prototype. The VHDL and C simulators for a real-time processor of SAR radar data, created in the RASSP program, and the corresponding documentation are now available.

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories

(see also LM ATL RASSP)
LM ATL was one of two prime contractors on the RASSP program. Their approach was to spend the funds to develop missing pieces and integrate the commercial market place tool suites. As such, they redistributed almost one fourth of the total RASSP program funds to over 30 commercial EDA tool organizations. Their site continues to capture much of the results of this effort which funded many of the tool interfaces used ny the market today. Their case studies and demonstration vehicles also helped apply and test the results.

VHDL Taxonomy

To address the need for conventions in modeling and terminology, the participating organizations of the RASSP program formed the RASSP Terminology Working Group (RTWG). Based upon examination and comparison of previously published modeling taxonomies, the working group designed a multi-axis taxonomy to describe the information content of VHDL model types and abstraction levels and to facilitate selection and construction of interoperable models. The taxonomy is then used to concisely refine the definitions of modeling terms that are especially important in RASSP.

Rapid Prototyping of Application Specific Signal Processors

A book published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. Edited by: Mark A. Richards, Anthony J. Gadient, and Geoffrey A. Frank

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Most of the material on this site was originally collected, organized and hosted by the RASSP Educator and Facilitator (RASSP E&F) contractor, the South Carolina Research Agency (SCRA). Most of the design activity from SCRA has moved into the affiliated Advanced Technology Institute (ATI).