The Martin Marietta advanced systolic array processor

An overview of the Martin Marietta Advanced Systolic Array Processor (ASAP) is presented. The modular design of the ASAP allows a user to build as large a processor as desired by concatenating multiple, independently programmable unit arrays. Each unit array, housed on a single VME card, is composed of a two-dimensional grid of 256 bit serial nearest-neighbor connected single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) processors, a local controller, and all I/O support. Multiple unit arrays can have any configuration desired: all SIMD, groups of SIMD arrays with multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) between groups, or all MIMD. A product description, performance comparisons for five massively parallel bit serial machines, and planned enhancements are also discussed