Parallel rule-based fuzzy inference on mesh-connected systolic arrays

The authors describe a scheme for performing fuzzy-reasoning and fuzzy-inference operations in parallel on mesh-connected array processors such as the geometric arithmetic parallel processor (GAPP) and the advanced systolic array processor (ASAP). The reasoning mechanism is a general, fuzzy, rule-based inference network. The array is configured into stages, and the scheme operates in a pipeline configuration, where different sets of data move sequentially between the stages. The authors investigated the tradeoff between space and time complexity of the proposed technique and achieved a fast, space-efficient implementation of the approach. Before presenting the proposed system, they review briefly the concepts of inexact reasoning, fuzzy inference, and mesh-connected fine-grain parallel computer architecture.<>