Embedded System for Real Time Data Manipulation, Display and Acquisition

Abstract

Real time data processing and manipulation is one of the major needs for remote sensing applications. During ground testing of electro-optical remote sensing payloads, the ground test instruments will be required to evaluate the data for payload performance. All the image processing algorithms are not generic in nature due to variety of detectors used, data output structures, mode of operation etc. So it is essential to implement all algorithms in reconfigurable hardware, which is cost effective solution. Advances in Remote sensing technology using FPGA & DSP have increased the use of FPGAs and DSPs. FPGA and DSP represent two very different approaches to digital signal processing each one is good for different levels. FPGA provides the re-configurability, straight forward processing and can handle repetitive, parallel task easily while DSP could not do it efficiently. Equally, DSP can solve highly complex algorithms, provides decision making i.e. adaptive processing and consumes less power as compared to FPGA. An embedded system was developed which takes the raw input image/data using Micron’s CMOS sensor, processes it in FPGA (Altera’s Cyclone-IV) & DSP (Analog Devices TigerSHARC), displays the image/ results on DVI monitor and acquires the sensor data into PC using PCI acquisition card for further analysis. This whole process is on-board process so this system is used for real time applications. For developing this system, demosaicing algorithm & DVI controller in FPGA, demosaicing algorithm & radiometric correction for Hyperspectral image sensor in DSP and sensor data display in DSP & DVI and acquisition into PC using PCI acquisition card at 26.6Mp/s was implemented & tested.