On-board Neural Processor Design for an Intelligent Multi-sensor Microspacecraft

A compact VLSI neural processor based on the Optimization Cellular Neural Network (OCNN)has been under development to provide a wide range of support for an intelligent remote sensing microspacecraft which requires both high bandwidth communication and high-performance computing for on-board data analysis, thematic data reduction, synergy of multiple types of sensors, and other smart-sensor functions. The OCNN architecture is a programmable multi-dimensional array of neurons which are locally connected with their local neurons. The OCNN operation theory, architecture, design and implementation, prototype chip, and system applications have been investigated in detail and presented in this paper.