MNB technologies has an FPGA mini-board that runs Linux called turboRTAG. This would fit in the desired form factor but would need to be upgraded with a more powerful configuration.
MNB Technologies Inc., is in the process of developing a wearable superworkstation with the capacity of 12 Gflops (six dual core processors) in a gadget the size of a notebook. The fully functional prototype is scheduled for delivery in March 2009 and production quantities will be available in June 2009. Pricing will be announced in February 2009.
The company announced that the Department of Defense has awarded them an $85,000 grant to further its development of the wearable paper back book sized supercomputer. The wireless computer is strapped to a soldier’s belt and is viewed through a high-definition, head-mounted monitor that looks like a tennis visor.
“We have a head-mounted display, HMD, when wearing it gives you the same feeling as if you are sitting six feet away from a 54-inch monitor,” said Nick Granny of MNB Technologies.
The supercomputer device is not restricted to use in military operations. The device has the potential to come in handy in industries such as agriculture, air traffic control and disaster management. It can be used wherever portable high-performance computing has the potential to increase quality and efficiency.
The new computers also have WiFi (802.11g) capabilities and hardwired Gigabit Ethernet, 1GB of main memory and up to 140GB of disk capacity supporting their 1.6GHz X86 architecture processors. The system performance is advanced into the 12GFLOP range with an embedded FPGA-based accelerator giving each of the wearable computers the raw performance of roughly six dual-core personal computers.
MNB Technologies has a lot of experience with FPGA systems.
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
Darpa is also funding efforts to harvest energy from heat and motion from the body. Efficient devices could always be on using 9-20W and possibly more.
Near Term Limits of Mobile Computing Power
Extreme computing analysis of zettaflop supercomputers and corresponding limits for 5 Watt mobile computers
Wearable Displays
Contact lens and existing heads up displays
FURTHER READING
MNB works with pico Computing which packs FPGAs into small form factors
Accord Solutions, another partner, makes Reconfigurable Architecture for Software Protection (RASP)
-RASP contains integrated authentication, validation and key management technology. This is tightly controlled by a local knowledgeable administrator.
-RASP can be delivered in tamper-proof packaging, and is readily integrated into ‘System on a Chip.’
-RASP includes tamper-detection technology which instantly scrubs keys and memory.
The SRC MAPstation™ puts the performance of traditional large multi-processor server racks into a single desktop unit.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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