Low Cost, High Speed Signal Processing for Ultrasonic, Medical, and other applications

NASA has developed a new technique to process data using a combination of hardware and software to provide a flexible and low cost method of high speed signal processing for a wide variety of applications. The Convolver for Real-time Image and Signal Processing or CRISP is a means of filtering a signal to extract information hidden by noise or system artifacts. Its objective is to provide repeatable and accurate measurements. This may be used to normalize signals from low cost unmatched sensors, or achieve higher performance by lowering system noise. Speed, accuracy and lower cost were primary goals in developing CRISP. These factors resulted in a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) board and software system that is currently being developed on a PC platform, but due to its modular architecture can be easily modified to support virtually any platform, even stand alone applications.

Potential Commercial Uses

Radar : Normalize antennas and receivers, signature analysis, removing modulation and receiver noise, autocorrelation , etc.
Medical : Sharpen images and extract weak signals
Ultrasonic : Transducer standardization, range resolution
Composites : Delaminations, impact damage
Miscellaneous : Audio enhancement, Cable fault detection, High Temperature NDE

Benefits

Superior speed improvements, exceeding 3 orders of magnitude, make CRISP a desirable alternative to software analysis alone. May be used in embedded systems for real time analysis of a wide variety of signals
A low cost PC based (386 or higher) DSP board which can complement testing and measuring (often expensive) systems commonly found in labs, anachoic chambers, scanning facilities, etc.
Modular system architecture permits CRISP to be modified for a wide variety of platforms. Any changes to the CRISP I/O has no effect on the computational engine which provides fast response and minimum cost for customizing

The Technology

CRISP is a filter which uses a minimum error technique to map a sampled waveform to a desired quantitative waveform. A software-only implementation can take up to 50 hours for a typical 2 hour scan. One objective of CRISP is to move this process into real time while minimizing any loss of dynamic range.

CRISP may be used in dedicated systems or it may be configured , via software , as a stand alone board. In this way CRISP may be used off line to enhance software analysis. CRISP also contains a software package for filter generation and general board operations.

Computational throughput and mathematical models of CRISP signal processing performance are complete. System timing and protocol have been specified and are currently under design. Prototyping of some modules has been completed.

Options for Commercialization

NASA seeks industrial partners to cooperatively investigate new applications for the CRISP technology. NASA Langley currently has a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for CRISP technology with two companies in NDE. The design of the DSP board is currently in progress. Many options were added to accommodate a wide variety of systems.

Currently no JDA has been establish in using CRISP in the radar, medical or many other fields. NASA is seeking interested company(s) that can transfer this technology to these areas as part of the NASA Technology Transfer Program.

See Working With NASA Langley: The Technology Transfer Process for more details

Fill out the Commercialization/Partnership Form if you are interested in commercializing or partnering to further develop this technology.

Low Cost, High Speed Signal Processing for Ultrasonic, Medical, and other applications

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