6533b7d4fe1ef96bd1262917

RESEARCH PRODUCT

CliffoSor: A Parallel Embedded Architecture for Geometric Algebra and Computer Graphics

Salvatore VitabileGiorgio VassalloS. SegretoV. VulloAntonio GentileFilippo Sorbello

subject

SpeedupComputer scienceClifford algebraSolid modelingParallel computingComputational geometryApplication softwarecomputer.software_genreComputational scienceComputer graphicsGeometric algebraComputingMethodologies_SYMBOLICANDALGEBRAICMANIPULATIONRepresentation (mathematics)computer

description

Geometric object representation and their transformations are the two key aspects in computer graphics applications. Traditionally, compute-intensive matrix calculations are involved to model and render 3D scenery. Geometric algebra (a.k.a. Clifford algebra) is gaining growing attention for its natural way to model geometric facts coupled with its being a powerful analytical tool for symbolic calculations. In this paper, the architecture of CliffoSor (Clifford Processor) is introduced. ClifforSor is an embedded parallel coprocessing core that offers direct hardware support to Clifford algebra operators. A prototype implementation on an FPGA board is detailed. Initial test results show more than 4/spl times/ speedup for Clifford products against the analogous operations in GAIGEN, a standard geometric algebra library generator for general purpose processors.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2006-10-11
http://hdl.handle.net/10447/13746