Raytheon claims world's first "polymorphic" computer

In what sounds like a pretty big deal, defense contractor Raytheon has developed what it claims is the world's first polymorphic computer -- a machine that can adjust its architecture on the fly and thus be equally adept at "front-end signal processing or back-end control and data processing." Specifically, the MONARCH chips, as they're known (for Morphable Networked Micro-Architecture, apparently), contain six microprocessors each running at 64 gigaflops and delivering more than 60 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth and more than 43 gigabytes per second of off-chip data bandwidth. What's more, Raytheon says that its beautiful butterfly is simultaneously one of the most powerful and power-efficient chips available, outperforming a quad core Xeon by a claimed factor of ten. But don't get too attached, as you won't be seeing these DARPA-funded chipsets on the market anytime soon; instead, they're destined for GPS devices, radar, video processing systems, space gear, and anything else in which the military needs small, low-power, and radiation tolerant components.

[Via Slashdot]

[Alex @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:26AM]

It's also capable of detecting and directing munitions at anyone whose comment begins with "I for one welcome..."

[Paul @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:41AM]

I, for one, welcome our pending death at the hands of a supercompu...

[Andrew H. @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:34AM]

what i wunt to know is... can it run doom?

[scott @ Mar 22nd 2007 2:17AM]

Yep, that sucker will definitely blend...

[S4Rs @ Mar 22nd 2007 9:11AM]

It may cost 3 million more, but it uses less power.....


Do any of you know where I can find Sarah Conner?

[Yayaja @ Mar 22nd 2007 9:20AM]

I'm trying to think of a good Venture Brothers joke...

[tmc @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:33AM]

This is not for-real, guys. It's marketing hype.
I know a new and special architecture that can adapt on the fly: a Core Duo.

[lol. @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:05AM]

and a DEFENSE company would need marketing hype because...

You're not gonna find this thing at compusa or on newegg or anything, so who would they market this to? The people they wanna sell this to don't really need buzz.

Core Duo? Point me to one that pushes numbers close to what was just quoted, and you get a cookie.

[bboyredcel @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:44AM]

but haven't polymorphic computers been around since way back in 2029?


CyberDyne Systems Model T-1000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b3/T-1000.gif

[craig @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:50AM]

but is it self aware?

[adin @ Mar 22nd 2007 9:49PM]

More than likely this is a strategic move by Raytheon in current battle to supply components for SDR (Software Defined Radio). You have to have something akin to a polymorph type chip to be able to define the hardware config via a software file. Thus a single part can be a UHF radio, GPS receiver, Datalink receiver/transmitter, VHF transponder, etc.

If they're really at the point they can do this, then they'll be the saviors of SDR. Hopefully this'll eventually be licensed to the commercial market where low power reconfigurable chips will be incredibly useful (cell phone chips for starters).

[Ben @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:54AM]

"but is it self aware?"

Only when Google gets their hands on one...

~B.

[listofoptions @ Mar 24th 2007 5:15PM]

its, called a really big p.l.a. people