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Cell Broadband Engine to help government with surveillance technology

The same computing power used in game consoles may soon help tackle computational challenges in national security, cyberspace, and bioinformatics. Mercury Computer Systems and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are collaborating to apply the technologies found on the PlayStation 3, such as its GPU and the Cell Broadband Engine processor, to these critical applications.

"We're excited to be working with PNNL, and about the possibilities of applying multicore computing technology to enable the development of economically viable computing solutions to previously intractable problems," said Jay Bertelli, President and CEO of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. "Early results from our collaboration show that, together, we can analyze streaming data in real time, which has been a critical challenge for data-intensive computing. Our goal is to open the door for new applications."

In the areas of defense and security, the new computing power could be used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to partially analyze incoming data onboard. Equipment on such platforms needs to be minimal in size, weight and power, such as the size of a games console. A possible application of the technology is real-time surveillance in multiple locations enabled by the right software in a laptop-size supercomputer.

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Headline?
By therealnickdanger on 6/27/2007 9:37:04 AM , Rating: 5
I'm getting a little sick of articles that allude to the PS3 doing all this magical stuff when no one is saying that they will actually use a PS3 - but rather the CBE, and typically much more powerful configurations at that. It's great PR for Sony, but not entirely truthful.




RE: Headline?
By mdogs444 on 6/27/2007 9:49:57 AM , Rating: 1
Exactly. It would be like the government using Intel chips to power unmanned planes, and saying "Just like your Dell bought C2D system". Its just not the same.


RE: Headline?
By BigLan on 6/27/2007 9:57:13 AM , Rating: 4
Or even 'just like xbox1.' I saw a similar thing on the bbc website today about the new IBM supercomputer. Just because it's got cell doesn't mean that it's really anything like the PS3. Cell is an IBM chip and they've already said they're going to be trying to find as many applications for it as possible.


RE: Headline?
By wrekd on 6/27/2007 10:08:00 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah this is getting ridiculous. This sounds like a couple people yapping about what could happen someday while tossing the Sony name around for PR and kickbacks.

I can't wait until these Sony UAV's go all T2 on various goats all over the world.


RE: Headline?
By Fusible on 6/27/2007 10:24:14 AM , Rating: 5
I think these guys should get it right. It's the CBE there after, not the PS3. If that was the case, they would just buy them. I mean you can't install a PS3 on a UAV. When will these supposed reporters get it right. Because the basis for this is the CBE, not the PS3.


RE: Headline?
By Panurge on 6/27/2007 10:43:54 AM , Rating: 2
Not to mention that they talk about using the GPU of the PS3 for these applications as if this is a new idea.

The use of GPUs for general processing has been around for years (look up GPGPU).

In fact, the GPU of the PS3 is less suited to this kind of computation because it has hard-coded shaders. Using newer chips for this type of processing is better because of the push for unified shaders. Allowing the shaders to perform any kind of computation means better performance in general.


RE: Headline?
By FITCamaro on 6/27/2007 11:37:31 AM , Rating: 4
Thank you for saying it. I'm starting to think DailyTech gets kick backs from Sony each time they write an article like this.

And trust me, there's no plans to put a PS3 on the Shadow UAV. I asked the engineers downstairs.


RE: Headline?
By therealnickdanger on 6/27/2007 2:42:42 PM , Rating: 3
After re-reading my post, I just wanted to add that my words may come across as disrespectful to Mr. Yam. I wouldn't want someone pooping on my articles. He's a fine writer and contributor to this site, I just disagree with the title. Sorry if I came across too blunt.

Also, I've got nothing wrong with giving Sony props for its achievements, but standing on the shoulders of IBM's CBE architecture is not one of them.

That is all.


RE: Headline?
By elmikethemike on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
RE: Headline?
By Chaser on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
RE: Headline?
By therealnickdanger on 6/28/2007 11:46:47 AM , Rating: 2
The 360 does have a great CPU, but one would never be able to claim that "Xbox360 technology" was the basis for a PowerPC-based supercomputer. Your own bias has led you to believe that the PS3 is a monumental achievement of computing power - despite what thorough hardware analyses have divulged. There are no facts in your argument. Naturally, you would be unable to accept any further logical discussion on the topic.

I sleep great, basking in the soft green glow and gentle hum of my 360.


The proper title should be...
By FITCamaro on 6/27/2007 3:56:31 PM , Rating: 5
"IBM's Cell Chip Could Form the Basis of National Security Technology"

Then the first sentence can be,

"IBM's Cell processor, more well known for its use in the Playstation 3 games console, may soon..."

If this had been the original title, I wouldn't have gotten upset. But I get tired of the Cell processor being synonymous with the PS3. It wasn't solely developed for the PS3. So actual journalists shouldn't act like it was. Or even title articles to suggest it was.

If you do, I'm going to say you're just trying to promote Sony. Because thats what it looks like.




RE: The proper title should be...
By deeznuts on 6/27/2007 5:15:39 PM , Rating: 3
But the original announcement does make mention of the PS3. Read it here

http://www.mc.com/media_center/press_release_MRCY_...


By Chocolate Pi on 6/27/2007 11:18:45 PM , Rating: 2
Right, I'm certainly not accusing DailyTech of stirring up PS3 propaganda or anything of the sort. I'm just tired of every single mention of Cell inevitably leading to "You know, they put that in the PS3!"...


By Transcendental Ego on 6/29/2007 10:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
You do know that Sony and Toshiba both helped on the cpu as well as IBM.


The important question here is.....
By marvdmartian on 6/27/2007 10:12:31 AM , Rating: 2
.....if they put this technology in an unmanned aerial vehicle, then use that UAV to shoot a missile that kills some terrorists, will it then do a flyover, and a tinny voice will come out of a speaker, laugh maniacally, and declare that the terrorists were Pwned??




By arazok on 6/27/2007 10:31:39 AM , Rating: 5
I want to know if the people remotely piloting these things have rumble packs on the controller's.


By darkpaw on 6/27/2007 10:37:36 AM , Rating: 2
For some reason I have the unreal voice-over chick saying ulta-kill in my head for some reason.


This would be a great opportunity for Sony
By BBock727 on 6/27/2007 11:47:07 AM , Rating: 2
Have the government subsidize PS3's making them cost like $200 to consumers and then allow them to use the consoles networks cell technology. It makes sense. The consumer wants a cheaper product and most consumers don't care how their machines extra processing power is being used. Think about all the people that use those cancer/ET screensavers just to benchmark their computer.

If it would get the PS3 into a competitive price point i think it would be a great opportunity for Sony.




By Imaginer on 6/27/2007 12:03:03 PM , Rating: 2
Why? In fact, MOST of the parts in the console will never be in use, it is only the CHIP they are after and will be EMBEDDED in a CUSTOM solution.

This is like saying that the government will duct tape the newly released DELL INSPIRON DESKTOP on a Global Hawk.


By FITCamaro on 6/27/2007 3:46:15 PM , Rating: 2
What are you talking about? What you're talking about isn't even mentioned in this article.

You're thinking that the article is referring to new programs like Folding @ Home will be coming out for the PS3 and businesses will write them to allow them free processing power. Its not.

Its saying (wrongly) that companies are going to use their own PS3s for things. They won't be. They'll be using computers or other hardware with the Cell chip on it. But you're not going to see a PS3 sitting in a hospital running image analysis.


Best part of the article.
By Frosen on 6/27/2007 9:50:54 AM , Rating: 4
Does anyone else notice that it's a picture of Jack Bauer in the article? Anytime we talk about national security... I guess Jack has to be there.




RE: Best part of the article.
By sscilli on 6/27/2007 9:58:27 AM , Rating: 2
Absolutely nothing to do with PS3.


RE: Best part of the article.
By encryptkeeper on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
Cell vs Intel 80 core chips?
By Mitch101 on 6/27/2007 10:48:47 AM , Rating: 2
Well a typical 3ghz processor is overkill to processing tiny amounts of data its most probable that using 30 100mhz tiny processors that dont do the full gamut a CPU does would be more efficient at the specific processes they are looking to do.

Its not like you send a body builder to change 100 car tires because he is bigger he should be faster when you can send 5 regular guys to change tires. The 5 guys would be faster although they are much weaker they dont require the overhead the bodybuilder has in size.

So the simplistic cpu of the cell would be good for this however I would expect more cores.

But then Intel has demonstrated 80 cores on a chip and could quite possibly could produce a cell killer. Or since GPU's are good at tiny tasks in great quantity a GPU could give the cells a run for thier money especially when the tasks call for some seriously heavy calculations.




By Master Kenobi (blog) on 6/27/2007 11:33:19 PM , Rating: 1
Yes, the kicker here being that Intel if they would actually release an 80 core chip to market (The prototype was sexy and all, but make em to order damn it). Would in fact stand a good chance of taking the thunder from Cell. Cell isn't even a real multi-cored chip. Think of it as one brain, and 8 legs, Intel could create a chip with 10 brains and 70 legs, or some odsball comination there of. Frankly 80 brains works for me, that would be rock solid. Coding for legs vs brains is also a bitch. Cell coding will be a bitch, but its doable, just different. Gotta program to use the legs for specific things, and the brain for other thing, and make sure they can work together.


I'll be back!
By bkm32 on 6/27/2007 12:27:19 PM , Rating: 3
It looks like the Cell processor will be used to power the first Hunter-Killers that lead to the final extermination of the Human Race.

So, its Sony and not Cyberdyne Systems that's responsible for the "answer" to the "Human question".

I knew Sony was evil and videogames would be the end of us all! Oh, the horror!




ugghhh
By Datalogger on 6/27/2007 2:28:36 PM , Rating: 1
Nowhere does it say they're using
PS3's. They are using PS3 TECHNOLOGY.

Too many jealous XBOTS in here.




RE: ugghhh
By Goty on 6/27/2007 4:27:16 PM , Rating: 2
They're all a bunch of sheep, defending whatever happens to be popular. I can see people being annoyed about the title being misleading, but they get ENTIRELY too worked up about it.


By Imaginer on 6/27/2007 12:00:19 PM , Rating: 2
Considering how much of a challenge and time it takes to program the AI and software algorithms in an UAV, and not to mention the troubleshooting and testing of a system.

With programmers having trouble with programming games for the Cell, I can see even more trouble developing a complex defense software for it. I would think that even if it is a powerful chip, the people who designed Cell left all of the work for developing things to run with it solely to the programmers.

Oh and the title is VERY VERY misleading. They said they are looking towards commercial off the shelf technology such as embedded solutions found in things like game consoles but they never said they are fully committed to one solution (and if so, they are sorely limiting themselves). And it is just that, they are using the CELL, not a PS3.




Just one question
By BladeVenom on 6/27/2007 12:12:47 PM , Rating: 2
Will they include hardware compatibility for PS2 games or will they have to run through software emulation.;)




Did the Title Change?
By deeznuts on 6/27/2007 1:22:46 PM , Rating: 2
What's with the uproar? Unless Marcus changed the title because now I'm reading it as "PS3 Chip ..." So I'm guessing it was changed?

IT is somewhat relevant to the PS3 though. The Dell analogy mentioned earlier is a bad analogy, because intel chips are used in most OEM computers. What one product that everyone here and on any site do you know that uses the CBE? The PS3.

Remember when Sony came out and said that the Cell will be used for many applications, and with the horrible launch of the PS3 everybody, including people on Dailytech, was calling Sony out saying "Cell is going to be used widely my ass"

Well now Dailytech is reporting on these applications and you all say "blahhhhh blahhhh blahhh." It's all very humorous.

I still must add though, Gimme some freaking games!!!!!!




By deeznuts on 6/27/2007 1:28:07 PM , Rating: 2
He might have used a misleading title, and since Dailytech likes to paraphrase articles and news releases without actually providing us a link, I found it. This is from the press release of Mercury themselves, and they're the ones to compare it to the PS3, even saying in it that they are using gaming technology. Is everyone still upset? So Marcus, don't be afraid, you can change the title to "PS3 Technology May form the basis of National Security." Go ahead, you can do it, don't let these guys scare you!!

http://www.mc.com/media_center/press_release_MRCY_...

quote:
CHELMSFORD, Mass. and RICHLAND, Wash. - June 20, 2007 - The same computing power used in millions of game consoles may soon help tackle computational challenges in national security, cyberspace, and bioinformatics. Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are collaborating to apply multicore technology such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and the Cell Broadband Engine™ (BE) processor to these critical applications. These technologies are currently used in game devices like the Sony PLAYSTATION®3




Shouldn't it rather read...
By Chocolate Pi on 6/27/2007 5:56:30 PM , Rating: 2
"National Security and Medical Applications Chip the Basis for PlayStation 3"?

Seriously, it's annoying to see every use of Cell turn into a makeshift PS3 plug, as if the PS3 somehow spawned or invented the technology itself and big computing clients are borrowing the technology in awe...

That said, it's nice to see that DailyTech continues to pick the best possible pictures as story thumbnails!




Correction
By MeTaedet on 6/27/2007 6:50:00 PM , Rating: 2
I don't think that it's so much appropriate to say that anyone is getting kickbacks from Sony for having written this article as it is to say that this news story is an instance of sensationalism.

That is to say, if the article read something to the effect of "Newish IBM chip to be used to bolster national security" or "Newish IBM chip to be used in National Security Technology," it wouldn't have much, if any impact, upon the mind of the layman. His response would be something to the effect of "Oh... >_>". In order to get a person's attention, you need to say something that relates to them, which they understand, or which is grounded in their own personal knowledge and experience. Saying "PS3 chip to be used in national security technology" does that because most people know what the PS3 is and most people (read: stupid people) are going to find it interesting that a chip used in a videogame console is going to be used to the purpose of increased national security.

There is an implicit assertion there necessary to pique interest, though, and that assertion is that it's the very same chip. If it had been stated thusly: "Much more powerful versions of a single chip in the PS3 are going to be used in national security technology," it wouldn't have grabbed as much attention.

Blame lazy, dishonest journalists who aren't above resorting to sensationalist phrasing of news which isn't really very impressive when you understand what's actually being conveyed to win readership. Don't blame Sony. Or blame Sony... whatever... I don't actually care. I just wanted a cookie for my insights.




too worked up
By EnzoFX on 6/27/2007 11:22:16 PM , Rating: 2
i agree, people are getting too worked up about this article not being ps3 related. I mean come on, its no big deal, it does use the same tech, the CBE. The CBE has different forms and we should all be smart enough to know that, and that this article refers to some form of it. we can also be mature enough to grant sony that it too uses some form of the CBE.
point is: no big deal, sheesh, why do i have to scroll through so many anti-sony posts, that don't really go anywhere, a simple disclaimer would do, we dont need so many re-iterating the same crap




...
By EnzoFX on 6/27/2007 11:25:17 PM , Rating: 2
i dont know if the title was corrected, but it states: ps3 chip to be basis...."
this title is fine by me, sheesh




By darkpuppet on 6/27/2007 1:05:23 PM , Rating: 1
Really, I don't see the point of flogging DT over these types of articles... these same articles came up in the last generation of game consoles -- ie, PS2 being used to power North Korean missles or something to that effect.

The truth of the matter is that PR and their spin machines will always be bringing it up because it's a novel technology, and it's applications are pretty broad. Despite the misguided information regarding the PS3's (and even the PS2's during it's time) power, it's still relevant to day, "same/similar technology in <x consumer device> has found it's way into other markets".

It's like OSX making it's way into the iPhone (tho I strongly doubt it's the full OSX that runs your iMac).

Of course everyone's tired of the PS3 hype machine, but on a slow news day, it gives me something to talk about over a pint after work...

I do believe some of the haters are making a bigger deal out of it than it really is tho... unless you're all ex-texas instrument employees who can't stand seeing someone else succeed with a technology you tried to introduce a decade or so ago..




Good news for Sony
By tk109 on 6/27/07, Rating: 0
Anti-Sony ppl ! Come on !
By chick0n on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
By christianspoer on 6/27/2007 10:08:56 AM , Rating: 3
Shut your pie-hole, and wake up - its not PS3 that's running this, its the CBE.
The CBE is a joint effort between Sony, Toshiba and IBM. It's a little over-the-edge to give all the credit to PS3 and Sony.


RE: Anti-Sony ppl ! Come on !
By XesBOX on 6/27/2007 10:29:47 AM , Rating: 2
Of all the debates in all the headlines in all of the world of console news, I don't believe I've ever heard a single thing said *AGAINST* the computational powers of the Cell chip that weren't anything more than corrections of the grossly misguided statements about the number of computations it can do.

The whole teraflop fiasco was a big joke to anyone that understands the difference between CPU threads and computation speeds.

Now if you would please 1) read more and 2) troll less.


You people make me laugh!
By Goty on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
RE: You people make me laugh!
By Spyvie on 6/27/2007 11:06:13 AM , Rating: 1
Perhaps you didn't see the headline:

"PlayStation 3 the Basis for National Security Technology"

Who's making who laugh?


RE: You people make me laugh!
By kg4alb on 6/27/2007 11:35:40 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
The only thing in this article that makes it seem like it's actually the PS3 being used in these systems in the title!


Dumb...ass....


Who came up with this?
By Martimus on 6/27/07, Rating: -1
"If they're going to pirate somebody, we want it to be us rather than somebody else." -- Microsoft Business Group President Jeff Raikes

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