FFT Optimizations and Performance Assessment Targeted towards Satellite and Airborne Radar Processing

• Maron Schlemon Microwaves and Radar Institute, German Aerospace Center
• Jamin Naghmouchi Next Generation Computing, Innovationsgesellschaft TU Braunschweig mbH

Resumo

Following the re-invention of the FFT algorithm by Cooley and Tukey in 1965, a lot of effort has been invested into optimization of this algorithm and all its variations. In this paper, we discuss its use and optimization for current and future radar applications, and give a brief survey on implementations that have claimed relatively high advantages in terms of performance over existing solutions. Correspondingly, we present an in-depth analysis of state-ofthe-art solutions and our own implementation that will allow the reader to evaluate the performance improvements on a fair basis. Therefore, we discuss the development of a highperformance Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) using an enhanced Radix-4 decimation in frequency (DIF) algorithm, compare it against the Fastest Fourier Transform in the West (FFTW) autotuned library as well as other solutions and frameworks.

Palavras-chave: Optimization, Kernel, Registers, Micromechanical devices, Discrete Fourier transforms, Synthetic aperture radar, Spaceborne radar, FFT, Radix-4 DIF, High Performance Algorithms, Parallel Computing, Embedded Computing, SAR, Chirp Compression