Brochure

5
Data Encryption/
Decryption
There are several standards for encryption
of data, including Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES). AES is the first publicly
accessible and open cipher approved by
the U.S. National Security Agency for top-
secret information, typically requiring 256
bit keys at this level. The time to encrypt a
block of data increases linearly with the size
of the key. The computation load required
to maintain encryption of a real-time data
stream can be prohibitive. With the advent
of CUDA and the addition of crucial arith-
metic, bitwise logical and shift operations as
well as the ability to use texture caches to
index tables, GPUs are now a viable option
to general-purpose processors for data
encryption/decryption. Performance gains
up to 10x have been demonstrated.
Situational Awareness
Surveillance of large areas has historically
been achieved by using an array of sensors
connected to a bank of monitors, with sepa-
rate or multiplexed displays for each video
stream. Such arrangements present the
operator with a confusing array of disparate
video feeds, require a great deal of space,
and consume a large amount of power. In
a dynamic, real-time scenario, there is also
a danger of information overload for an
operator attempting to interpret such large
volumes of imagery. Interrelation-
ships between sensors is not
always obvious, and
important contextual
visual information
can be overlooked.
Many such
systems rely on
the operator for
“event” detection, but large volumes of infor-
mation coupled to the effects of stress and
fatigue can significantly reduce operator
effectiveness.
Our image processing subsystem over-
comes these issues and greatly improves
the performance of surveillance assets
and their operators. We offer a previously
unattainable level of situational awareness
to platforms such as armored vehicles,
aircraft, remote unmanned platforms and
security and surveillance systems.