Aerospace HOL Computer. Volume IV. Evaluation Results.
Abstract
The direct execution architecture for the Space Programming Language (SPL/A) is compared with a conventional machine, an idealized Honeywell HDC-701P aerospace computer. The objective of the comparison is to judge the execution timing requirements, memory requirements, logic requirements, and the power, weight, volume, and cost characteristics which could be expected if the SPL/A were implemented with the same technology. Two modes of programming the 701P were used as baselines: (1) assembly language and (2) SPL implemented with a compiler. Using a benchmark program approach, SPL/A was found to yield a 12 percent decrease in program and data memory relative to the 701P assembly language baseline and 28 percent relative to the 701P SPL compiler baseline. SPL/A also had reduced execution times saving 14 percent compared to the assembly baseline and 31 percent compared to the SPL baseline. Hardware implementations were chosen for the functional subsystems of the architecture to assess the physical characteristics. An increase of 22 percent in logic was estimated for SPL/A. The power, weight, volume, and monetary cost parameters for SPL/A, were calculated. Five- to 18-percent increases in these parameters were found relative to the HDC-701P assembly language baseline, and decreases of one to seven percent were found relative to the SPL compiler baseline for all parameters but power, which increases ten percent. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0905274
Entities
People
- Joseph A. Lauro
- Steven A. Vere
- William C. Nielsen