PAVLOV: A programmable architecture for volume processing

We present a parallel 2D mesh connected architecture with SIMD processing elements. The design allows for real-time volume rendering as well as interactive 3D segmentation and 3D feature extraction. This is possible because the SIMD processing elements are programmable, a feature which also allows the use of many different rendering algorithms. We present an algorithm which, with the addition of hardware resources, provides conflict free access to volume slices along any of the three major axes. The volume access conflict has been the main reason why previous similar architectures could not perform real-time volume rendering. We present the performance of preliminary algorithms on a software simulator of the architecture design.