The DARPA dynamic programming benchmark on a reconfigurable computer

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released high productivity computing systems (HPCS) benchmarks as specifications of performance required to solve important problems. This work reports on the design, implementation, and benchmarking of the benchmark number two, dynamic programming (DP), as developed in a general purpose reconfigurable computer. DP methods are used to solve DNA sequencing problems. DP has been also used successfully for optimal compression of barcode and other data, for control problems such as depth vision systems, and for chess endgames, among others. Clearly, it is helpful to know the application background; however, it is more important to note the benchmark is the product of a set of applications. Nonetheless it is intended to be developed and tested in a manner that is independent of any particular application.