This project aims to develop an extremely
fast but compact processor, with supercomputer performances, for pattern
recognition, data reduction, and information extraction in high quality
image processing. The proposed hardware prototype features flexibility for
potential applications in a wide range of fields, from triggering in high
energy physics to simulating human brain functions in experimental
psychology or to automating diagnosis by imaging in medical physics. In
general, any artificial intelligence process based on massive pattern
recognition could largely profit from our device, provided data are
suitably prepared and formatted.
The first goal consists in demonstrating the system can perform online
track reconstruction of full events at the highest luminosities of the LHC
and SLHC) at CERN, beyond the limits of any existent or planned device and
despite the overwhelming confusion due to the very high track multiplicity
and the exceedingly large event pile-up. With this goal we participate to
the construction and the test for an high precision real-time tracker
built for the ATLAS experiment: the Fast Track (FTK) processor. FTK can
improve the capability of the ATLAS detector to select interesting events
reach of heavy leptons or quarks within the enormous LHC background. It
uses FPGA and ASIC chips to implement, real-time, complex track
reconstruction algorithms. The track's trajectories are reconstructed in
3D, in few dozens of microseconds and the quality of the parameters is
almost offline. FTK will increase the ATLAS discovery capability. In
parallel we will pursue challenging R&D & new real time computing
ideas for more complex applications.
A new industry-academia cooperation will reinforce the FTK team making it
suited for such applications. The knowledge transfer will significantly
increase the research quality and overall RTD capability and
competitiveness of the partners, opening new scientific directions for our
technology dissemination.


The project is funded by EU Commission under FP7-People IAPP programme
(Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways) - Grant Agreement n.324318
Starting date: February 2013
Ending date: January 2017
The FTK consortium officially took
up work in March 2013. Its kickoff meeting was hosted by the University of
Pisa, the program's coordinator. The consortium consists of two SMEs, four
universities, a national nuclear research centre and end users in the form
of a customs agency. A list of consortium members is given below. The
project is foreseen to be completed in 48 months, within a budget of EUR
1.6 million.
FTK consortium members:

More info is posted on
CORDIS.
Contact: Mauro Dell'Orso