Many computer graphical display systems for use in ground-based simulators have been developed. This paper describes the algorithms and processing design for a system of aircraft-based computer-generated imagery. The system as described uses a computing network consisting of an unspecified number of parallel special-purpose microprocessor elements, or transputers, which are reported to be capable of operating at frame rates of approximately 25 Hz with over 1000 triangle display elements per frame. This capability is compared to a performance of approximately 500 triangles per frame using a pipeline processing architecture.

The general approach to efficient algorithm design in this specialized parallel computation environment is discussed, including issues of data representation, data element extraction, triangular patch generation, patch shading, back face removal, clipping, and conversion of the finished display representation to a raster scan format. This paper represents one of many advances in the rapidly developing field of real-time high-fidelity computer simulation and display, and will be of specific interest to researchers and system developers working on such computer graphics applications.