  Signal processing has become central to many fields, from coherent optical
telecommunications, where it is used to compensate signal impairments, to video
image processing. Image processing is particularly important for observational
astronomy, medical diagnosis, autonomous driving, big data and artificial
intelligence. For these applications, signal processing traditionally has
mainly been performed electronically. However these, as well as new
applications, particularly those involving real time video image processing,
are creating unprecedented demand for ultrahigh performance, including high
bandwidth and reduced energy consumption. Here, we demonstrate a photonic
signal processor operating at 17 Terabits/s and use it to process video image
signals in real-time. The system processes 400,000 video signals concurrently,
performing 34 functions simultaneously that are key to object edge detection,
edge enhancement and motion blur. As compared with spatial-light devices used
for image processing, our system is not only ultra-high speed but highly
reconfigurable and programable, able to perform many different functions
without any change to the physical hardware. Our approach is based on an
integrated Kerr soliton crystal microcomb, and opens up new avenues for
ultrafast robotic vision and machine learning.
