Military Embedded Systems | Field deployable distributed computing appliances

The demands on military and Homeland Security technology are vast, particularly in field deployments that must minimize Size, Weight, And Power (SWAP) requirements when selecting the right computer for a specific task. Remote, high-speed communications, graphics simulation for topography and mapping, and management of multiple processes running simultaneously are just a few applications being used more and more frequently in nonstationary, harsh environments. Durable portability becomes an additional requirement in unmanned vehicles, Humvees, airplanes, tents, and remote field offices.

This article explores the need, inherent to the military and Homeland Security’s technology agendas, for a field-deployable, distributed computing appliance that can run as a server and a workstation, perform multiple processes simultaneously, use Windows, Linux, and Solaris as needed, utilize the advantages of COTS technology, and still be customized as further application needs evolve. This is a lot to require of one small, mobile system, but the applications that need this technology are clear and numerous in scope.

Centrality key to field systems
Remote high-speed communication is one of the most important functions of a field computer. A field office must be equipped to communicate consistently and reliably with home base, foot soldiers, and other field offices in order to appropriately plan and execute a critical mission. Cell phones, handheld computers, and laptops are used frequently.

A central system for networking these devices is critical for the transference of close-to-real-time data as it changes and affects the logistics of a mission in progress. The ideal central system should have the ability to act as a server – high data transfer rates, multiple connectivity options in order to transmit data to a variety of devices, and multiple storage options internally to record data on site – to transmit back to home base (see Table 1).

Table 1 (click to zoom)

This same centralized system would map and render the visual data needed to execute a mission appropriately. Local topography, adverse conditions, obstacles, optimal routes, and modes of transportation are key bits of data to have close at hand during any deployment. Rendering this data would require the highest-end graphics capabilities and processor speeds, as well as a durable, integrated display for viewing.

With these features available in the same computer, the operator could utilize just one system to plan, strategize, and implement the mission itself, all the while disseminating data to the key players in the field and at home base (see Figure 1). A system of this type would need to have the capabilities and processing power of a rackmount server in order to simultaneously run these processes, yet be small and easily portable.

Used in multiple environments, this system would have to withstand extreme conditions on both sides of the spectrum. It would have to be equally at home in a tent in the desert or the jungle, in a Humvee, perhaps an unmanned vehicle, or in a stationary command center. Thus, this small, powerful computer would need to be rugged enough to resist shock and vibration, keep out dust and humidity, and withstand a broad range of temperatures, depending on the particular environment, (see Figure 2).

Limitations of legacy technology
Currently, many military and Homeland Security applications run on legacy systems such as CompactPCI and VME, which are customized to perform a single task. Thus, one field location may need many systems, both servers and workstations, to perform all of the tasks needed to implement a critical mission.

These systems tend to be expensive not only to acquire, but to maintain, and the technology standards they are based upon largely no longer exist in the commercial technology marketplace. And because they are built upon the premise of accomplishing one goal, the technology is not transferable from one mission or agency to another. They cannot meet the needs of multiple customized applications, such as visualization and communication, at the same time.

The military is aware of the problems with legacy technology. R&D efforts are working towards more forward-thinking solutions to reduce cost and power requirements, increase processing capabilities, and multiply application functionality via one system.

A much simpler solution would be an “open standards,” deployable, ruggedized, distributed computer that could function as both a server and a high-performance workstation that can handle a number of computationally intensive processes. It would need high-end graphics capabilities via PCI Express options, with an integrated high resolution display for visualization, multiple I/O and storage options such as PCI slots, and SATA drives for communication and data transfer/storage. The system should minimize SWAP requirements to foster ease of deployment. In recent months, progress in the COTS industry specifically addressed some of these concerns.

Forward-thinking solutions
Panasonic’s Toughbook-73 is a semi-rugged, 13.3² outdoor-readable LCD, high-performance notebook, incorporating Intel Centrino processing, wireless connectivity, video support up to 2048 x 1536 resolution, Windows XP support, and an 80 GB hard drive (see Figure 3). The Toughbook has become a popular choice, particularly for mobile executives who care about reliability and notebook power.

The Toughbook answers a couple of the military’s concerns; it is certainly deployable and rugged enough for most non-Mil-spec mobile applications. It is affordable, with configurations starting at about $3,300 (bizrate.com). However, it supports only Windows, leaving Linux- or Solaris-based military applications unsupported. It also does not incorporate server architecture, making it function only as a standalone workstation or single point of contact for communications. Further, the limitations of Intel’s Centrino technology, maxing out at 2.0 GHz, include lack of interconnect speed and limited ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The lack of PCI or PCI Express expansion limits the graphics capabilities and customization of a system such as this.

There is another option that addresses more of the requirements of a military distributed computing appliance. Kontron’s FieldWorks 8600 is the next-generation product in the Fieldworks 8000 Series line (Figure 4). Reputed by the company to be rugged and expandable, functioning as an all-in-one portable computer system, FieldWorks 8600 is designed from the chassis up for intense rugged use. Built to military standards for shock, vibration, and temperature, it provides for the ruggedization needs of the Armed Forces. Despite being ruggedized, it cannot handle multiple processing, high-end graphics capabilities, and storage of large amounts of data. Using Intel’s Pentium M processor (popular in notebook computers) in configurations, which max out at 1.7 GHz, the CPU performance may not meet the requirements of all mission-critical applications.

I/O options include three full-length PCI slots, but the FieldWorks 8600 does not have PCI Express, which is quickly becoming the industry standard for high-end graphics visualization and often a requirement for military applications that include graphics rendering. Though it incorporates removable HDDs, a convenience for military use as data can be easily transferred from one system to another, they max out at 60 GB of storage space. This may not always be enough for applications where heavy amounts of data are captured, analyzed, and then stored, such as topography and mapping needs for a field mission.

As with Panasonic’s Toughbook, the 8600 only supports Windows applications and lacks server architecture, limiting use as a central communications hub and for non-Windows-based mission-critical applications. The Kontron solution is quite expensive, with configurations starting at $9,995 (April 8, 2005 press release, 802.11A News).

Making use of Opteron
Recently, another solution has made its way to the COTS marketplace. Utilizing the top-notch computing power of AMD’s Opteron, single and dual-core options, NextCom, a leading manufacturer of deployable, small form factor, all-in-one server and workstation solutions, released the FleXtreme Vigor line of open standards, distributed computing appliances (see Figure 5).

Available with up to two 2.6 GHZ dual-core Opterons, a system can now have 10.2 GHz of processing power in one small (11.1² x 16.6² x 5.6²), deployable chassis. Table 2, courtesy of GamePC.com, exhibits Opteron CPU performance benchmarks. AMD’s Opteron is gaining ground as the high-performance solution, as even its highest performance models require less power than other dual-core processors, such as Intel’s Xeon. Table 3, courtesy of GamePC.com, shows Opteron CPU power requirements.

Server architecture allows the systems to be utilized as a central point of communications or data distribution, as well as to perform workstation applications simultaneously (see Table 4). The line also does not limit applications based on OS dependency; it offers most flavors of Linux 32- and 64-bit and Windows Server 32- and 64-bit workstation options, as well as Solaris 10.

Table 4 (click to zoom)

Standard I/O options include a full-length PCIx 64/133 MHz slot, as well as a PCI Express full-length slot, allowing any standard COTS PCIe card to be used for visualization applications. An integrated 15² display supports resolutions up to 1900 x 1240. Other I/O capabilities include four USB 2.0 ports, dual GB Ethernet, and integrated solid-state or high-performance 2.5² disk drives, making the FleXtreme Vigor expandable and customizable. Storage needs are handled with dual removable internal 1.5 GB SATA HDDs to 200 GB, and an optional third fixed HDD up to 300 GB.

These features are incorporated into a rugged, deployable chassis about the size of a briefcase. Moderately priced, configurations begin at $5,995.

Customization key to military technology forecast
The COTS industry is rapidly attempting to provide customizable solutions. Military applications are in the forefront of advances in high-performance computing solutions, which smaller, forward-thinking companies increasingly provide. The military can utilize the benefits of commercially available technology while incorporating customization, no longer leaving military agencies themselves attempting to fit a square peg into a round hole.

This is the new wave of technology: a new class of extreme performance computers, designed with specific applications in mind, yet manufactured to be flexible, expandable, and changeable. Perhaps even the term legacy systems will become outdated with the influx of advances in the marketplace. For now, we can be assured that innovative companies are continually thinking outside of the box, or perhaps, packing more inside the box.

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Laura Cooper is director of marketing at NextCom LLC. Prior to her role at NextCom, she worked in marketing at Merrill Lynch, specializing in life insurance and annuities. She was also a cofounder of Zone Netlink, an Internet service provider and Web design company.