Daily Briefing: News Snippets

SFF saves more than just real estate

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Small Form Factors (SFFs) are well known for reducing SWaP, but can they also save the vital resource of time? The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) can't vouch for all SFFs, but it can vouch for one: SRC Computers, Inc.'s Portable MAPstation computer. In conjunction with the AFRL's Sensors Directorate-born Precision Image Tracking and Registration (PI TrackR) program, Portable MAPstation systems will soon debut on small UAVs to provide in-flight sensor data processing instead of traditional ground station information relay. High-resolution cameras will link to a MAP processor GPIOX port, providing metadata and high-pixel count, real-time imaging to track targets identified by a pilot or operator. The miniature Portable MAPstation weighs under 4 lbs, measures 120 cubic inches, and delivers 9.6 GBps direct sensor I/O bandwidth.

U.S. Navy reaches for SKY and Assured Decisions

Though the SKY's not always the limit, $143 million just might be – according to a recent contract between the Navy, SKY Computers, Inc., and Assured Decisions LLC. The U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command selected the team to provide C4ISR systems engineering according to the three-year Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Fulfillment includes designing, developing, and analyzing an array of systems from conception to operation.

U.S. Army gains insight

Whatever the situation, knowledge is often the key to success – and to survival. Accordingly, the U.S. Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office (UAS PO) recently demonstrated the new Mobile Data Archive and Retrieval (MDAR) digital video recorder at the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Conference in Washington, D.C. The EchoStorm-created MDAR provides high-resolution, on-demand situational awareness video to Army tactical operation centers and U.S. soldiers. Instant access to 30 days of full-motion video and archived data from various unmanned aircraft is offered via the mobile, harsh-environment device. MDAR also offers capabilities such as rewinding or pausing archived or live video, taking snapshots, tagging video, and reviewing previous target video.

Boeing and HAVELSAN reach a new understanding

Having allies can be important at wartime – even to technology movers and shakers. One "prime" example is Boeing, who recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Turkey's HAVELSAN company to continue their joint development and evaluation of missile defense opportunities. The MOU extends a 2003 agreement between Boeing and systems/software provider HAVELSAN, and both will continue to use existing technologies and skills to fulfill their latest agreement. (The two entities previously collaborated to study NATO systems' missile defense integration.) The recent MOU is part of Boeing's goal to reach out worldwide per the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's global focus, Boeing reports.

DARPA looks for static on multicore

Multicore is making headway – and even (horizontal) headroom – in many cutting-edge embedded apps, but some things are still perplexing about the equation. Thus, DARPA recently took action, initiating a contract with GrammaTech, Inc. to provide static-analysis technology to aid in multicore system examination. The contract's technology will focus primarily on identification of concurrent programming defects, such as when a multicore program allows two agents to reserve one last seat (see diagram), among other difficult-to-debug scenarios. "Our goal is to provide a static-analysis technology that helps developers avoid the increases in development cost, despite the increase in complexity," reports David Melski, GrammaTech's VP of Research.

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Primes let the tests begin

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Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin (LM) recently handed off their first National Security Cutter, the USCGC Berhtolf (WMSL 750), to the U.S. Coast Guard. The transfer of the Northrop Grumman-built and LM-equipped 418-foot vessel represents an ownership change to government from industry – and the commencement of operational evaluation and testing. Bertholf features LM's Coast Guard Command & Control (CG-C2) system, touted to give the Coast Guard "a common operating picture" that helps coordinate aircraft, ships, helicopters, and shore facilities. In addition, the system provides interoperability among the U.S. DoD, the Department of Homeland Security, and 117 regional and federal organizations and agencies. Sensors for air and surface detection, identification, classification, and tracking are rendered, along with integrated voice communications over military and commercial satellites and radios. Bertholf's formal Coast Guard commissioning is slated for August 2008, LM reports.

VxWorks makes an 'Astute' move

Wind River's VxWorks RTOS was recently chosen by Thales UK to participate in the Royal Navy's Astute-class submarine periscope project. Astute features Thales' non-hull penetrating optronic mast that aims to reduce sonar signature detection via a rapid 360-degree above-surface scan. The commander can then analyze data images thereafter, to reduce the danger of detection. VxWorks will power the optronic mast and a hull Mast Control Unit (MCU) featuring two processors that communicate with submarine data, tactical, and combat systems. Additionally, the optronic mast utilizes Thales quad PowerPC AltiVec COTS boards and AdaCore's GNAT Pro for stabilization system power.

MC4 team moves up on Council list

Appearing in the American Council of Technology's "Top 20" Government IM/IT Program Awards for three years now is nothing new for the MC4 (Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care) team. However, what is new for the team is this year's "Top 5" Excellence.gov award ranking. Winners appearing in the top five were programs that used information technology to improve their organizational performance. One component of MC4's improved performance is an expansion of its Electronic Medical Recording (EMR) system to the Air Force. MC4 holds 4.8 million electronic health records and fields a medical information management system used by Army tactical medical forces to enhance operational commanders' medical situational awareness.

Neutrino RTOS attains a new level

QNX Software Systems achieved its first POSIX certification in 1993, and its most recent this year when its Neutrino RTOS attained POSIX PSE52 Realtime Controller 1003.13-2003 System standard certification. PSE52 assures the source code portability and predictable response times vital in time-critical applications such as military, medical, networking, and automotive systems. PSE52 is also the cornerstone of the U.S. military's Software Communications Architecture (SCA) interoperability standard for SDR under JTRS. In addition to its latest accomplishment, Neutrino supports "hundreds of other POSIX 1003.1 functions," QNX reports.

U.S. Defense Secretary visits FCS site

Robert M. Gates, U.S. Defense Secretary, recently took a tour of Future Combat Systems (FCS) technology at Fort Bliss, Texas. Hosted by Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Flowers and Army Evaluation Task Force soldiers, Gates became familiar with the FCS' first of four "spinouts," including testing of the Tactical Unmanned Ground Sensor, Intelligent Munitions System, Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System, and Urban Unmanned Ground Sensor. The Non-Light-of-Sight cannon is presently being tested at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Other Spinout 1 technology will be tested this summer, with system fielding a possibility within 24 months of the testing timeframe. Spinouts No. 2-4, respectively, include unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, and manned ground vehicles operational via a network and a common platform.

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