One European vendor recently revealed that their robust 1,500 unit MicroTCA backlog demonstrates the market’s keen interest in using Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) COTS boards, but in a smaller and complete rack-mount chassis. Mercury Computer’s Ensemble 2000 MicroTCA platform is just such a chassis, incorporating six slots and a built-in system manager function bolted to the backplane to eliminate the need for a separate MCH module. Designed for stand-alone entry-level or multi-chassis systems, the standards-based unit is designed to maximize use of AMC, Ethernet, IPMI, RapidIO, and MicroTCA industry standards.

Backplane switches for GbE are built in, and other available communications fabrics include RapidIO, 10 GbE, and PCI Express. Not requiring an MCH module saves a slot, so all six slots can accept AMCs. The chassis can be stacked in a 19" rack, and Ethernet, communications fabrics, and system clock can be daisy-chained across multiple boxes. Mercury’s own AMCs include FPGA and processor cards based upon Xilinx FPGAs, TI DSPs, Freescale PowerQUICC or MPC 8641D, and Intel Penryn processors.

Weighing a mere 1/3 pound and sized similarly to an iPhone, the Atom XPC40x by General Micro Systems is the company’s latest rugged mil/aero all-in-one SBC. Sporting a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom with 512 KB of cache, the 3.5" x 2.5" x 0.5" module comes in air- (“XP”) and conduction-cooled (“XPC”) flavors ready to operate over -40 °C to +85 °C. The SBC portion is pretty standard stuff: expandable 533 MHz DDR-2 SDRAM with 3D accelerated graphics, but there are five USB ports.

Not only that, the packaged version (shown) has support for two Express Mini Cards, so a user (or GMS) can add Wi-Fi, GPS, CANBus, or myriad other I/O functions. The packaged version also offers additional security for storage, since the entire computer contains the storage and can be moved from location to location. Finally, there’s the portability factor. The Atom CPU runs on 3 W (typ) and 10 W (peak). The whole XPC40x, depending upon I/O and peripherals, is ideal for battery-operated applications such as UAVs, remote sensing, or handheld/manpack equipment.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is the core of most broadband wireless waveforms, including Wi-Fi, cellular, and other spread-spectrum implementations. Available as an FPGA IP core targeting a Xilinx XC5VSX95T, the FC300 core took Sundance DSP considerable time to develop, test, and implement. Intended for use on the company’s SMT351T FPGA module and bolted to an SMT911 module, the core itself doesn’t use any off-FPGA resources and can be retargeted to any FPGA of sufficient size, including Spartan to Virtex-7, or for Altera’s Cyclone or Spartan devices. The core only assumes an external I/Q baseband DAC/ADC interface, making retargeting hardware also straightforward.

The core contains Tx and Rx chains, and for Wi-Fi, includes 802.11a/g data scrambling, forward error correction, subchannel coding (BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, or 64QAM), pilot insertion, and IFFT/FFT algorithms. On the Rx side, there are estimators for center frequency offset and fractional sample signal timing. The core was developed for a Chinese Sundance customer and is now available to the general market.

The verdict’s in, folks: Ethernet is the winner. So it’s no wonder that more defense systems than ever use Ethernet as the high-speed conduit on- and off-board. Kontron’s Gigabit Ethernet Switch VX3910 performs enterprise-class switching functionality on 28 ports. It also has advanced management features, like you’d expect to find in carrier-grade switches. Even better: It’s available in VITA VPX (VITA 46.x) and OpenVPX (ANSI/VITA 65) versions, in 3U size and in air- and conduction-cooled formats.

There are 20 Gigabit ports available to the backplane, four 2.5 Gigabit ports to the backplane for redundancy in multi-switch systems, and an additional four 1000BASE-T uplinks on the front panel in air-cooled versions (shown). Conduction-cooled boards operate at -40 °C to +85 °C. Kontron’s Embedded Network Technology design keeps the same feature set and interfaces in these modules as in other Kontron boards, simplifying programming and interoperability. Ethernet ports are provided by Broadcom silicon, and the system controller is an AMCC PowerPC switch device with customizable software and comprehensive firmware. L2 (and optional L3) switching is supported, as is VLAN tagging (IEEE 802.3ac), dynamic VLAN registration (IEEE 802.1Q), and QoS (IEEE 802.1p).

Defense integrators utilize COTS products from whichever industry meets their needs, including automotive and railway transportation. We think the Martek MBRH Series of railway DC/DC converters might have some applicability in mil apps, especially in “big iron” vetronics chassis. After all, a big old locomotive or a big old M1A2 Abrams are, well, big, hot, and loaded with “dirty” power.

The fully encapsulated converters come in single- or dual-output flavors, sourcing from 5 VDC to 48 VDC, with inputs including 24, 36, and 110 VDC. And a 230 VAC input model is soon available. Based on the company’s 15 W models, the new series puts out 25 W in the same bulkhead-mounted package – a footprint we think might be handy in DoD retrofits where in-chassis space is at a premium. Input ripple is per RIA 13 and EN50155, and output transients are in conformance to RIA 12 – go and dig up the railway specs for details. The MBRH Series is manufactured in the UK – handy if a program needs some FMS set-aside or offset forgiveness.

When WIN Enterprises incarnated its MB-80100 SHB, it undoubtedly had high performance on its mind. Evidentiary support includes the SHB’s PICMG 1.3 style design, facilitating twin Intel Westmere and Nehalem multicore processors. Case in point: MB-80100 supports quad- and six-core Westmere, and dual- or quad-core Nelahem – and the company even promises that its SHB will keep pace once the Westmere reaches its anticipated 8- and 12-core iterations. Not only that, the MB-80100 provides a whopping 20 lanes of 32- or 64-bit PCI Express Gen 2.0 – perfect for military, seismic, and scientific applications, just to name a few.

But there’s more to MB-80100 than meets the performance-critical eye. It also provides support for an MXM-II interface or a custom MXM-II pass-through card that can bridge x16 lanes. And those pesky coding errors are no problem, thanks to MB-80100’s six ECC registered DDR3 240-pin slots, which equip each processor with triple channel memory; meanwhile, those who are perhaps more daring and prefer to not go the ECC route can also opt for 240 non-ECC pin slots. In addition, individual CPU and memory power planes are also rendered, as are FireWire support via a custom card and a custom HD Audio output card featuring an HD Audio bus header. And fnally, dual 1 GbE LANs are provided as standard. But MB-80100 just couldn’t function without all the support it gets from its OSs: Windows Vista 32/64 bit, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 (32/64 bit), and Windows XP 32/64 bit.

Graphical user interfaces have become expected on most devices these days, and we’ve all had the displeasure of trying to interpret complicated commands using a few buttons and a measly three LEDs. A GUI proves a rich experience, as long as the CPU/chipset can drive an LCD (or equivalent) display. Blue Water Embedded’s Prism is a suite of GUI development tools optimized for low-cost, resource-constrained embedded devices. The suite consists of the Prism Runtime Framework as a GUI toolkit; Prism Micro for monochrome and 8-bit color depth targets; and Prism Insight, which is the GUI design and resource editing tool.

The Framework component automates design and deployment with a widget set, drawing engine, event manager, and screen manager. Collectively, the tools create rich animations, screen transitions, anti-aliasing (a must on low-res screens), as well as blending and canvas transformations. Prism Micro is a version of the Runtime Framework that’s designed specifically for cost-constrained and low-color-depth targets. Prism Insight is a drag-and-drop WYSIWYG with TrueType fonts and widgets to create buttons and other screen elements. Output files can be C/C++, XML, or binary.

It sounds like a line from a country western song, but the “28V Wide Input Mini Family of DC-DC Converters” high-efficiency DC-DC converters from Vicor are both “mini” and “wide.” How’s that? Their small “mini” size fits between the vendor’s micro and maxi sizes at 2.28" x 2.2" x 0.5" (59.9 x 55.9 x 12.7 mm), making them ideal in size-constrained, high-rel applications. Four temperature grades are available, the most robust capable of -55 °C operation at 90 percent energy efficiency.

More important is the “wide” part. Designed for vehicles with 12 V or 24 V battery power, the converters can accept voltage inputs from 9 to 36 V (for the 12 VDC unit) or 18 to 36 V (for the 24 VDC unit). Vehicle charging systems, high battery loads, and discharged cells can easily swing available voltages within the limits of these converters. All the while, each is capable of outputting a stable voltage in eight model increments from 3.3 V to 48 V. Finally, mounting options include slotted, threaded, or through-hole, and the device’s encapsulation is assured void-free to maximize energy and heat efficiency, along with reliability.

Clutter might be a nuisance in the kitchen or conference room, but it’s even more imperative to clean it up when we’re talking about video imaging used for target tracking and detection. Of course, atmospheric challenges such as dust and fog will always be there, but those are no problem for GE Intelligent Platforms’ spruced-up ADEPT5000 multi-target video tracker series. Now sporting improved algorithms and processing power, in addition to precision platform dynamics, better optics, and higher-resolution sensors, the rugged ADEPT5000 multi-target video tracker can distinguish decoys and spot coordinated evasive maneuvers involving multiple targets. Obscured targets are no problem either, and ADEPT5000 also aids operators in assessing target priority.

The 54 gram device, designed for military and aerospace electro-optical applications and typically consuming a miniscule 8 to 12 W, utilizes open standards form factor carrier cards to ease integration: 3U VME, 6U VME, 3U VPX, PC/104, and PCI Express. Off-the-shelf PC development tools additionally boost productivity, and graphics rendering affords clear outputs. Digital video input includes GigE Vision, CameraLink, HDSDI, and DVI-D. Meanwhile, analog video input comprises NTSC, RS170, PAL, or CCIR. Sensor format auto-detection, context-based settings, and fast-start application modes also decrease development man-hours.

When those internal components’ temperatures go up, system performance goes down. Such is the natural order of the embedded electronics world. However, Hardcore Computer, Inc.’s new Detonator workstation, cooled by liquid submersion methodology, is designed to crush the natural order. Praising liquid submersion for its performance levels as compared to air cooling, Hardcore states that its Core Coolant, used in the process, “is 1,350 times better than air, by volume, at heat removal” to provide what they say is improved reliability of 24/7/365.

Ideal for compute- and GPU-intensive applications such as military programs, simulation, real-time situational awareness, CAD, and digital content creation, the Detonator gets its power from up to two 5500 or 5600 Xeon processors. The workstation also includes optimized data pathways and the Intel 5520 chipset on a purpose-built motherboard. Other notables include 4x DDR3 slots for each CPU; 2x 1.0 Gbps LAN; 3x 3.0 Gbps SATA II slots on the motherboard for up to 3x 2.5" internal SSDs; 4-drive RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10; or 5-drive RAID 0, 1, or 5. The Detonator also has a Creative Labs X-Fi audio processor (20K2) enabled, in addition to Dolby 7.1 audio sound.

As the years march on, memory shortcomings become increasingly prevalent in human beings. But thank goodness that the technologies spawned by the embedded computing industry are just the opposite: As time forges on, technology steps up and provides increasingly more advanced memory capabilities – even up to twice as much. Case in point: Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing’s (CWCEC’s) MM-6171 buffer memory XMC card, which the company reports as having stepped up its game from providing 4G to 8G memory for rugged air- and conduction-cooled mil apps such as image processing, SIGINT, and radar, for example.

Not only that, MM-6171 is designed to render volatile, deep storage capacities, and its two primary advantages and enablers are: 1) High-speed and faster bidirectional bandwidths enabled by serial fabric interfaces such as x4 Serial RapidIO or x4 PCI Express; and 2) Memory connection to high-speed signals via a Virtex-5 LX110T FPGA sitting on the memory card and interfacing to DDR2 of 1 to 2 GB, with 720 bit-wide memory arrays, a data path of 64 bits, and ECC. [Note that the FPGA is used as a memory controller only and is not intended for hosting User Programmable Logic (UPL).] Beyond the FPGA, the MM-6171 additionally sports a full-featured DMA engine, and a VxWorks 6.x device driver is available.

This product was also chosen as an Editor’s Choice product in VME and Critical Systems Spring 2010.

Face it. Looks do matter: not just on the runway or new car lot, but certainly also when it comes to pitting character-based bus analyzers against modern Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Accordingly, one of the knockout features on GE Intelligent Platforms’ version 7 of its BusTools-1553 bus analyzer software is its new “intuitive” GUI. The GUI simulates, tests, and analyzes 1553 data bus traffic on CompactPCI, PCI, VME, VXI, PC/104, and PC/104-Plus form factors, among others. The GUI interface hastens bus traffic analysis and monitoring and facilitates fast message modification/creation. It also enables simultaneous multiple-bus control in addition to error detection/injection and speedy filtering for either recorded or live displayed data.

And BusTools-1553 version 7 has even more new tricks up its sleeve. One is the Dynamic Bus Monitor stop/start feature, enabling users to achieve efficient on-the-fly 1553 bus traffic routing. Another is a one-page bus list editor, replacing the multi-page editor and permitting users to view every bus traffic message within a single window, then organize them quickly onto a highly readable one-page list. And finally, BusTools-1553 version 7’s Selective Data Watch feature lets readers choose different data words from any bus message to identify elusive system issues, thanks to integrated high/low limit checking, automatic limit event logging and corresponding snapshot feature, and DDE output.

Wouldn’t life be easier if engineers could just put an entire already-made subsystem into their design and move on, exponentially speeding development time and ease? Sounds too good to be true, but that’s precisely what Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. is offering in the form of its OpenVPX (VITA 65)-based ISR subsystem. The subsystem, already deployed in an unnamed rugged platform, is crafted to execute Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) within the ISR realm. After all, this is just the sort of “high-end” image- and signal-processing subsystem that deployed warfighters need to heighten their own situational awareness and provide the parallel data stream computing capabilities paramount to mission success.

The ISR subsystem’s primary enabler is Mercury’s Ensemble 6000 Series GSC6200 OpenVPX-based GPU processing module. Not only does the OpenVPX form factor make the subsystem wide open for compatibility in cutting-edge rugged defense systems, but GPU incorporation also renders some strong SWaP advantages. GSC6200 features the MxM GPU form factor to expedite ATI or NVIDIA GPU integration or upgrades. Not only that, the ISR subsystem uses open standards-based APIs, simplifying the process of mixing and matching with other wares.

The military embedded signal processing arena, like all embedded technologies, is constantly “evolving.” Of course, that’s code for: “Companies have to spend a lot to keep up with the times.” Using reprogrammable FPGAs in DSP applications can help companies stay on the cusp of technology by saving some hardware expense, but the programming and development costs associated with FPGAs can be high. That’s undoubtedly why Avnet, Inc. created its Xilinx Virtex-6 FPGA DSP Development Kit. Geared toward military, wireless, instrumentation, and many other compute-intensive applications where high-performance DSP is a must, the kit is part of the Xilinx Targeted Design Platform for DSP. The kit comprises Virtex-6 FPGAs, DSP IP, a scalable development board, cables, documentation, and DSP development tools. The kit is even touted to offer up to a 10x productivity boost.

Meanwhile, the kit’s key offering is its Virtex-6 DSP Targeted Reference Design, which conceptualizes DSP design flows and methodologies for Virtex-6. The Digital Up Converter (DUC)/Digital Down Converter (DDC) Targeted Reference Design gives users the how-to’s for advanced features including time division multiplexing, clock over sampling, and DSP48 slice utilization for high performance. Since it is based on MATLAB and Simulink, the Targeted Reference Design comprises a familiar environment sans RTL. But designers knowledgeable in RTL can also use the Targeted Reference Design’s ISE Design Suite and LogicCore DSP IP. Other highlights include testbenches, design synthesis parameters, and Simulink and RTL design source files.

Protecting data from things that go bump in the night – or during the day – is the recently upgraded E100 fully rugged TabletPC from Getac Inc. Designed to meet both IP65 and MIL-STD-810G specifications, the 3 lb TabletPC is well-protected against water, dirt, vibration, weather extremes, and many other harmful-to-electronics variables. It is also intended as an all-in-one ware, eliminating the need for numerous handheld devices for in-field warfighters and personnel in any out-in-the-field industry. And for times when the sun is shining relentlessly on soldiers or industrial workers just trying to get the job done, E100 provides an 800 NITs sunlight-readable display to ease viewing and speed workflow.

But that’s just the beginning. Things new and improved by Getac this time around include a faster 1.6 GHz processor, along with a solid state drive and expanded storage capacity. Users will also appreciate the new embedded backup battery, which facilitates spare battery hot-swapping. The real benefit to users is that they don’t have to shut down the TabletPC when they replace the battery packs, and yet all data is preserved. Additional plusses of the E100 include its RS-232 serial port, Giga LAN and Bluetooth 2.0, 812.11a/g/n wireless LAN, and optional 3G Network connectivity and/or dual smart card readers. Getac can also lend its “build to order” services to render a portable dual-battery charger or vehicle dock.

Electromagnetic Interference or EMI (aka RFI or Radio Frequency Interference) can be annoying when it affects devices such as consumers’ cell phones or televisions. But EMI’s presence in military embedded electronics can prove deadly or disastrous as it degrades, obstructs, or interrupts electrical circuit performance. We’re guessing these issues were what motivated Leader Tech engineers to develop the TechMESH knitted wire gasket, designed to serve as a high-attenuation EMI shield for military-grade enclosures.

Why talk gaskets though, you ask? Perhaps more “vanilla” than some of the other splashier and flashier components of military embedded systems, gaskets such as these are absolutely critical in many DoD systems’ performance. And the TechMESH gasket does indeed enhance interference-free, high performance levels: It offers EMI H-field shielding up to 80 dB and E-Field shielding up to 130 dB. And TechMESH doesn’t always have to be configured the same old way: The gaskets are available in elastomer or all-mesh incarnations in aluminim, monel, or tin-plated copper-clad steel materials. And you get it your way in yet another way: TechMESH can be vended by cutting to customers’ exact requirements or provided on 25-foot spools.

Out in the harsh environmental terrain of Afghanistan, situational awareness is paramount to mission success and survival. One key enabler is network-centricity, allowing soldiers to receive strategic or protective orders from commanders and other personnel in the timeliest and most straightforward way. We’re going to guess that developers at Parvus had just such a scenario on their minds when they developed the new COM-1268 rugged PC/104-Plus GbE switch card. Designed to heighten IP network-centricity and situational awareness, the 10-port board provides robust network performance even under the most demanding thermal and shock/vibe conditions.

Supporting both IPv4 and the later-and-greater IPv6 Quality of Service (QoS) traffic prioritization, the Layer 2 GbE switch survives – and thrives – in a wide temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C. It also supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Virtual Local-Area Network (VLAN) trunking, and Rapid Spanning Tree (RSP) redundancy. And it is vended as a stand-alone board … or not: It can also be integrated into a mission computer platform, mobile router system, or ruggedized COTS switch subsystem, for example. And there’s even more good news: The COM-1268 does not need an additional processor for board operation and can also be used in non-PC/104 systems.

Sometimes the introduction and then proliferation of new technology wares yields angst for the budget-conscious consumer or DoD department heads looking to stretch defense dollars as far as they can. While Mini DisplayPort and DisplayPort rapidly become the de facto display-to-computer interfaces in new mobile laptop or desktop computers, many already-owned-and-paid-for displays and monitors only support older video connections including VGA, HDMI, or DVI. However, StarTech.com’s Mini DisplayPort adapters link old and new – and eliminate the need to purchase a new monitor or display. Sounds perfect for a military command and control center looking to next year’s budget and tightening the monetary belt in the meantime.

And the investment-preserving adapters provide many notables. Among them: Mini DisplayPort adapters offer display resolutions up to 1920 x 1200, and are software-free for easy implementation. In addition, HDTV support renders resolutions up to 1080p. And the plug-and-play Mac- and PC-compatible adapters are available in three variants: Mini DisplayPort to DVI, Mini DisplayPort to HDMI, and Mini DisplayPort to VGA.

FPGAs are prevalent in all sorts of military embedded applications and systems these days, and form factors such as AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA (collectively referred to as “xTCA”), and AdvancedMC (AMC) are increasingly following suit. Thing is, how are FPGAs integrated with these historically telecom form factors? Pigeon Point Systems’ Module Management Controller (MMC) Board Management Reference (BMR) Starter Kit provides the key by rendering all firmware needed for FPGA development, with the aim of quicker deployment of AMC products. The kit also includes a benchtop management controller development board in AMC form factor style and a full SmartFusion FPGA design tucked inside a Libero Integrated Design Environment (IDE). A production license and “comprehensive documentation” round out the entire picture. And xTCA developers will be happy: Pigeon Point makes two benchtop variants of the kit: One for MicroTCA, one for AdvancedTCA.

Meanwhile, the kit’s foundational product is the SmartFusion intelligent mixed-signal FPGA product including built-in flash. What makes SmartFusion unique is its composition: an FPGA, programmable analog, plus a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3-based Microcontroller Subsystem (MSS) at 40 MHz. With the ARM processor experiencing zero load while SmartFusion renders advanced analog processing, the processor is left to execute xTCA analog sensor monitoring. Now that’s what we call efficient.

It almost looks like a texting acronym, but it’s not one a teen would use. Rather, “PCI2PMC” is the model number of Dynamic Engineering’s PCI-to-PMC adapter, enabling PMC card installation into either a half-length or standard PCI slot. The adapter actually measures 6.600" per the PCI specification, meaning it’s an adaptable half-length ware with universal voltage. Fully loaded, PCI2PMC provides a passive design.

With 33/66 MHz bus operation, the adapter renders 32-/64-bit data transfers. PCI2PMC also supports 3.3 and 5 V PCI bus signaling, and +3.3, +5, +12, and -12 V can be supplied from the PCI backplane to the PMC with an optional jumper for PCI or a regulator at 3.3 V. Convenience in connection is provided via front- and rear-accessible connectors including a rear DIN64/SCSI connector. Compatible with third-party or Dynamic Engineering PMCs, the adapter’s cut-out design enables increased airflow, and the unit can operate in the industrial temp range of -40 °C to + 85 °C. Meanwhile, build options for the 4.6 million-hour MTBF adapter include ditching the standard DIN for a SCSI connector, adding PrPMC clocking, conformal coating, and JTAG for convenient debugging, or an RoHS version. Software is low-maintenance, as the passive adapter merely enables usage of the original PMC software.

Life-cycle management is paramount in the defense industry, and not just at the component level. The application level, particularly for safety-critical apps like avionics, also holds its challenges in dovetailing all project phases. Enter Embed-X, an “end-to-end” Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) system from LDRA and Visure Solutions. Embed-X integrates the entire software engineering process, from project management, to requirements management, to architecture, code creation, software configuration, and finally testing. Now requirements, for example those for DO-178B, can be found and used dynamically within the system alongside the tangibles from all other project phases, rather than being isolated and located elsewhere.

To maintain full phase integration, Embed-X reports on the progression of development and enforces inter-phase development processes. LDRA and Visure Solutions estimate that defense and avionics vendors often experience 2x budget overruns, but suggest that Embed-X’s one-stop-shop efficiency could yield as much as 50 percent in cost savings. Where does its efficiency come from? Safety-critical requirements tracing is executed via dynamic and static analysis all the way through to testing and verification. Additionally, Embed-X is compliant with MISRA, security standards including the Homeland Security Agency’s Common Weakness Enumerations (CWE) and Cert C, plus safety-critical standards including DO-178B.

A high-performance, reliable clock generator is an integral part of high-frequency data sampling applications, and Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing’s FMC-XCLK2 quad-channel clock generator FMC card provides that … and more. Designed for sampling apps such as radar, SIGINT, spectral analysis, SDR, and Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), the FMC-XCLK2 also, importantly, eases FPGAs’ integration into embedded systems. The simplifying factor is its FPGA Mezzanine Card or FMC (VITA 57) form factor, designed to ease FPGA I/O at half a PMC’s size.

The FMC-XCLK2 supports 50 MHz to >2 GHz RF output frequencies and provides a source for synchronizing and clocking I/O. In fact, the FMC card offers up to 4x phase matched outputs (two differential) – ideal for synching multiple I/Os – along with 10 MHz master reference output, ultra-low jitter, and selectable external/internal 10 MHz reference including RF output frequency multipliers. Input levels for the external 10 MHz reference are 50 Ohm AC coupled, with -5 to +5 dBm recommended. Meanwhile, the external RF clock input supports the same range. Effective in high-performance I/O wares like ADCs and DACs, FMC-XCLK2 is manufactured in either rugged conduction-cooled or air-cooled variants.

Life-cycle management is paramount in the defense industry, and not just at the component level. The application level, particularly for safety-critical apps like avionics, also holds its challenges in dovetailing all project phases. Enter Embed-X, an “end-to-end” Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) system from LDRA and Visure Solutions. Embed-X integrates the entire software engineering process, from project management, to requirements management, to architecture, code creation, software configuration, and finally testing. Now requirements, for example those for DO-178B, can be found and used dynamically within the system alongside the tangibles from all other project phases, rather than being isolated and located elsewhere.

To maintain full phase integration, Embed-X reports on the progression of development and enforces inter-phase development processes. LDRA and Visure Solutions estimate that defense and avionics vendors often experience 2x budget overruns, but suggest that Embed-X’s one-stop-shop efficiency could yield as much as 50 percent in cost savings. Where does its efficiency come from? Safety-critical requirements tracing is executed via dynamic and static analysis all the way through to testing and verification. Additionally, Embed-X is compliant with MISRA, security standards including the Homeland Security Agency’s Common Weakness Enumerations (CWE) and Cert C, plus safety-critical standards including DO-178B.

Many technologies are developed for a particular military program, but then what? Sell it as-is to defense and civilian markets? Yes ... if you’re Juniper Networks, which recently released its LN1000 mobile secure router – used in the U.S. Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program – for public consumption. (Well, at least for industries such as defense, public safety, utilities/energy, smart grid, and others.) Available in the VPX form factor (4" x 6" x .85"), the 1.5-lb LN1000 provides transmission of data, video, and audio traffic for data aggregation, surveillance, or comms apps. But the notable here is the mobile security, which sounds like an oxymoron but isn’t. Indeed, LN1000 securely interconnects platforms such as remote monitoring or sensor stations, UAVs, and so forth to their operations centers or central command. Also afforded are resiliency in networking and high performance with low power consumption: a mere 35 W. Designed for tough environments, this mobile secure router withstands temps from -40 °C to +85 °C. And deployment onto existing platforms is no problem either: LN1000’s conduction-cooled design eliminates the need for external power.

Data gathering, formatting, and transmission are imperative to fostering mission success and soldier safety, particularly for manned military aircraft, for example. And the Aitech NightHawk RCU [Rugged Controller Unit and Data Concentrator Unit (DCU)] is a technology designed to that end – and more. Based on the compact Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6 GHz with 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, the ultra-rugged 4.5-lb unit is designed for SWaP-conscious airborne or ground vehicles in the defense and industrial arenas. With a slim profile sporting natural convection/radiation cooling, the company reports that NightHawk RCU “dissipates over 22 W at +55 °C in free air, or at up to +71 °C with an optional low-pressure fan.” A triad of rugged MIL-DTL-38999 connectors additionally boosts robustness.

Specifically suited for harsh-environment chemical, climatic, mechanical, and electrical apps, NightHawk RCU’s data storage is accomplished via a standard offering of 4 to 8 GB SSD or an option to increase to 250 GB SSD. Accoutrements include standard I/O interfaces: dual GbE, stereo audio in/out, RS-232/422/485, PS/2 ports, video graphics, and many more. Meanwhile, NightHawk RCU’s options include WAN wireless radio or Wi-Fi, to enable the RCU to execute periodic data monitoring or logging to a home base. A second option is a preformed cable set, which makes the unit prototype-ready by merely plugging it into Ethernet and a standard keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

In safety-critical systems, failure is simply not an option. Such thinking was surely the impetus behind aicas GmbH developing their Java-based VeriFlux automatic static code analysis tool. (The tool additionally works well on non-safety-critical Java code.) While testing always mandates executing yet another run for each code path, VeriFlux can analyze all code paths simultaneously. Not only that, VeriFlux works to prevent runtime exceptions by pinpointing everything from null pointer errors to arithmetic issues. Deadlocks, especially in multicore programs, can be flushed out with the static analysis tool, and race conditions can be prevented as well. And if the system carries dead weight (aka “dead code”), it won’t get past the tool’s highlighting.

One thing that makes VeriFlux particularly intriguing, however, is its configurability: It takes orders from the user, meaning that it can be “told” to focus on certain aspects of the analyzed code and to provide a briefer summary for the remaining code. It can also be used anytime in the development cycle, including analyzing incomplete programs or just a single method. Meanwhile, other notables include the tool’s RTSJ memory that validates all scoped memory assignments, in addition to VeriFlux’s automatic simple reflection or user-programmed complex reflection. Library modules are also included in the tool to provide ease of use.

Storage is everywhere, and with good reason. The world would be chaotic without ways to store data or even personal collectibles, and work would have to be repeated incessantly to replace fleeing data or belongings. On the mission-critical side, Themis Computer’s RES-XStore storage system can help satisfy the thirst for storage by providing harsh-environment storage capacity of 12 TB. Tucked into a 1U (17" or 432 mm) chassis, RES-XStore utilizes four hot-pluggable canisters with a total capacity for twelve 2.5" SATA or SAS drives. A RAID controller supporting either JBOD or single disk at levels ranging from 0 to 60 is also provided, as is RAID volume management and RAID out-of-band or in-band management. (Out-of-band management is additionally afforded via Ethernet.) Storage system to host server communication is facilitated by PCI Express x8 and an add-in host adapter. And since this communication is paramount in mission-critical scenarios, RES-XStore can withstand operating shock at 25 g, 20 ms and vibration at 3.0 Grms, 8 Hz to 2,000 Hz. It also complies with MIL-STD-810G, and, sporting a SATA HDD, RES-XStore’s operating temp is 0 °C to 60 °C. And another plus: Its modular design simplifies service and upgrades.

With hackers and even terrorist organizations attempting to breach computer systems and networks on a daily basis, the DoD must protect its data with vice-like tenacity. One way the U.S. Army ensures security for enterprise software wares operating on its Army Enterprise Infrastructure network is by issuing a “CoN” or Certificate of Networthiness (ironically, to eliminate “cons” and security breaches). Accordingly, Lieberman Software Corporation’s Random Password Manager privileged identity management product recently received the U.S. Army CoN.

Random Password Manager “automatically randomizes local administrator and root account passwords across every system in the enterprise.” It also permits temporary, on-demand recovery of current passwords. Additionally, unique account credentials are maintained by each system so that a decrypted local password cannot render unrestricted entire-network access. These missions are accomplished via a wide variety of features, likely the same ones that caught the U.S. Army’s eye: 1) Password recovery – Thanks to a secure Web interface, local passwords can be temporarily checked out by users; 2) Hardware encryption – Hardware-based encryption can be used to reach FIPS 140-2 level 2 and 3 encryption, using any PKCS#11 hardware provider; 3) Firecall accounts – Automated password randomization shields firecall accounts; and 4) Automatic resets, where passwords are re-randomized via a Web interface once the user has checked them in, among myriad other features.

The ABCs are taught in grade school as the basic foundation of all learning. In the same vein, Concurrent Technologies recently released its AM 210/x0x AMC processor module, but while the company has employed the “ABCs” of AMCs, they have also taken the concept notably further than just the basics. For starters, this AMC module includes two choices of low-power Intel Core 2 Duo processors: either 1.86 GHz (SL9400) or 2.26 GHz (SP9300). Then there’s the plethora of form factors it’s suited for: MicroTCA and AdvancedTCA, along with proprietary and Scope Alliance platforms. And its application range is anything but basic: defense, industrial, security, and communications (Voice over IP, wireless base stations, blade servers, and media servers).

Since power is a make-it-or-break-it factor in mil apps and systems, developers will be glad to know that the AM 210/x0x’s 2.26 GHz processor version has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of a mere 25 W … and when melded with the Intel ICH 9M-SFF IO Controller Hub and the Intel GS45 Graphics Memory Controller Hub, what else can result except high performance? And this module can take the heat: Mid- or full-height front-panel versions withstand -25 °C to + 70 °C.

Face it. No matter which fabulous boards, software, or even components are in an application or system, they all mean absolutely nothing without … power. And in today’s SWaP-constrained mil embedded world, what could be better than an ultra-compact AC/DC power module like RECOM Power, Inc.’s new RAC20-SB to bring the application or system to life. Measuring a mere 52.4 mm (2.06") in length, 27.2 mm (1.07") in width, and 23.5 mm (.93") in height, this small package packs a powerful punch of up to 20 W within the mid-power range. It can also be slipped in where the 5 W model left off as the two modules are pin compatible.

The RAC20-SB is made to work on universal mains that have 90 to 264 VAC input voltages and are also vended with 3.3 V, 5.0 V, 12 V, 15 V, and 24 V output voltages. The miniscule no-load consumption of these modules hovers under 500 mW, in compliance with the EU’s existing 2010 “green” power policies and its slated 2013 policies. Though output voltage limits can make efficiency rates vary, the RAC20-SB can rise to 86 percent at 24 V. The device additionally sports a “Class B” filter and features a 3,000 VDC minimum isolation. Ambient temp operating range in free air convection is -40 °C to +70 °C, and RAC20-SB reaches 250,000 hours MTBF in accordance with MIL-HDBK-217F specifications.