COPY TO COME @military_cots
John McHale
VME forever? Could be – it’s lasted 40 years 8
University Update
Populating the field with engineers
Mil Tech Insider
GPU and FPGA go head-to-head
Industry Spotlight
VME: No time to die, again www.MilitaryEmbedded.com
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Nov/Dec 2020 | Volume 16 | Number 8
NANOSATS PUT AI-AT-THE-EDGE COMPUTING TO THE TEST IN SPACE P 16
P 34 Driving MDO to enable data as a weapon system By Chip Downing, RTI (Real-Time Innovations)
THE MOST FLEXIBLE COTS RFSoC SOLUTIONS TM
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PACKAGE OPTIONS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 12
November/December 2020 Volume 16 | Number 8
20
COLUMNS Editor’s Perspective 7 VME forever? Could be – it’s lasted 40 years By John McHale
University Update 8 Populating the field with engineers
FEATURES
By Lisa Daigle
Mil Tech Insider 8 GPU and FPGA go head-to-head
SPECIAL REPORT: Leveraging Machine Learning for Military Systems 12 Nanosats put AI-at-the-edge computing to the test in space By Sally Cole, Senior Editor
By Mike Southworth
MIL TECH TRENDS: Military Power Supplies
Guest Blog 42 Using network address translation to ease management on mobile military networks
20 Small but mighty: challenges in military power supply design By Emma Helfrich, Associate Editor
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Open Standards for Embedded Military Systems
By Ronen Isaac, MilSource
24 The case for distributed and remote management of open standards-based
tactical networks for vehicles
THE LATEST
By By David Gregory and Jeff Nelson, PacStar
Defense Tech Wire 10 By Emma Helfrich
28 VME: No time to die, again By Robert Persons, SMART Embedded Computing
Editor’s Choice Products 44 By Mil-Embedded Staff
34 Driving MDO to enable data as a weapon system By Chip Downing, RTI (Real-Time Innovations)
Connecting with Mil Embedded 46 By Military Embedded Staff
38 Accelerate open standard adoption to drive warfighter and
weapon-system effectiveness
By David Jedynak, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions 34
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The U.S. military is increasingly exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for many applications; one of the most intriguing of these is tiny satellites, sometimes called nanosats. AI and machine learning (ML) are creating new opportunities for spacecraft avoidance, automated retasking of sensors based on detected/predicted environmental changes, and direct downlink of missionsignificant products to end users. (Stock image.)
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ACCES I/O Products, Inc. – PCI Express mini card, mPCIe embedded I/O solutions Annapolis Micro Systems – The most flexible COTS RFSoC solutions Behlman Electronics, Inc. – Some claim only full MIL-SPEC power supplies cut it on the front lines. The military begs to differ. Elma Electronic – Partner-perfect ecosystem Eurotech – Rugged and SWaP optimized supercomputers for unmatched performance at the edge General Standards – High reliability aircraft quality processing GMS – Rugged servers. Engineered to serve. Interface Concept – Optimized single board computers JMR Electronics – Elephant in the room? Milpower Source – Superior military-grade power conversion solutions Pentek – The big thing in RFSoC is here. (And it’s only 2.5 inches wide!) Phoenix International – Phalanx II: The ultimate NAS PICO Electronics Inc – Size does matter! Pixus Technologies – Ultra-slim & rugged OpenVPX handle SeaLevel Systems, Inc. – Thrives in rugged environments. Lives to test limits. State of the Art, Inc. – Space heritage Systel, Inc. – Mini. Mighty. Modular.
GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR John McHale john.mchale@opensysmedia.com ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Lisa Daigle lisa.daigle@opensysmedia.com SENIOR EDITOR Sally Cole sally.cole@opensysmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Emma Helfrich emma.helfrich@opensysmedia.com ONLINE EVENTS MANAGER Josh Steiger josh.steiger@opensysmedia.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Stephanie Sweet stephanie.sweet@opensysmedia.com SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Aaron Ganschow aaron.ganschow@opensysmedia.com WEB DEVELOPER Paul Nelson paul.nelson@opensysmedia.com CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Joann Toth joann.toth@opensysmedia.com EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST Drew Kaufman drew.kaufman@opensysmedia.com VITA EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jerry Gipper jerry.gipper@opensysmedia.com
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Navigating GPS-denied environments and the perfect magnetic sensor: John McHale talks with George Hsu, PNI Sensor Corp. Sponsored by Pentek https://bit.ly/2ImENAs
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Ready for takeoff: Developing avionics targeting the DO-178C and FACE Technical Standard Sponsored by Ansys, CoreAVI, RTI, and Wind River https://bit.ly/2JWXdbF Reducing SWaP in vetronics applications: How CMOSS enables SOSA Sponsored by Curtiss-Wright and Milpower Source https://bit.ly/3eLquBm For more podcasts: https://militaryembedded.com/podcasts
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Elephant in the Room?
If you think the challenges of rugged chassis design are insurmountable, think again. JMR/ICS isn’t afraid of the elephant in the room. We’ve expertly handled all sorts of design obstacles for our military customers. And, we have the solutions for air, land and sea to prove it: • Rugged air- and conduction-cooled systems and enclosures • High-speed serial or parallel bus profiles and architectures • Modular single or redundant power supplies • Sophisticated wire harness/cable assemblies and interconnects • MIL-DTL-38999 or PC industry standard connectors Let’s take on that challenge together! Give us a call, drop us an email or visit our web site. Call: 818-993-4801 | Email: ussales@jmr.com | Visit: jmr.com
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
VME forever? Could be – it’s lasted 40 years John.McHale@opensysmedia.com
By John McHale, Editorial Director
Ah … VME. I first wrote about the VMEbus specification in late 1996; now, in just under a year it will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Not much rust has grown on the open standard in its four decades, as VME-based products are still being designed into military programs today.
As for VME continuing to outsell VPX, Gipper says he still doesn’t know the totals for sure, but it’s close; he also says he does expect at some point that VPX will overtake VME, but even then VME will still be around for a couple more decades at least.
Released in 1981, the first draft of VMEbus specification was written by John Black of Motorola, Craig McKenna of Mostek, and Cecil Kaplinsky of Signetics/Philips. Black was also a cofounder of OpenSystems Media and our sister publication VITA Technologies. Back then it was called VMEbus Systems Magazine.
“VME is still performance-capable for many new and legacy military applications,” Gipper notes. “Its long life is fueled by the continued availability of VME parts and customer demand. Many users of VME don’t need VPX-like horsepower and prefer the durability, I/O, and affordability of VME.”
For those not around in the early 1980s, VME was originally called VERSAbus-E by Motorola engineers, as it was based on the VERSAbus developed by Motorola, according to the VITA (VMEbus International Standards Organization) website. The group was formed in 1985 out of what was the VMEbus Manufacturers Group. For more on these groups and other VMEbus history visit https://www.vita.com/History, where VITA Executive Director Jerry Gipper and his team have put up a comprehensive timeline on VMEBus and VITA. The companies driving VME back then, at least those that are still around, have different names but still sell VME products. For example, through a process of various acquisitions and mergers, the Motorola Semiconductor that designed early VME solutions became Motorola Computer Group, then Emerson, then Artesyn, and is now called SMART Embedded Computing. Some of those Motorola VME designers are still around as well. Rob Persons, senior sales architect for SMART Embedded Computing, – who’s been with the company since it was Motorola Computer Group – shares how VME remains a popular topic every year at the Embedded Tech Trends conference, which gathers embedded computing suppliers and technical media to discuss the latest trends, in his article, “VME: No time to die, again” on page 28. He writes that “inevitably we see a chart from a market research firm showing trends in the market for certain backplane technologies and we all anticipate the graph that compares VME versus OpenVPX/VPX sales projections. This is always the same time each year when we all look to see if the total revenue for VPX crosses the mystical total revenue for VME, which is nearly 40 years old.” He acknowledges that “sales of all VPX/OpenVPX has probably surpassed VME by now,” but admits that it’s amazing that VME is still alive and kicking.
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MILITARY EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
VME’s longevity reminds me of the long-lived MIL-STD 1553 databus and how it’s survived challenges from multiple highspeed replacements. I once wrote a headline asserting that “Death, taxes, and 1553” were the only constants in life. Add VME to that list. Persons says some of the reasons VME persists is that “there are many military programs and industrial control programs that remain reliant on VME because it is good enough and any change would have major impacts to their systems. One factor that has driven the continued use of VME is the difficulty of replacing backplanes and cabling in existing designs – it is very costly to remove the chassis and recable.” That reliance holds true for VME power supplies as well. “We do not see much demand on new platforms for VME or Compact PCI. But there is a sizable installed base that will need servicing for quite a while,” says Rob Russell, vice president of product marketing at Vicor in associate editor Emma Helfrich’s feature, titled “Small but mighty: challenges in military power supply design” on page 20. During its four decades, VME has faced threats to its existence from faster, shinier, and more youthful standards and specifications, but it still thrives. Persons details these challenges – like multibus, CompactPCI, and VPX – and compares VME’s resiliency to that of Ian Fleming’s fictional British secret agent James Bond, also known as 007. Will VME last longer than Bond? Read the article. Looking forward to next year: Gipper says he has big plans to mark VME’s 40th anniversary within the VITA organization and in the pages of the 2021 fall issue of VITA Technologies. We will also be covering VME’s legacy at Military Embedded Systems both in the magazine and online with blogs, guest blogs, and perhaps a podcast or two. Stay tuned. www.militaryembedded.com
UNIVERSITY UPDATE
Populating the field with engineers By Lisa Daigle, Assistant Managing Editor We’ve all heard the phrase “the graying of the workforce,” especially when it refers to the engineering and defense industries. It’s a fact that the average age for electrical and electronics engineers – many of whom are engaged in the defense industry – is older compared to the median age of other American workers. The median age of employed electrical and electronics engineers in 2019 was 44 years old, according to the most recent information from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The older-worker-heavy numbers are due to several factors: First, the Department of Defense (DoD) slowed hiring and workforce development during the so-called peace dividend of the early 1990s, during which the ranks of the civilian federal defense workforce shrank by more than 20%. In the corresponding private sector, cuts in large defense programs during that time kept students and novice engineers from entering the field. The result: Much of the experienced defense-engineer workforce will be heading toward retirement age over the next 10 years. The BLS projected (note: these are pre-pandemic numbers) that overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers would grow 3% during the period 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. According to the BLS, the rapid pace of technological innovation will create demand for electrical and electronics engineers in research and development, an area in which engineering expertise will be needed to design distribution systems related to new technologies. These engineers will play key roles in new developments in such areas as semiconductors and communications technologies. What is the defense industry doing to address both a workforce that skews older plus the probability of increased need for engineering talent? One such enterprise is Naval Horizons, a newly launched virtual effort from the Department of the Navy’s Naval STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education and outreach program. Naval Horizons is designed to inspire college students by raising their awareness of the real-world science and technology challenges of today and how these subjects are impacting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Its approach is to deploy online videos covering nearly 20 research areas – including energy, additive manufacturing, and undersea medicine applicable to the Navy – in which scientists and engineers discuss their work. The STEM outreach invites students to learn about naval topics by watching the videos and submitting a report on the state of the art and a futurist vision of the Navy and Marine Corps in 2040. The Naval Horizons team will review the submissions for
10 November/December 2020
technical sufficiency, evaluate the entries on a rolling basis, and award 3,000 entrants a $200 stipend. “This is an excellent opportunity for college students to learn about a wide range of state-of-the-art science and technology areas applicable to naval challenges,” stated Sandy Landsberg, the Naval STEM Coordination Office executive and a division director in the Information, Cyber, and Spectrum Superiority Department at the Office of Naval Research. Another initiative aimed at bringing college students into the defense-electronics fold is the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement Microelectronics Workforce Development program – known by its acronym SCALE – a $19.2 million multiuniversity public/private/academic partnership led by Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) that will be used for workforce development in engineering universities across the nation. At Purdue, the SCALE program is directed by Peter Bermel, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, who brings together faculty across the Purdue College of Engineering with faculty from 14 universities plus personnel from the U.S. DoD, NASA, U.S. Department of Energy labs, and the defense industry to create a microelectronics workforce focused on national-security needs. Universities will be involved in specific areas of microelectronics education and workforce development deemed critical to national security. Subject areas include radiation-hardening of microelectronics, emphasized at Vanderbilt University, the Air Force Institute of Technology, St. Louis University, Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), SUNY Binghamton, Indiana University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and New Mexico State University. Faculty and students will focus on heterogeneous integration of electronics at Purdue, Georgia Tech, SUNY Binghamton, and Arizona State University, while system-on-a-chip electronics will be the SCALE focus at Ohio State University, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and the University of California, Berkeley. “Today’s engineering students are energized by the grand challenges facing the nation,” says Mark Lundstrom, acting dean of the Purdue College of Engineering and the Don and Carol Scifres Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “To create this urgently needed U.S. workforce for microelectronics, SCALE partners will work with students across the nation to build strong relationships with government and the defense industrial base and to develop the new technologies needed for secure and resilient microelectronics.”
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GPU and FPGA go head-to-head By Mike Southworth An industry perspective from Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Today’s embedded-system designers have a great variety of processor types to select from, with FPGAs [field-programmable gate arrays] and GPUs [graphics processing units] adding their own various advantages and disadvantages for consideration in contrast to the more familiar CPUs [central processing units]. Understanding these characteristics and how FPGAs and GPUs stack up can help system integrators make the right choice when choosing and installing a processor, to be used either individually or in combination with other types of processors. FPGAs are hardware implementations of algorithms, and since a hardware implementation usually operates faster than a software implementation, they perform very well. Unlike FPGAs, GPUs execute software; performing complex algorithms takes many sequential GPU instructions compared to an FPGA’s hardware implementation. The advantage of a GPU is its high core count, which enables certain parallel algorithms to run much faster than a CPU, especially those using floating-point calculations. A 1,000-core GPU can run 1,000 floating-point calculations every clock cycle. For signaland image-processing applications, the GPU is a natural fit. GPU performance typically beats CPUs for highly parallel math-intensive applications, and they are getting close to parity with FPGAs for performance per watt. Historically, one drawback of FPGAs is that they are much harder to program compared to CPUs and GPUs. Software for CPUs is typically programmed using one of many readily available programming languages, such as Java, C, or Python. FPGAs are programmed with a hardware description language (HDL) such as Verilog, or a veryhigh-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL), which translates directly to FPGA logic cells. GPUs are often programmed using a software framework that shields the user from having to write code specifically for the GPU; instead, code is written at a high level. The same is becoming true for FPGAs: Software development frameworks are being designed that enable FPGA programming without HDL [hardware description language]. FPGA vendors have made frameworks available and built toolkits into their development environment, negating the need for direct HDL programming. Heterogeneity/fabric connectivity Embedded applications often require heterogeneous system architectures that combine CPU, FPGA, and GPU elements. While traditional embedded applications may include a single CPU and GPU processing element, some processor-intensive platforms integrate multiple CPU, GPU, and FPGA engines, implemented either on a single or multiple discrete cards connected over high-speed PCI Express (PCIe) or Ethernet fabric backplanes to communicate and execute tasks in parallel. Alternatively, some of the latest standalone GPU-accelerated modules offered by NVIDIA (i.e., Jetson AGX Xavier) integrate more than a half dozen different compute engines on a single system-on-module (SoM) that includes a CPU, GPU, Deep Learning accelerator, vision accelerator, multimedia engine, and the like. An example of a rugged commercial offthe-shelf (COTS) system based on this technology is Curtiss-Wright’s Parvus DuraCOR AGX Xavier small form factor modular mission computer that integrates the Jetson AGX Xavier’s NVIDIA CUDA-core accelerated graphics processing, artificial intelligence/ deep learning inference, and edge-computing capabilities. (Figure 1.) One important feature of FPGAs is their any-to-any I/O connection that enables them to connect to a sensor, network, or storage device without a host CPU. A high-end radar system, for example, may need a number of discrete processing elements and www.militaryembedded.com
Figure 1 | The Parvus DuraCOR AGX-Xavier is a small-form-factor COTS modular mission computer based on NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Xavier system-on-module (SoM).
compute stages to support multiple high-speed data inputs; FPGAs have some advantages in this case, as they can directly connect to these high-speed sensors and offer very high bandwidth. Latency and determinism As bus speeds increase, latency is expected to decrease for newer CPUs and GPUs; however, the latency of an FPGA is more deterministic. With an FPGA, it is feasible to have latency around one µs, whereas CPU latency tends to be around 50 µs. Using a real-time operating system (RTOS) on a system, rather than a traditional OS, may help with determinism, but it doesn’t necessarily provide better latency. In other words, using an RTOS may provide a better idea of how fast the processor will execute, but it may not necessarily result in faster execution. Many variables are in play when selecting a certain processor for a particular application. At the beginning of any new design program it is helpful to consult with your trusted supplier’s system architects, who solve these problems and make these types of decisions daily. The right choice can make all the difference. Mike Southworth is product line manager for Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions https://www.curtisswrightds.com/
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November/December 2020 11
DEFENSE TECH WIRE NEWS | TRENDS | DOD SPENDS | CONTRACTS | TECHNOLOGY UPDATES
By Emma Helfrich, Associate Editor
B-1B Lancer system to undergo redesign including radiation hardening The U.S. Air Force awarded Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) a $12 million contract to redesign a B-1B Lancer system with the intent to extend the aircraft’s service life. SwRI engineers will aim to redesign the aircraft’s Fuel Center of Gravity Management System (FCGMS), which tracks fuel data and usage, controls fuel transfer to the aircraft’s four turbine engines, and calculates corrections to the bomber’s center of gravity as fuel is depleted, according to officials.
Figure 1 | A U.S. Air Force B1-B Lancer flies over Afghanistan after refueling. U.S. Air Force photo.
SwRI’s form, fit, function, and interface (F3I) redesign of the FCGMS is intended to ensure the system is capable of supporting the aircraft’s next phase of service. The Air Force claims that an F3I redesign updates a subsystem, enabling it to be inserted into existing technology without impacting overall system operations. According to the Air Force, the B-1B FCGMS overhaul will encompass a redesign of the intermediate device chassis, power supply, assembly of multiple interface module circuit cards, and radiation hardening.
AI-powered cyberattack mitigation contract won by Parsons Defense engineering firm Parsons won the SharkSeer 2.0 task order under the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Systems Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) contract. According to contracting officials, SharkSeer 2.0 is a new requirement for DISA and will aim to enhance the program’s original operational capability with revamped architecture and new task requirements. The effort is intended to support an enterprise boundary defense system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and mitigate zero-day cyberattacks and advanced persistent threats to protect Department of Defense (DoD) networks. According to information from Parsons, the scope of the project for the base year and the options years, if exercised, will include migration, integration, testing, operations and maintenance, streamlining, optimization, enhancement, and simplification of all SharkSeer functionalities across seven operational boundaries. The company was involved in the original design and execution of the SharkSeer program.
High Energy Laser weapon system in development with Boeing, General Atomics General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing announced they are partnering to pursue opportunities for a 100 kW-class scalable to 250 kW-class High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system to support a variety of air and missile defense applications. The partnership intends to combine both companies’ directed-energy portfolios to build a best-in-class HEL solution designed to be capable of delivering combat-ready protection for the warfighter. The HEL weapon system design is planned to combine the GA-EMS scalable distributed gain laser technology, HELLi-ion battery systems, and integrated thermal management with Boeing’s beam director and precision acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) software. The HEL weapon system’s compact footprint will also aim to offer a reduced logistics footprint and greater configurability for both standalone use and integration with a variety of mobile ground, sea, and air-based platforms.
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Figure 2 | The laser weapon system is designed to be mounted on a variety of platforms. General Atomics image.
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Unmanned air platform called “ROBOpilot” undergoes more flight tests Flight testing of the ROBOpilot unmanned air platform has been resumed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) and unmanned-aircraft designers DZYNE Technologies. The platform completed a fourth flight test at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, during which ROBOpilot flew for approximately 2.2 hours, completing all test objectives. ROBOpilot is an applique kit that is designed to convert a generalaviation aircraft into an unmanned aerial system (UAS) without making any permanent modifications to the aircraft. The system is intended to fly missions autonomously and then be removed to return the plane to its manned configuration. Installation of ROBOpilot involves removing the seats and attaching the robot to the seat rails, according to the Air Force. ROBOpilot is built with its own internal sensors, like GPS and an inertial measurement unit, to enhance the users’ situational awareness.
Figure 3 | ROBOpilot is designed to interact with the aircraft in the same manner as a pilot would. AFRL photo.
Virtualized testing solution launched by Raytheon to assess cyber vulnerabilities
Hypersonic-deterring satellite system in development with L3Harris Technologies
Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business, announced the launch of a new hardware emulation and software analysis tool called DejaVM that is designed to provide a virtualized environment to evaluate and reduce cyber threats against mission-critical systems in a modern networked space. According to the company, DejaVM is intended to enable system-level cyber testing without requiring access to the limited number of highly specialized physical hardware assets.
L3Harris Technologies will develop and integrate an end-to-end satellite system under a $193 million firm fixed-price contract for the Space Development Agency. L3Harris will support the agency with technology that will protect against advanced missiles, such as those that travel at hypersonic speeds. According to the company, the total period of performance for the contract runs through 2025 and covers delivery of four space vehicles for launch within 24 months.
The tool aims to create an emulation environment that virtualizes complex systems to support automated cyber testing. DejaVM is intended to provide an infrastructure that can be used to virtualize systems to supply debugging capabilities that are not possible on the actual platform. The company claims that with DejaVM any code within the system could be debugged, memory could be modified, and vulnerabilities could be detected wherever they occur.
L3Harris says that it intends to develop wide field-of-view mission payloads, various space communication and network solutions, and intersatellite optical links on the vehicles. Company officials also say that the L3Harris efforts will support the Missile Defense Agency’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor and the U.S. Space Force’s Overhead Persistent Infrared Satellite Program.
StormBreaker smart weapon approved to equip F-15 Eagle Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s StormBreaker smart weapon has been approved for use on the F-15E by the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command. According to the company, StormBreaker is engineered with a multimode seeker that is intended to guide the weapon by imaging infrared, millimeter wave radar, and semi-active laser in addition to or with GPS and inertial navigation system guidance. StormBreaker is designed to be small to let fewer aircraft address the same number of targets compared to larger weapons that may require multiple jets. It is designed to fly more than 40 miles to strike mobile targets to reduce the time that aircrews spend in combat. Initial fielding on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the U.S. Navy is scheduled for late 2020. www.militaryembedded.com
Figure 4 | An F-15E carries a StormBreaker smart weapon during a test exercise near White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Raytheon photo.
MILITARY EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
November/December 2020 13
DEFENSE TECH WIRE NEWS | TRENDS | DOD SPENDS | CONTRACTS | TECHNOLOGY UPDATES
Autonomous THeMIS UGV demonstrated for Italian Army The European robotics developer Milrem Robotics recently demonstrated its autonomous THeMIS [Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System] unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to the Italian army. During the robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) capability spotlight, the THeMIS UGV was demonstrated; the system was enhanced with Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Integration Kit (MIFIK) that features such autonomous functions as waypoint navigation and “follow me” features.
Figure 5 | The Milrem Robotics THeMIS UGV recently ran a demonstration for the Italian army. Milrem Robotics photo.
At that demo, Milrem Robotics also launched its Intelligent Systems Implementation Analysis and Assessment (IS-IA²) program, designed to help armed forces implement intelligent systems into their capabilities. According to the company, IS-IA² is comprised of three steps: analyzing the requirements of the armed forces, implementing the tailor-made RAS solution with the integration of provided and/or customized technologies for the armed forces by the local industry, and evaluating the outcome.
Cyber contract aims to streamline, support DoD cloud strategy
TE Connectivity acquires DRI Relays in power-segment move
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics, has won the Defense Enterprise Office Solutions (DEOS) contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) in partnership with the Defense Department (DoD) and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). The DEOS strategy is intended to streamline the DoD’s use of cloud email and collaborative tools while enhancing cybersecurity and information-sharing across the DoD’s enterprise. Company officials say that GDIT will set up and accredit DEOS cloud environments and support the migration of existing DoD Office 365 tenants into DEOS.
TE Connectivity – a $13 billion maker of sensors and connectors used in defense, data communications, medical, and other applications – has acquired DRI Relays, which designs and manufactures rugged highreliability relays and devices at its operations in the U.S. and India.
GDIT will aim to replace legacy DoD IT office applications with an enterprise-wide standard cloud-based solution for more than 3.2 million users across all military services worldwide for both unclassified and classified environments. GDIT will provide engineering, migration, training, and support services for those users.
Peter Lieffrig, vice president and general manager of TE Connectivity’s Aerospace, Defense, and Marine (AD&M) business, said “With this deal, TE strengthens our presence in the midrange power segment with an expanded product offering.” DRI will be reported as part of TE Connectivity’s AD&M business. The terms of the acquisition were not made public.
UASs to use sensors and AI to autonomously launch and land without GPS Strategic Elements Ltd. subsidiary Stealth Technologies has signed an agreement to collaborate with U.S.-based autonomous drone technology company, Planck AeroSystems on a plan to enable drones to autonomously launch and land from the Stealth ground-based autonomous vehicle platform (AxV). Stealth Technologies claims to be developing an autonomous security vehicle (ASV) for perimeter security in sectors such as government, defense, transport, and utilities providing critical services. The Planck Autonomous Control Engine (ACE) system is an embedded software solution that is designed to run onboard a variety of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) intended to enable autonomous launch, recovery, relative navigation, and mission planning from a moving vehicle. The companies say that the precision landing system uses computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and other onboard sensors, but does not require GPS or active communications.
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Figure 6 | The Planck ACE software requires no GPS link to launch and land UASs from moving vehicles. Planck Aerosystems photo.
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Manned-unmanned teaming contracts for Army garnered by BAE Systems BAE Systems has won multiple contracts from the U.S. Army to develop technologies for the Advanced Teaming Demonstration Program (A-Team); the program is designed to advance manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities for the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. According to company officials, the U.S. Army developed the A-Team program to create an automated system to offload the cognitive burden of pilots while commanding swarms of unmanned aircraft.
Figure 7 | Manned/unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities are expected to be critical components in the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. BAE Systems photo.
BAE Systems will deliver a highly automated system to provide situational awareness, information processing, resource management, and decision-making that is beyond human capabilities. These advancements come as the Army moves toward mission teams of unmanned aircraft that will be controlled by pilots in real time. The contracts – totaling $9 million – include awards for the Human Machine Interface, Platform Resource Capability Management, and Situational Awareness Management elements of the program.
EW and spectrum goals detailed in new DoD document
FPGA leader Xilinx to be acquired by AMD for $35 billion
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a report called “2020 Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy,” which is basically a road map for the U.S. military to maintain freedom of action in the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) at the time, place, and parameters of its choosing.
Xilinx – a provider of FPGAs for military applications such as electronic warfare (EW), radar, communications, and software-defined radio (SDR) – has entered into a definitive agreement under which microprocessor pioneer AMD will acquire Xilinx in an all-stock transaction valued at $35 billion.
According to a public document released by the DoD, the strategy will attempt to implement new tactics, training, technology, and partnerships that would enable military users to move across and cloak itself in frequencies more easily, sense and attack or defend against malicious actors on the spectrum, and better withstand cyberattacks on the electromagnetic spectrum. One of the major questions swirling around the military’s use of the EMS is whether the electromagnetic spectrum counts as a domain in the same way as do the land, air, and sea.
Victor Peng, Xilinx president and CEO, said of the deal: “Joining together with AMD will help accelerate growth in our data center business and enable us to pursue a broader customer base across more markets.” When the acquisition is completed – expected before the end of 2021 – AMD will have a stable of offerings including CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and adaptive systems-on-chip, plus software expertise in market segments including defense, aerospace, data centers, gaming, PCs, communications, automotive, and industrial/manufacturing.
Missile-warning system in South Korea to undergo modernization with Northrop Grumman and U.S. Army The U.S. Army and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) have deployed enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) capabilities in South Korea, intended to advance battlespace awareness and missile defense in the region. The system was first fielded in tactical shelters in 1997 to provide in-theater missile warning using data directly from satellite sensors. JTAGS is designed to receive and process data directly downlinked from sensors gathering data from the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) constellation of satellites. JTAGS then disseminates warning, alerting, and cueing information on ballistic-missile launches and other tactical events of interest using multiple communications networks. Under the initial modernization effort, Northrop Grumman and the Army installed JTAGS Block II in permanent facilities in Japan, Qatar, Italy, and the Republic of Korea, with updates to hardware, software, communication systems, and enhancements to cybersecurity and the soldier-machine interface. www.militaryembedded.com
Figure 8 | The Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) is designed to gather sensor data from satellites regarding missile warnings and battlespace awareness. Northrop Grumman photo.
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Nanosats put AI-at-the-edge computing to the test in space By Sally Cole, Senior Editor
The U.S. military is harnessing and exploring algorithms and machine learning, not just on the ground but also 300-plus miles aloft for small-form-factor space applications. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly being explored or adopted by the U.S. military for many applications, and one of the most intriguing is tiny satellites, sometimes called nanosats. Machine learning (ML) is creating new opportunities for spacecraft avoidance, automated retasking of sensors based on detected and
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predicted environmental changes, and direct downlink of mission-significant products to end users. One noteworthy small-satellite project currently underway is being run by the Space and Engineering Research Center at the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute. The goal for its four La Jument nanosatellites is to enhance AI and ML space technologies. Lockheed Martin is building mission payloads for the nanosats, which will use the company’s SmartSat softwaredefined satellite architecture for both the payload and bus. SmartSat is designed to let satellite operators quickly change missions while in orbit with the simplicity of starting, stopping, or uploading new applications. “Onboard machine learning in space has many benefits, including improving satellite autonomy and decreasing the time between collecting sensor data and distributing it,” says Adam Johnson, La Jument program director and software engineering director for Lockheed Martin Space (Denver, Colorado). “Today, most missions are planned hours to months ahead of time by analysts on Earth, with autonomy limited to only making critical decisions for navigation and health and status monitoring.” The La Jument nanosats will enable AI/ML algorithms in orbit, thanks to advanced multicore processing and onboard graphics-processing units. An app being tested is an algorithm known as SuperRes, developed by Lockheed Martin, which can automatically enhance the quality of an image in the same way as a smartphone does. SuperRes enables exploitation and detection of imagery
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produced by lower-cost, lower-quality image sensors. (Figure 1.) SmartSat also provides cyberthreat detection, while the software-defined payload houses advanced optical and infrared cameras used by Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center to qualify AI and ML technologies for space. These systems are powered by the NVIDIA Jetson platform, built on top of the CUDA-X capable software stack, and supported by NVIDIA Jetpack software development kit. This configuration facilitates powerful AI-at-the-edge computing capabilities to unlock advanced and digital-signal processing.
Figure 1 | Pictured is an artist rendering of La Jument nanosatellites. Credit: University of Southern California.
AI/ML challenges While there are significant benefits to using AI in nanosats, it also poses a few challenges. One major challenge “is the orders of magnitude difference between the compute capacity available aboard a spacecraft vs. on the ground,” Johnson points out. “Today, cloud computing offers flexible storage and highly scalable compute options. In space, processors are several generations behind because they must be shielded against the sun’s radiation, which adds significant cost.” Lockheed Martin Space is addressing this challenge in several ways, including partnering with universities to research optimizing algorithms for low-powered embedded devices and spacecraft with intermittent connectivity. “We’re leveraging our university partnerships as well as scientists from our Advanced Technology Center to improve fault tolerance of nontraditional space compute devices while exploring techniques for injecting fault tolerance directly into machine-learning algorithms that execute on devices susceptible to radiation effects,” Johnson adds. Another major challenge currently being addressed in the AI for nanosats arena is the substantial difference between space and terrestrial environments. “Many AI/ML engineers are accustomed www.militaryembedded.com
Figure 2 | SmartSats is a software-defined satellite architecture created by Lockheed Martin. Credit: Lockheed Martin.
to using high-powered discrete graphics processing units (GPUs) for machine-learning tasks,” Johnson says, “whereas deployments to spacecraft might require targeting a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or low-powered embedded GPU on a system-on-a-chip.” AI on orbit SmartSat software-defined satellite architecture enables artificial intelligence on-orbit that wasn’t previously possible. “Today, remote-sensing satellites collect terabytes of data that must be downlinked to a ground station where it’s processed and reviewed,” Johnson says. “But SmartSatenabled satellites could carry mission applications onboard the satellite – including AI – that will conduct processing on the satellite. Doing so means the satellite would only transmit the most relevant data, saving on downlink costs and letting ground analysts focus on the data that matters most.” (Figure 2.)
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CubeSats are providing an ideal, low-cost proving ground for Lockheed Martin Space’s software and hardware technologies. “Programs like La Jument are helping advance technology development and to gather meaningful flight data we can use to improve and refine our products,” Johnson asserts. Lockheed Martin develops single-board computers (SBCs) as well as dedicated processing cards containing FPGAs and GPUs, determining appropriate processing capacity required based on customers’ mission needs and spacecraft size, weight, and power constraints. “From a software architecture perspective, we use SmartSat open architecture as our application hosting platform across ground and space assets,” Johnson says.
“We leverage various open source and vendor-provided AI/ML frameworks and libraries, including PyTorch, ONNX, and TensorFlow. And we also maintain a significant set of internally developed AI/ ML-focused software ranging from spacemission management and command and control to specific mission algorithms.” Opening doors AI and autonomy are quickly being adopted by the commercial sector within
U.S. ARMY EMBRACES ALGORITHMS FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS Researchers are creating a way to get information updates to warfighters faster via new machine-learning (ML) techniques. A new method to train classical ML algorithms to operate within constrained environments – especially ones involving coalitions that can be used within various devices by soldiers – has been created by a team of researchers from the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland), IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center (Yorktown Heights, New York), and Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pennsylvania). Tactical networks tend to suffer from intermittent and low-bandwidth connections within hostile operation environments. Even though artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can potentially improve the situational awareness of soldiers to keep them updated about fast-changing situations, “machine-learning models need to be retrained using updated data, which is often distributed across data sources with unreliable or poor connections,” says Ting He, an associate professor at Penn State. This challenge demands new generations of model-training techniques, the researchers say, to strike a desirable tradeoff between the quality of the obtained models and the amount of data transfer needed. To tackle this balance, they created “coreset,” which uses the approach of a lossy data-compression technique designed for ML applications. It filters and discards redundant data to reduce the amount of data that must be compressed. “A smaller version of the original dataset that can be used to train machine-learning models with guaranteed approximation to the models trained on the original dataset,” He explains. “However, existing coreset construction algorithms are each tailor-made to a targeted machinelearning model. Multiple coresets need to be generated from the same dataset and transferred to a central location to train multiple models, offsetting the benefit of using coresets for data reduction.” So the team set out to explore different coreset construction algorithms with respect to the ML models they are used to training, with a goal of developing a coreset construction algorithm whose output can simultaneously support the training of multiple ML models with guaranteed qualities. “Our study revealed that a clustering-based algorithm has outstanding robustness compared to the other algorithms in supporting both unsupervised and supervised learning,” He says.
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The team also developed a distributed version of the algorithm with a very low communication overhead. “Compared to training a neural network on the raw data, training it on a coreset generated by our proposed algorithm can reduce the data transfer by more than 99% at only an 8% loss of accuracy,” He notes. This result means that the coreset can enhance the performance of machine-learning algorithms, especially within those tactical environments where bandwidth is scarce. “Given advanced techniques to increase the rate at which analytics can be updated, soldiers will have access to updated and accurate analytics,” says Kevin Chan, an electronics engineer at the Army lab. “This research is crucial to Army networking priorities in support of machine learning that enables multidomain operations, with direct applicability to the Army’s network modernization priority.” The new algorithm is straightforward to use with various data-capturing devices – including high-volume, low-entropy devices such as surveillance cameras – to significantly reduce the amount of collected data while ensuring guaranteed near-optimal performance for a broad set of ML applications, according to He. As a result, soldiers will be able to obtain faster updates and smoother transitions as the situation changes at a competitive accuracy. Beyond applications within the military domain, coresets and distributed ML in general “are also widely applicable within the commercial setting, where multiple organizations would like to jointly learn a model but cannot share all their data,” says Shiqiang Wang, an IBM Research staff member and a collaborator on this work. Going forward, the team will be exploiting various ways of combining coreset construction with other data-reduction techniques to achieve more aggressive data compression at a controllable loss of accuracy. “We’re exploring how to optimally allocate bits between coreset construction (generating more samples) and quantization (having a more accurate representation per sample),” He says. “We’re also exploring how to optimally combine two approaches: reducing the number of data records using coreset and reducing the number of features per data record using dimensionality-reduction techniques.” AI and ML “are promising techniques to revolutionize how we operate our networked systems and satisfy users’ information needs,” He notes.
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environments that are predictable and where technology can operate from existing data. The end-user situation is a little different when it comes to government and military systems. “To integrate AI and autonomy into government and military systems that operate within extreme, highly variable environments requires both technological expertise and deep experience working with defense systems,” Johnson says.
a SmartSat payload. It will test the complete system from ground to space, including ground-station communications links and commanding SmartSat infrastructure while in orbit. The second to launch is a 3U nanosat, roughly the size of three small milk cartons stacked atop each other, with optical payloads connected to SmartSat to allow AI/ML in-orbit testing. This 3U nanosat is scheduled to launch in February 2021. The final launch in the La Jument sequence will be a pair of 6U CubeSats, which are being designed jointly by Lockheed Martin Space and a team at the University of Southern California (USC – Los Angeles, California). These will launch mid-2022, and are set to include future research, including new SmartSat apps, sensors, and software bus technologies. MES
Cloud computing and storage are also opening the door for more widespread AI development on the ground. In space, “on-orbit processing like SmartSat and cloud-computing structures like Lockheed Martin’s SpaceCloud are opening new doors for AI in space,” he adds. “On-orbit processing ultimately saves time and money because the satellite is no longer tied to its downlink window to send data. The onboard computer can analyze and process data, gaining new insights about data that was simply dumped in the past.” Trusting AI One of the biggest hurdles for AI so far is trust: “Trusting the behavior and outcomes of our systems is critical to our collective success,” Johnson notes. “The challenge we have as a society is where we place that human within the loop. AI will never replace human intelligence, but it will augment and enrich it.” Trust is such a critical aspect of AI that “we must be just as strategic about trust as we are about our missions,” he adds. “In space, our systems are thousands of miles away. It’s not easy or even possible to send a repair crew to fix something. Likewise, our astronauts on the International Space Station or the first ones to land on Mars will rely on systems that can predict, self-diagnose problems, and fix themselves while continuing to perform without failing. Human lives depend on it.”
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La Jument launches The first La Jument satellite is a studentdesigned and -built 1.5U CubeSat that will launch before the end of 2020 with www.militaryembedded.com
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Small but mighty: challenges in military power supply design By Emma Helfrich, Associate Editor
Shrink it down but bolster the processing power. Engineer it so it’s light enough to fly on an airborne platform but never overheats. These are the contradicting design challenges manufacturers still face when building power supplies for military applications. Innovations in the field are ongoing, and both standardization consortia and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) are starting to phase out antiquated power supplies.
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Edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern military technology; with this new tech comes immense requirements for more processing power. End users are looking toward power supplies that can operate under such stringent conditions while being optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. The overarching need for such optimization has hindered what could be defined as any groundbreaking modernization in military power supplies as of late but has conversely bolstered both the manufacturers’ and end users’ desire for standardization. Encouraging competition in the industry would be one benefit, while others could include affordability and overall modularity in design. To address these enveloping obstacles, companies like Vicor (Andover, Massachusetts), Behlman Electronics (Hauppage, New York), and North Atlantic Industries (Bohemia, New York) are cognizant of the idea that while the ability to customize is very important, it doesn’t necessarily mean that standards like VITA [VMEbus International Trade Association] and VPX won’t support a flexible power supply. According to these manufacturers, an easily modifiable design is still achievable through standardization despite the end goal of limiting userdefined options. With many manufacturers speaking to the gradual decline in demand for VME and CompactPCI supplies powering anything but legacy systems, it appears
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For now, VPX and VITA are at the forefront of power supply technology. The Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Consortium acts as a primary influence in this effort and is advocating for military power supplies to be as standard as possible with as few user-defined options as can be achieved.
Figure 1 | Vicor’s VITA 62 power supplies are MIL-COTS power supplies that are designed for 3U and 6U OpenVPX systems.
“The SOSA consortium is developing the standard to enable multisourcing, unlike the current VPX supplies,” Russell says. “Although the preliminary SOSA standards call for fewer outputs with significantly more current required from the 12-volt output, the actual power requirements being discussed are very similar to those in the VITA 62 standard. Vicor has developments in progress to adapt its VITA 62 technology and create a SOSA family of supplies.” (Figure 1.)
such widespread efforts for standardization are gaining traction. The result could be power supplies modular enough to finally make headway in terms of power efficiency innovation.
This 12-volt heavy configuration has been incorporated by VITA 62 and is planned to be adopted by SOSA, according to Hovdestad, a chairman of the VITA 62 subcommittee, with the intent to eliminate much of the option capability in other configurations. In hopes of being adopted by as many platforms as possible, the 12-volt power supply is intended to meet approximately 80% of military requirements.
New era of standardization Industry professionals, however, do still admit that VME could actually be around forever. There just might be a point where the first-generation power supplies could also utilize some of the advantages of standardization down the line. “We do see some demand for people who are upgrading VME systems, but since VME had no standard size or shape, we try and encourage customers who are upgrading their systems to use a VPX power supply,” says Jerry Hovdestad, director of COTS (commercial off-theshelf) engineering at Behlman Electronics. “They’re essentially the same mechanical configuration, and now they get the benefit of standardization. In the old VME systems, you would just put a box in the system someplace that provided the voltages you need.” Consequently, it seems that the future for VME will be that some legacy systems are going to stay the same, with the same power they had in the past, and some could be upgraded when undergoing a refresh of the systems to standardize the power supply. Other manufacturers are looking at it in the same light. “We do not see much demand on new platforms for VME or Compact PCI,” says Rob Russell, vice president of product marketing at Vicor. “But there is a sizable installed base that will need servicing for quite a while.” www.militaryembedded.com
With progress, the cycle continues. When certain power-supply novelties – like advancements in voltages – contradict other technical transformations – like those in the realm of cooling – manufacturers are left only with their engineering creativity to bring to market the next great military power supply. For some companies, that could mean developing a supply with the ability to tell itself when to cool down. “There will always be some customization, there will always be some legacy power supplies out there with special requirements, but they want to get the whole industry to move in the direction of this standardization,” Hovdestad says. “It’s being adopted for air, ground, and shipboard supplies. NAVAIR [Naval Air Systems], the Air Force, and the Army have decided to attempt to complete these standardizations so they can get the most flexibility out of their boxes. There are manufacturers out there that now have boxes that can be configured for six or seven different systems with the same cards by just reprogramming the box, so they are certainly seeing some of the benefits of standardization.” As efforts for standardization gain ground, so do modernization efforts in defense technology. Implementing cross-domain, edge-computing capabilities to enhance the U.S. military’s battlefield presence is necessary to compete with near-peer adversaries but requires levels of processing power that make SWaP optimization a challenge for manufacturers. SWaP constraints still define power-supply advancements Few platforms find it as difficult to adhere to SWaP restraints as do airborne platforms. Not only do these systems have to operate in limited space, but they must also fly and remain aloft. Acknowledging that this caveat extends beyond jets and helicopters to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been a prevalent discussion among power-supply manufacturers. “One trend has remained the same: increasing power density and efficiency to meet demanding SWaP requirements,” Russell says. “Whether it is a retrofit or a brand-new platform, they need space and lower weight to add new features. Additionally, we are
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Military Power Supplies
also seeing applications, such as tethered UAVs, where high-voltage power delivery networks yield major SWaP benefits. The higher the voltage for the tether, the lower the current, which allows thinner, lower-weight tethers. This, in turn, enables higher UAV altitudes, increased functionality, and bigger payloads.” SWaP constraints, however, bolster the argument for freedom of customization in military power supplies. For a manufacturer to have a keen understanding of specific performance requirements could lead to a power supply design tailored to its respective platform. “Engineering teams developing military products and platforms have several challenges that a custom power solution can solve,” Russell says. “The main challenge for many aerospace and defense customers is that they do not have the bandwidth to conceive and develop a power solution that will enable them to meet their SWaP and TTM (time-to-market) requirements. Understanding unique military performance requirements and being able to deploy proven modular designs that will pass qualification with a high degree of confidence is essential.” However, edge technologies and the immense processing power required by AIand ML-powered systems continue to make SWaP optimization in military power supplies a difficult feat. Paralleling cards to provide higher power with less weight, technology leveraged from commercial processors, and higher voltages are tactics being researched by manufacturers in hopes of mitigating the huge power gulps seen in such systems. “One major thing to keep in mind is the ‘power-hungry’ systems,” says Lou Garofolo, product manager, power division at North Atlantic Industries (NAI). “One thing which NAI has been doing is looking for the best ways to pack more power into compact, edge-cooled designs. We are constantly looking for the latest technologies available for power components. The added challenge is that these systems typically are required to run under extreme temperatures under full power.” (Figure 2.) The aforementioned 12-volt-centric systems are in development in hopes of mitigating some of the complications presented by power hungry systems. They are designed for the end user to get more power out of a card to eventually power more electronics, but with that comes heat. Edge technologies are hotter than ever “The requirement for 12-volt high power is being driven by the requirements for immense processing power,” Garofolo says. “An advantage to having a heavy 12-volt output without the other VITA outputs is that the power supply becomes more efficient, which is especially important when running at higher power levels. Programmability and communication are also essential in these ‘edge’ technologies.”
Figure 2 | NAI’s high-power 6U product, the VPX56H2, is capable of 1,400 watts with capability for the power expected with the new SOSA requirements of a 12-volt-centric output with a 3.3-volt (aux) output.
There is yet to be a silver-bullet technology for the ideal military power supply, but manufacturers seem to agree that innovative thermal management can get them pretty close. Despite there still being a prominent need for such cooling properties, bus voltages keep increasing because processing power is mounting as well. “Multiple applications will require increased bus voltages, which drive the need for new converter topologies and power module packaging to meet SWaP demands,” Russell says. “Conversion and regulation from 28 volts, 48 volts, 270 volts, up to 800 volts or even higher will be needed to meet the needs of tethered UAV applications, high-voltage battery power sources for electric and hybrid vehicles, and other high-performance power systems.”
Power supply manufacturers are optimistic about the new processing capabilities the 12-volt supply could allow for, but they are already taking into consideration the additional aspects of a power supply that will need to catch up. Most of these challenges involve heat and efficient thermal dissipation.
With progress, the cycle continues. When certain power-supply novelties – like advancements in voltages – contradict other technical transformations – like those in the realm of cooling – manufacturers are left only with their engineering creativity to bring to market the next great military power supply. For some companies, that could mean developing a supply with the ability to tell itself when to cool down.
“We’re investigating cooling, or getting more power in processors and in power supplies,” Hovdestad says. “The better we can cool things, the smaller we can make them. There is some movement toward VNX or small form-factor power supplies for making things smaller and lighter and more efficient. But you have to take into account the ability to cool. There are new air flow systems and liquid flow systems that will allow the power supplies to actually shrink down, deliver more power, or both. The better you can cool it, a 1,000-watt supply may become a 4,000-watt supply if you can cool it properly.” (Figure 3.)
Making power supplies smarter Like many military-technology companies, manufacturers of power supplies for military use are looking to the commercial world for inspiration in making more intelligent parts. With the ever-mounting amounts of data that commercial technology is constantly tasked with sifting
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and GPUs [general-processing units] processing complex AI workloads. In most cases, power delivery is now the limiting factor in computing performance as new CPUs draw ever-increasing currents.” Russell goes on to assert that he believes AI will drive change in the advanced powersolutions arena due to their paramount need for efficient, high-current, and powerdense converters that he says have yet to be engineered in the defense industry. Figure 3 | Behlman Electronic’s VPXtra 700D-IQI power supply has no minimum load requirement and has overvoltage and short circuit protection as well as over current and thermal protection.
through, these companies are finding that the answer to doing so efficiently could be traced back to the power supplies behind the processing. “Power delivery and power efficiency have become some of the largest concerns in high-performance computing and AI applications,” Russell says. “The commercial industry has witnessed a dramatic increase in power consumed by processors, with the advent of ASICs [application-specific integrated circuits]
There lies the rub: Taking inspiration from the commercial industry is the easy part. Designing a power supply that must also operate in the extremely contested environments seen in the battle theater presents its own set of challenges. Engineers at Behlman are working to add intelligence to military power supplies in an effort to reduce the manpower required to maintain a power supply. “One of our main emphases is working on the intelligence of the power supply and intelligent systems so that they can make use of the information provided by the power supply,” Hovdestad says. “You can tell a lot about the performance of a system by getting up to date, real-time information on power being consumed. These systems can be very smart. They can predict the health of the system, possibly the fault about to happen, so we are working on the intelligence of the power supply.” Needless to say, military power supply manufacturers’ efforts in standardization, cooling, and implementing intelligence are changing the market. The hope is that in the near future military users will be able to switch power supplies in a weapons system without having to spend millions of dollars on reprogramming an entire system. MES
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
The case for distributed and remote Title management of open By John McHale, standardsEditorial Director based tactical networks for vehicles
Open Standards for Embedded Military Systems
caption The Mission Enabling Technologies Demonstrator (MET-D) manned vehicle – which uses modular open standards – can operate two unmanned platforms to make contact with the enemy before soldiers do, while achieving overmatch against future operating environment threats. (U.S. Army photo.)
abstract
By David Gregory and Jeff Nelson To exploit the potential benefits of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, video analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality and virtual reality, and other innovative technologies on mobile platforms at the tactical edge, Department of Defense (DoD) communications programs must effectively deploy advanced IT infrastructure, connectivity, and compute resources. The Army understands this need: It is investing in research, standardization, and demonstration to ensure that future vehicle networks deliver these benefits while minimizing cost, enabling rapid fielding, and facilitating ongoing modernization. These moves also leverage modular, open standards-based COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] technologies.
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The Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) Cross Functional Team created the Mission Enabling Technology Demonstrator (MET-D) as part of the effort to deploy advanced mobile IT infrastructure. MET-D is a cuttingedge experimental system of vehicles developed to help Army leaders determine how best to integrate unmanned robotic vehicles, advanced networking technologies, and future sensor capabilities into ground combat formations. MET-D provides a look forward 10 to 20 years into the future of what military operations may look like, with the primary objective of reducing risk to soldiers. For example, MET-D platforms leverage the latest sensor technology, data display, consolidated capabilities, modular open standards, innovative graphical user interfaces, drive-by-wire capabilities, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance video, and advanced communications systems. The MET-D manned fighting vehicle (MFV) can remotely operate robotic combat vehicles (RCV) designed to make contact with the enemy before soldiers do, while simultaneously providing overmatch against additional operating environment threats. The NGCV and the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) have begun experiments to prove and refine concepts. This approach is illustrated by soldier operational experiments conducted earlier in 2020 to “observe, collect, and analyze feedback from soldiers to assess the feasibility of integrating unmanned vehicles in ground combat formations,” according to information from the U.S. Army, and to determine if ground-combat-unit lethality
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Figure 1
In July 2020, cavalry scouts from the U.S. Army Comanche Troop 4th Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, became the very first U.S. Army soldiers – along with the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) and Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) Cross Functional Team – to begin Phase 1 testing of robotic warfighting vehicles designed to limit risk to soldiers. Photo courtesy of GVSC.
can be enhanced through robotic combat vehicles. (Figure 1.) These new platforms are also designed to enable experiments and developments around additional changes such as cyber resiliency, defined as the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover, and adapt to adverse electronic warfare (EW) conditions, attacks, or compromises. Disruptions to these networks – whether from attacks or simple human error – will be costly and have adverse effects on the warfighter who increasingly relies on advanced technologies for mission success. Next-generation technology will surely increase bandwidth requirements of the underlying network across battlefield domains, placing additional needs for communication link reliability and driving the Army to experiment with many new types of data transmission. Advancing technology drives need for open standards These new technologies hold great promise to deliver increased safety and lethality for the warfighter and offer www.militaryembedded.com
commanders new options for maneuvers. However, the Army faces the daunting process of integrating a vast suite of rapidly advancing technologies. The Army believes that current methods of technology integration are reaching the end of their usefulness, won’t scale, are unaffordable, and will require too much space, weight, and power in the future – particularly as the array of new technologies comes online and needs to be deployed. The Army also understands that in order to “future-proof” new generations of vehicles, as well as to make existing platforms upgradable as technology continues to advance, it needs to enforce open standards-based architectures. This approach enables incremental upgrades of individual technologies while maintaining interoperability, functionality, and cybersecurity. To this end, the Army is making significant efforts, in collaboration with industry and other services, in developing comprehensive “standards-based communications” to overcome hardware and software interoperability issues, define modularity standards, characterize databus functionality, and standardize messaging services for interconnected system components. In 2019, the Army, Navy, and Air Force signed a memorandum to develop a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) that includes a number of key subsets such as: › Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA): A unified technical open systems architecture standard for radar, EO/IR [electro-optical/infra-red], SIGINT, EW, and communications. › C4ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS): A suite of industry open architectures and U.S. Army standards targeted at reducing C5ISR system size, weight and power (SWaP), and ensure commonality across diverse platforms. › Vehicular Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY): Provides network-based interoperability using shared services such as position and time. › OpenVPX: A hardware form factor for fielding capabilities such as plug-in cards in a common chassis. › Modular Open RF Architecture (MORA): Drives functional decomposition so resources can be shared, such as antennas and amplifiers.
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› Software frameworks: Includes REDHAWK, Software Communications Architecture (SCA), and Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) to enable software portability. The goal of these standards, taken together, is to create a system of modular electronics and software components that reduce SWaP, enable multiple industry partners to interoperate, allow for incremental modernization of components, reduce cost, and deploy new advanced technologies without requiring entire system redesigns. This modular electronics approach is designed to transition vehicles from using separate stovepiped boxes to instead employing integrated, high-density chassis with standardized interfaces improving maintainability (making it easier and more costeffective to upgrade capabilities), reducing complex integration challenges, and increasing industry competition.
Increasingly rapid fielding and technology density leads to management complexity The developing standards outlined above will enable organizations to deploy more technology onto smaller platforms. This reality will drive the need to address a critical side effect: added complexity, maintenance, and training. These new technologies, combined with an already increasingly difficult-tomanage IT infrastructure at the tactical edge, runs the risk of becoming unusable simply due to its complexity. This dynamic is well understood in enterprise IT organizations that work hard to centralize, standardize, and automate complex management, monitoring, and configuration tasks. These challenges are much more difficult in ad-hoc, distributed, intermittently, or poorly connected networks in dynamic environments. Additionally, the burden of maintainability never gets less expensive or unwieldy as prototypes and proof-of-concepts transition to production networks. As the innovation life cycle continues to introduce more capability, the maintenance tail requires more training, configuration management, testing; all of these equal additional processes to manage. Taming management complexity of open standards-based vehicle networks The management challenges of the MET-D experimental architecture are likely to continually increase as the system capability and complexity evolves, all of which mean definite modernization and usability challenges. A solution to sustain MET-D’s modernization efforts is to consolidate and simplify MET-D’s network visualization, device integration, and configuration management on vehicles – using open standards software and network-management interfaces – into a single user interface that enables tailorable access to the configuration items and information appropriate for the types of operators using the systems. This kind of solution can consolidate dozens, or even hundreds, of diverse screens that
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would otherwise be presented to operators and administrators, by underlying technologies each developed by a different vendor. It can also let programs experiment with new technologies while maintaining a consistent user interface, even across upgrades. The demonstrations should also include capabilities to enable Remote Operations and Management (ROAM) for MET-D’s relevant tactical networks to ensure the manageability of these systems at realworld scale. Remote management of multiple platforms requires network visualization, node status and management, support for cybersecurity administration, configuration management, and aggregated node reporting. This approach will enable robust operational support from upper echelons and aid in situational awareness while driving down complexity, downtime, and configuration errors. Distributed software management technology – running locally on each node – is necessary to efficiently achieve ROAM functionality and consolidate the management plane of the network. This awareness must extend from the upper echelons to the edge of the tactical networks; the technology must operate seamlessly in disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) environments. A robust ROAM solution deployed on each node can support collaborative management between local on-platform, lightly trained, or untrained crew members; on-platform administrators; and remote highly trained administrators who might be in DIL situations. In summary, while moving forward on increasing technical capabilities at the edge, it is necessary to simultaneously consider a robust communications management software solution for remote operations and management to maximize the effectiveness of MET-D networks. This move will consolidate the management plane of networks onto a unified interface regardless of the type of technology or vendor. It will be capable of providing distributed, hierarchical, and efficient management of network-attached nodes. MES www.militaryembedded.com
David Gregory, senior solutions architect at PacStar, develops advanced capabilities working closely with industry partners to identify and productize new technologies and integrated solutions. David has extensive experience developing products and solutions for the DoD, with a technical background in electrical engineering, computer engineering, digital design, CSfC (Commercial Solutions for Classified), and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) – including experience developing and fielding tactical networking solutions for the DoD and intelligence community. Jeff Nelson, senior business development manager at PacStar, has been in the business of improving warfighter tactical communications for more than 30 years. His experience includes Communications Officer (“CommO”) in the Marine Corps, satellite communications and tactical radio portfolio manager, project manager at HQDA CIO/G6, satellite gateway project manager at DISA, and intelligence-community communications specialist. His graduate thesis, focused on space segment internetworking, provides a space-based strategy for Primary, Alternate, Contingent, and Emergency (PACE) communications architectures. Jeff’s current position allows him to help program managers and operational customers integrate cutting edge technology to improve “shoot, move, and communicate”; enhance network situational awareness; reduce size, weight, and power (SWaP); and improve mission command efficiency down to the platform level. PacStar • https://pacstar.com
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VME: No time to die, again By Robert Persons The death of VMEbus – a technology used so heavily in military and aerospace applications – has, like the death of Agent 007, been predicted many times for many years, but all those premature death reports have never come to pass. Why? As we eagerly await the final installment of Daniel Craig’s James Bond saga, I think back to late January 2020 when a group of us oldtimers gathered for the annual Embedded Tech Trends conference, which is a gathering of COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] product manufacturers along with editors of well-known technical publications. I have attended this event for years and have seen, essentially, the same graying group of technologists and editors who come to discuss the future of COTS products
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we collectively sell to various industries, primarily for the military and aerospace sector. VME and COTS dominated those chats for decades and still do as they also still flavor each day’s presentations. During their talks, technology leaders show the assemblage the latest technologies, most of which are becoming smaller and more powerful to solve the future needs of the warfighter, whether it is a tactical system in a ship, an autonomous drone, or a CubeSat. Inevitably we see a chart from a market research firm showing trends in the market for certain backplane technologies and we all anticipate the graph that compares VME versus OpenVPX/VPX sales projections. This is always the same time each year when we all look to see if the total revenue for VPX crosses the mystical total revenue for VME, which is nearly 40 years old. VPX still has not exceeded VME. (Figure 1.) Now I can hear everyone out there who questions the report, and I agree that total sales of all VPX/OpenVPX has probably surpassed VME by now. However, it is amazing that VME is still alive and kicking, and is still being used in a large number of programs, both in the military/aerospace and industrial sectors. The story of VME The story of VME started back in the 1970s a few years after the release of Dr. No, which saw Sean Connery (may he rest in peace) bring Bond to the big screen for the first time. Motorola began working on products based on an early bus called VERSAbus using a Eurocard mechanical standard. In 1981 (“For Your Eyes Only)”, Motorola coauthored the Rev A version of the VMEbus specification with Mostek and Signetics.
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Figure 2 | From the archives: A photo of the most popular VME boards ever produced – the MVME147, a popular single board computer. Even though the board was launched 32 years ago, in 1988, SMART EC is still approached to this day at tradeshows and via the website by users wanting to buy it. Photo courtesy Jerry Gipper.
the SMART DNA. The early bus was patterned after the Motorola Semiconductor 68000 processor. The goal was to design a specification that could be used to build embedded computer systems with a variety of I/O and multiple processors loosely coupled through a common bus. (Figure 2.)
[Editor’s note: OpenSystems Media cofounder John Black coauthored the VMEbus specification while an engineer at Motorola.] SMART Embedded Computing used to be Artesyn, which was previously part of Emerson, which bought Motorola Computer Group. The CTO at the time, Shlomo Pri-Tal, was one of the early architects of the specification, so VME is really part of
Figure 1 | Graph compares sales of VME and VPX during the years 2014 to 2020. Source: IHS Markit via Jerry Gipper. www.militaryembedded.com
If you look at the time this was happening, IBM PCs were just starting to populate the world and were really not ideal for industrial applications which needed a lot of I/O. The VMEbus standard was designed to allow for multiple processor boards and multiple I/O boards which was revolutionary at the time. Motorola, Heurikon, and Force, all companies that eventually became part of SMART Embedded Computing, along with a number of other companies, started building competitive products based on VMEbus. The first death: Multibus II Back during that same time, a competing standard, Multibus – developed by Intel and later adopted by Sun Microsystems – was in early competition with VME especially with the release of Multibus II (Timothy Dalton’s first Bond outing in “The Living Daylights”). The cards were larger and could accommodate higher-powered processors and faster backplane speeds. Back in the day, we heard that Multibus II would kill off VME because of the superior performance, but the 6U Eurocard design became the de facto standard for embedded computing, and Multibus II eventually faded away. It is hard not to emphatically stress the importance of
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that early decision for the 6U Eurocard design. It was the perfect balance of board surface area and the ability to ruggedize. The size of a Multibus II board made that much more difficult to ruggedize and thereby limited its impact on embedded computing. The original VMEbus specification was ratified by IEEE in 1987 after it was completed by VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA), which had formed in 1985 out of the VMEbus Manufacturers Group. This trade group was a pioneering group of early industrial-computing vendors who formed the organization to produce the standard and promote the industry to their collective customers. It was radical because all companies competed against each other, but they also needed one another to create and promote the standard. As we say today, even though it’s a cliché, co-opetition [or “cooperative competition”] created a stronger foundation for a system design than any single vendor trying to do it on their own. The first release defined a bus protocol which enabled multiple masters or slaves on the bus with a blistering 40 MB/sec data transfer rate. VMEbus did not stand still: Subsequent enhancements to the standard started by first multiplexing address and data pins to increase the addressable space and the performance of the transfers. Direct-memory access (DMA) transactions were introduced, along with later enhancements to the bus clocking, pushing the transfer speeds to 80 MB/sec by 1994. By 1997, improvements to the standard increased the backplane performance to a respectable 320 MB/sec. All these modifications were done while maintaining interoperability to the original boards. Backwards compatibility was another hallmark of the VMEbus standard and is probably the main reason why it has survived so many competing standards. The second death: CompactPCI For VME’s second near-death experience, enter the CompactPCI (cPCI) standard in 1995, just as Pierce Brosnan appeared in “GoldenEye.” After Intel created PCI and it was adopted by IEEE, the concept of creating systems based on PCI became a focus. A new trade organization, the PCI Industrial Computing Manufacturers Group (PICMG), started for the very same reasons VITA did, but PICMG was for bused architectures based on PCI bus. Compact PCI is a 6U Eurocard-sized based board with a bus based on PCI. Along with the faster PCI bus, which was used for I/O, additional enhancements were included to make it appealing to the telecom industry. A timedivision-multiplexed (TDM) bus was added, with eventually Ethernet in the backplane and integrated system management. With all these new features, it was thought that surely cPCI would knock out VMEbus. It was actually a bit of a joke between the standards groups that cPCI was going to kill VME. The irony was that many of the engineers that worked on VITA standards also worked on PICMG standards. Although cPCI did make inroads into some of those traditional markets of VME, especially in the smaller 3U versions of the product, several things kept VMEbus strong. One was momentum: VMEbus was now more than 10 years old. An ecosystem had formed, major programs were using VME, and it was designed to be a multiprocessing bus from the outset. PCI bus really followed a master-slave paradigm, one leader controlling a group of followers. There were multiprocessing cPCI systems, but this required special nontransparent PCI bridges, and in most cases, this was not something that could be done dynamically. You had to have a special version of a processor board that was a slave board, or the board had to be jumpered as a master or slave. Multiple masters was a key design element of VME and it was that capability that was heavily used by the programs that based their systems on VMEbus. This setup gave older programs a way to add features to an existing computer system by adding a new processor board to perform expanded functions. The third death: servers As cPCI came on the scene, Intel-based servers also began to expand. Surely this could be a potential place where VME could finally meet its demise, specifically in the
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industrial sector, especially since a typical system was comprised of a single master and some number of I/O modules. But VME dodged the bullet. For sure, there has been a trend away from VMEbus in certain industrial applications, but surprisingly there still exist a number of customers who still buy a lot of VME. But why? There are several reasons. Many of these customers have designed and built their own specialized I/O VME cards. They do not want to have to redesign these cards and are willing to use a bus that is more than 35 years old to maintain these designs. They have built up a semirugged system that in many cases is very close to or is actually physically attached to the pieces of equipment; VME is ruggedized and can live nicely in these extreme environments. Actually, the industrial applications that are still using VME are those that continue to rely on multiprocessing in their applications. They have also designed the system to accommodate a wide range of applications with few I/O to ones that require a lot. They can adjust the performance/cost of the system by selecting different processor cards with different levels of performance and cost. Users who need more processing capability than the fastest processor card can add an additional one to offload. This does not mean that there hasn’t been a decline (in general) of VME in industrial applications – there actually has been – but there are still some key customers who rely on the flexibility of VME to this day. The final nail in the coffin? Then came VITA 46 and VPX. The need for high-speed serial connections between processors, GPUs, FPGAs, and storage drove the VITA community to create a new set of standards in 2007 (in between the “Casino Royale” remake and “Quantum of Solace”). Later, as the plethora of slot and module profiles proliferated, there came a push to increase interoperability by developing a new standard, VITA 65, OpenVPX resulted. (Figure 3.) www.militaryembedded.com
Certainly, this would indeed be the final blow to VME. Well, maybe it eventually will be, but there are a number of factors where VME is still able to avoid the knockout punch. When will the curve showing net sales of VPX products increasing finally cross the VMEbus curve as it declines? OpenVPX/VPX products used in new designs – especially with the efforts being promoted by organizations like the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) consortium, which promotes standardizing around limited OpenVPX profiles – are quickly driving the OpenVPX/VPX sales curves, but VME will still have some life into the future. There are many military programs and industrial control programs that remain reliant on VME because it is good enough and any change would have major impacts to their systems. One factor that has driven the continued use of VME is the difficulty of replacing backplanes and
Figure 3 | Sales of VME and VPX – broken out by boards and systems – during the period 2014-2020. Source: IHS Markit via Jerry Gipper.
cabling in existing designs – it is very costly to remove the chassis and recable. This is so often true for older existing designs, but it also impacts those newer systems that also rely on cabling and backplanes designed years ago. It is actually quite surprising how many programs are affected by this one fact: There are very few customers willing to
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pay to redesign their entire system. Enhancements of capabilities must be done through improved VMEbus processors and/or I/O cards. The government typically doesn’t budget to update just the computer system in some of these programs. They may pay for incremental upgrades to processing to add a feature or budget for a complete replacement. Many of the VME sales today are people either trying to keep a system going by replacing a component that has gone EOL [endof-life], replacing a processor card in a new build for a processor that has gone EOL, or adding features to an existing design and so buy a higher-performance processor. Component obsolescence is only part of the challenge A particularly tough challenge is the age of the application and underlying operating system (OS). Many years of software work has been done based on older operating systems, which then drives the integrator managing the design to purchase older VMEbus-based boards that are still in production because that older board supports an EOL operating system. Difficult decisions have to be made when replacing an existing board in light of the impact to the OS required and the lack of support for that old OS. If the integrator has been updating their software development environment over the years, they are more likely able to use a newer board design with better longevity. If not, they are forced to stay with an older design, if it is even still available. One challenge – which came up around the same time as James Bond battled Blofeld in “Spectre” in 2015 – was the EOL for a widely used VMEbus chip. Many VMEbus board vendors had to decide at that point how to support their existing customer base. Some left the VMEbus market altogether, while others decided to either redesign
the products with older VMEbus bridges or create an FPGA-based bridge. (Note: SMART Embedded Computing made a major investment to maintain its existing designs for as long as possible.) So, like the character of Bond (James Bond), VMEbus will live forever, right? No. As new programs replace older ones and organizations like SOSA start to push the industry into a more refined choice of OpenVPX board profiles, the momentum of these newer technologies will accelerate even faster. It will be a struggle for some who have relied on VME for so long, but even great technologies have to eventually become fond memories. Inevitable conclusion: As the old-timers retire in dribs and drabs, the industry will see the retirement of this important bus standard too. As Sean Connery was to 007, VME was the grandfather of all open standards. It may seem like an antiquated technology by today’s standards, but it was truly a technology superstar in its day and will always be an important part of embedded computing history. The real question now is: Who will be the next person to play James Bond? MES Robert Persons is senior sales architect for SMART Embedded Computing. He applies his extensive knowledge of embedded real-time systems, VMEbus and ATCA hardware, and real-time software to help SMART Embedded Computing customers accelerate their projects. His 30-plus-year career has included avionics software development and field support of military, aerospace, telecom, rail, and industrial customers. He has also represented companies on standards bodies and conference advisory boards; he holds dual bachelor of science degrees in computer science and zoology from the University of Central Florida. SMART Embedded Computing https://www.smartembedded.com
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Driving MDO to enable data as a weapon system By Chip Downing The integration of real-time data from all of the U.S. armed services and coalition partners will drive greater operational intelligence and more timely and accurate responses for all military operations. This approach is now a formal U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) directive to become a datacentric enterprise integrating information across all sea, land, air, space, and cyberspace domains for operational dominance. A standards-based connectivity framework that enables a global data space can provide a highly adaptable foundation for optimizing this real-time information for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).
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DoD datacentricity challenges The utilization of data to create operational and business intelligence is the foundation of all successful endeavors in our highly connected world. This fact is also true with military operations under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), a situation underscored by the recent publication of the DoD Data Strategy on September 30, 2020. This publication sets the guidance to “unleash data to advance the National Defense Strategy” by creating “the overarching vision, focus areas, guiding principles, essential capabilities, and goals necessary to transform the Department into a datacentric enterprise.” Furthermore, is states that “success cannot be taken for granted … it is the responsibility of all DoD leaders to treat data as a weapon system and manage, secure, and use data for operational effect.” The vision is for the DoD to become a “datacentric organization that uses data at speed and scale for operational advantage and increased efficiency.” Becoming a datacentric enterprise means that data is the primary and permanent asset – other assets, systems, and applications will be deployed and retired, but data reigns paramount. In the datacentric architectures the data model precedes the implementation of any given new application or system because it will endure long after other assets are no longer in service. This approach will require a shift from systems focused on internal defense and weapons systems with unique data models to moving to systems that can rapidly interoperate and share data with other defense systems from other suppliers and
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Figure 1 | An illustration of a multidomain wargaming scenario. RTI image.
people voice-communications systems to machine-to-machine communications using digital data that enables crisp real-time situational awareness, precise sensing, and weapons control that enables the rapid integration of diverse mission scenarios. Recently, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein announced that MDO is “the single most critical” tool for winning future high-end fights, and that it means creating a system where “people are on the loop, not in the loop.” Moreover, MDO aligns with the latest DoD directives including the DoD Tri-Service Memorandum¹ that states, “Victory in future conflicts will in part be determined by our ability to rapidly shared information across domains. Sharing information from machine to machine requires common standards.” (Figure 1.) One of the biggest challenges we face is that we cannot simply ignore or replace legacy military systems and networks – they must layer into these systems and securely deliver data while minimizing operational intrusions and system retesting. In addition, connectivity frameworks need to be deployed using proven industry standards; having disparate sets of standards will not enable the interoperability and efficiency required. coalition partners using a shared data model architecture. This transition will enable the sharing of information in real time, while maintaining reliable, secure lines of communication between all participants in Joint and Coalition MultiDomain Operations (MDO) scenarios. MDO is the integration of capabilities across multiple operational domains, such as air, sea, land, space, and cyber information assets, in order to achieve desired effects.
The path to datacentricity and MDO Our next-generation data delivery frameworks require rapidly deployable, dynamic, and secure systems that can be assembled and reconfigured in an agile, missiontailored manner from ready-made, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. Due to hostile actors attacking all aspects of these networks, securing these networks to prevent unauthorized access to information sources across local and remote operations arenas and up to the cloud-based networks is an existential imperative. Rapid and assured interoperability between next-generation military networks, legacy systems, and yet-to-be-developed platforms is mandatory.
Lockheed Martin describes MDO as “A new warfighting concept ... By synchronizing major systems and crucial data sources with revolutionary simplicity, MDO provides a complete picture of the battlespace and empowers warfighters to quickly make decisions that drive action.”
DDS: standards-based platform interoperability Today’s military network environments are built upon legacy systems that have unique communications technologies. Although these communications technologies were appropriate at the time the systems were initially deployed, they now are so aged as to create a barrier to innovation, rapid integration, security, and cost concerns. Most systems enable point-to-point machine-to-human or human-to-human communications that, by design, cannot scale to meet the future requirements for datacentricity. These systems use a client-server network model under which clients and servers have specific roles, while servers are used to store data in a centralized environment that share this information with human-connected clients.
This transition also requires the change of the user base from people to machines. Systems must evolve beyond people-to-
More modern DoD networks use a peer-to-peer connectivity framework that does not differentiate between clients and the servers; in these networks, each node is itself client and server, and each node can both request services and respond to service
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Open Standards for Embedded Military Systems
requests. These peer-to-peer networks focus on connectivity in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications where each node controls its own data that is both consumed and published to others in the network. The leading peer-to-peer connectivity framework – and the one most used by today’s advanced communications systems – is based on the Data Distribution Service (DDS)² standard, which is managed by the independent standards agency Object Management Group (OMG)³. There are more than a dozen organizations that have created DDS products based upon this standard, and there are well more than 1,000 DoD systems that currently employ DDS in their systems architecture. DDS operates using a brokerless, serverless, peer-to-peer publish/subscribe model that includes low-latency multicast communication, dynamic discovery, and proven interoperability. In addition, DDS has data-in-motion security that enables senders to publish data topics they are authorized to send, and receivers to subscribe to the data topics they are authorized to receive. DDS applications can be coded in different languages and run on different operating systems hosted on virtualized system platforms hosting containerized services. DDS operates independent of data classification levels and is ideal for integrating the data from disparate sensor and compute systems. The DDS standard provides data connectivity, extreme reliability and a scalable communications framework that integrates a wide range of sensor and mission data. DDS is designed from the ground up to meet the necessary military interoperability and security requirements for cross-service, cross-supplier, and cross-ally integration of a technology-driven MDO environment. (Figure 2.)
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DDS global data space The DoD has defined seven goals to enable datacentricity in the DoD; these goals can be summarized as “making data visible, accessible, understandable, linked, interoperable, trustworthy, and secure.” In simple enterprise terms, this is making data available in a secure cloud with authorized users able to access all relevant mission data. Operational and mission data may end up in the cloud, but to collapse the time of response from days and hours to minutes and seconds, it needs to be available in real time by capturing data-in-motion. DDS manages data-in-motion and “sees” a local store of data called the “global data space” on the wire. These local data stores enable applications to have access to the entire global data space, but the applications locally store only that data required for their application for as long as it is required. There is no global place where all the data lives – the global data space is a virtual concept
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1
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Transformers & Inductors SURFACE MOUNT (and thru-hole)
Figure 2 | The Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), the top modernization priority for the Department of the Air Force with a budget of $3.3 billion over five years, will be the backbone of a network-centric approach in partnership with all the services across the Department of Defense. That broader effort is known as Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2); when fully realized, senior leaders say JADC2 will allow U.S. forces from all services – as well as allies – to receive, fuse, and quickly act upon a vast array of data and information in all domains. RTI image.
that is a collection of local stores of data-in-motion. As a result, every application – in almost any language and running on any system – sees local memory in its optimal native format. The global data space shares data between embedded, mobile, enterprise, and cloud applications across any transport, regardless of language or system and with extremely low latency. Datacentricity enables convergence The open, datacentric DDS standard enables safe, secure, flexible, scalable, and reliable integrated systems and is ideal for enabling the DoD to evolve into a datacentric enterprise-supporting MDO entity that treats real-time operational data as a weapon system. Datacentricity will help to converge operational and weapons platforms to build a dominant posture in future multidomain conflicts. MES Chip Downing is the Senior Market Development Director of Aerospace and Defense at Real-Time Innovations (RTI). In this position, he manages RTI’s global aerospace and defense business and helps drive the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service (DDS) industry standard into the commercial and military aerospace market with the RTI Connext DDS platform, now used by over 400 customers in over 1,500 global systems. Downing currently serves as the VP, Ecosystem of the DDS Foundation, where he is tasked with growing the sphere of influence of the OMG DDS standard with organizations that have companion specifications. He also serves as the Chair of the Future Airborne Capabilities Environment (FACE) Consortium Business Working Group (BWG) Outreach Subcommittee, promoting the FACE approach globally. RTI (Real-Time Innovations) • https://www.rti.com/en/ References 1
2
3
Memorandum for Service Acquisition Executives and Program Executive Officers, https://www.dsp.dla.mil/Portals/26/Documents/PolicyAndGuidance/Memo-Modular_ Open_Systems_Approach.pdf OMG Data Distribution Service (DDS) Version 1.4, https://www.omg.org/spec/DDS/ About-DDS/#docs-normative-supporting Object Management Group (OMG), https://www.omg.org/
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Accelerate open standard adoption to drive warfighter and weapon-system effectiveness By David Jedynak
An optimized investment on a leading program for the greater good of the warfighting enterprise will enable the technology breakout and multidomain convergence essential to increasing warfighter and weaponsystem effectiveness for the collective national defense.
38 November/December 2020
Open Standards for Embedded Military Systems
Warfighter and weapon-system effectiveness is critical for national defense. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Third Offset Strategy – the Pentagon’s drive to pursue next-generation technologies and concepts to assure U.S. military superiority – makes it clear that the continuous deployment and refresh of advanced technologies to the front line is essential in enabling combat platforms to rapidly adapt to changing threats. The Tri-Service Memo of January 2019 – promulgated by the secretaries of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force – directs the use of open standards “…to rapidly share information across domains.” Both the strategy and commanders’ intent are clear; however, we’ve observed that accelerating the adoption of open standard technologies is often slowed by traditional practices, hard-to-quantify benefits, and perceived risks. We believe the best approach is to address these hurdles head-on. Traditional acquisition methods The existing acquisition approach for platform technology is well understood: a singular focus on providing a specific capability; one example would be battle-command software running on a physical bolt-on appliqué. This singlepurpose approach provides a self-contained materiel solution consisting of a line-replaceable unit (LRU), platform installation kit (IK), training, spares, and the like. These recurring life cycle costs are relatively fixed at the LRU level and are generally well-understood. In some cases, the IK costs as much or more than the LRU itself. The combination of the LRU and IK results in size, weight, and power plus cost (SWaP-C) allocated to the platform.
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Is this approach efficient? From a discrete acquisition program complexity and scope standpoint, most likely the answer has been yes. This model has worked in the past to bring relatively small sets of capabilities to existing weapons systems without much integration complexity. Clean lines of separation and limited interaction between each capability are unintended consequences of separate and uncoordinated materiel acquisition solutions.
Size (cubic feet)
Weight (pounds)
Quantity of IKs (includes harnesses & mounts)
Single capability LRU
0.15
10
1
Total for 10 capabilities
1.5
100
10
0.9
30
1
Fits inside
1
None/interfaces to slot
CMC LRU for 10 LRMs LRM per capability Total for 10 capabilities
0.9
40
1
Versus 10x LRUs
60%
40%
10%
Table 1 | Multiple LRUs [line-replaceable units] compared with a single-chassis LRU with multiple LRMs [line-replaceable modules].
Embracing modular open standards enables rapidly upgradeable systems with the agility to bring the right capabilities needed to see, understand, and act in order to achieve overmatch. However, with the drive toward accelerated technology refresh and the convergence of enterprise-wide multidomain services and systems, it’s now critical to streamline how we bring new capabilities to the fight to achieve overmatch. The question today should be how to make the overall delivery of new capabilities to platforms more efficient, and what adjustments to the acquisition approach are needed to ensure the right enabling infrastructure is pre-positioned throughout the enterprise. Improving the process Open standards provide clean interfaces. Embracing modular open standards enables rapidly upgradeable systems with the agility to bring the right capabilities needed to see, understand, and act in order to achieve overmatch. That’s a qualitative statement that demands quantitative details. The simplest of these details are size, weight, and quantity of IKs, as shown in Table 1, which compares multiple LRUs versus a single-chassis LRU containing multiple line-replaceable modules (LRMs). For this analysis, assume the single chassis is intended to be a common mounted chassis (CMC) for www.militaryembedded.com
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Open Standards for Embedded Military Systems
multiple platforms, sized to fit on a relatively standard radio equipment shelf typical in ground vehicles (15.9 by 12.2 by approximately 8 inches). (Table 1.)
The module profiles
From just these three parameters, the benefits of the CMC + LRMs approach is clear: significant size, weight, and IK reductions. The elimination of individual duplicative physical parts (housings, rugged connectors, thermal management, power supplies, etc.) and IKs for each capability drives a significant return of size and weight back to the platform. Reduction of IKs also results in simplification of the platform wire harnessing and commensurate reduction in associated size, cable runs, and weight. Further efficiencies on the order of 10% to 20% are gained with regard to power via consolidation of power supplies.
backplane slot profiles
Cost is a critical parameter for savings. If each IK is estimated at an average of 25% the cost of a capability – a lower estimate given that some IKs are 200% or more the cost of the LRU – then an interesting model can be constructed. Assume the CMC LRU plus IK cost is anywhere from four to six times the cost of an average IK (25% of LRU). Assume also that each LRM cost is about 75% to 80% of an equivalent LRU due to
Via LRM @80% cost in 5 Slot Chassis (Cost = 6 IKs)
within a CMC LRU are interconnected with well-defined backplane topologies and capabilities. A subset of these have been captured in the CMOSS and SOSA standards, providing even tighter interface definition for technology refresh and
Normalized Recurring Cost Comparison of Added Capabilities per Platform: Standalone LRUs (Cost = 1) vs Common Mounted Chassis (CMC) with multiple LRMs Via LRU w/IK (Cost = 25% of LRU)
and corresponding
reconfiguration.
Via LRM @75% cost in 8 Slot Chassis (Cost = 4 IKs)
25
20
Normalized Total Recurring Costs
the elimination of LRU-level connectors, housing, and discrete power supplies. Figure 1 shows the overall benefit to the acquisition enterprise in the context of recurring cost. The results are fairly compelling: With a single filled 8-slot CMC, as much as 30% aggregate recurring cost can be saved.
Recurring Cost efficiencies are realized via the modular approach with Line Replaceable Modules and shared Common Mounted Chassis + Installation Kit costs. Showing two scenarios: poor efficiency (5 slot) and moderate efficiency (8 slot) designs.
15
CMC gains cost efficiency with more cabilities, break even with low number of LRMs
10
CMC + IK cost included with first LRM
5
0
More Slots per CMC provides better cost efficiency vs standalone LRU approach
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Quantity of Added Capabilities to Platform
Figure 1 | Normalized recurring cost comparison of standalone LRUs compared to common mounted chassis with multiple LRMs. Slot
Of course, realizing all of these SWaP-C benefits requires the CMC LRU to actually serve the technical needs of the environments and anticipate unknown future requirements. From an environmental standpoint, standards provide significant mitigation. The modular form factor at the heart of the U.S. Army
Slot type
Current configuration
Future configuration
1
Central Switch
40 Gigabit Ethernet switch
100 Gigabit Ethernet switch
2
Central Timing
Assured PNT module with M-Code GPS receiver
APNT module with M-Code GPS receiver + additional signal receivers and algorithms
3
Processing & I/O
Processor with mission command software and interfaces to platform displays
Next-generation processor with enhanced AI engines and augmented reality graphics processing and headset interfaces for next-generation mission enhanced situational awareness software
4
Payload
Processor running tactical intelligence software
Next-generation processor running tactical intelligence and targeting software
5
Payload
Processor running targeting software
Next-generation AI accelerator supporting slot 4
6
Payload
Graphics processing unit providing AI acceleration for slots 4 and 5
Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) transceiver with built-in CSfC-based data-in-transit encryption
7
Payload
Software-defined radio rehosting existing DoD waveforms
Software-defined radio simultaneously rehosting existing DoD waveforms, 4G/5G, WiFi, and commercial SATCOM
8
Payload
Multichannel SIGINT receiver
Multichannel SIGINT and passive radar receiver for active protection systems
Table 2 | An 8-slot CMC refresh is detailed.
40 November/December 2020
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C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) and the Tri-Service-backed Sensor Open Standard Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard is OpenVPX, which is managed by industry organization VITA and ratified as an ANSI standard. OpenVPX has well-defined electrical, mechanical, and thermal interfaces. This Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 modular open standard form factor provides low-risk provisions for the most demanding environments typical across the services. Anticipating future requirements, the OpenVPX ecosystem has sets of welldefined module interface definitions called profiles, which make interchangeability and upgradeability straightforward, while simplifying drop-in replacement or technology refresh. The module profiles and corresponding backplane slot profiles within a CMC LRU are interconnected with well-defined
backplane topologies and capabilities. A subset of these have been captured in the CMOSS and SOSA standards, providing even tighter interface definition for technology refresh and reconfiguration. An example refresh and migration within an 8-slot CMC is shown in Table 2. The technical, cost, and risk reduction benefits are clear; more detailed program and technology-specific examples can always be provided and discussed. The real challenge is that the leading acquisition program for a single new capability will always be at some cost disadvantage if it is also required to deploy the open standard enterprise infrastructure (e.g., CMC) for the collective benefit it provides to other contemporary and emerging requirements. Nevertheless, this strategic bridgehead infrastructure is essential for swiftly deploying new technologies to the field. MES David Jedynak is chief technology officer and Technical Fellow for Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. David joined Curtiss-Wright in 2008 and has focused his expertise in network-centric systems, COTS solutions, and Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing. David actively drives and supports the adoption of open standard architectures for the defense industry to accelerate technology deployment. Prior to joining Curtiss-Wright, David worked in both the automotive electronics and film industries on the forefront of industry-wide migrations to cutting-edge open standard digital architectures. His background includes electrical engineering, astronautical engineering, and project management at UCLA. He currently resides in Austin, Texas. Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions • https://www.curtisswrightds.com/
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November/December 2020 41
GUEST BLOG
Using network address translation to ease management on mobile military networks By Ronen Isaac, MilSource ETHERNET EVERYWHERE BLOG. At MilSource, the technical team often gets questions on how to more easily manage the networks now living and communicating on every mobile military vehicle. Implementation teams and integrators are faced with the daunting task of managing hundreds of networks that are the same set of devices just repeated in every mobile vehicle.
Trying to assign and manage IP addresses to every device on these mobile military mini-networks would be a challenge for even the best IT teams. But there is actually a way to manage IP address assignments and still provide the security needed on these networks that carry very sensitive data. Let’s discuss network address translation (NAT) and how it can help easily assign and manage IP addresses throughout a mobile military network. NAT was introduced to networking to address the looming problem of an IP address shortage because of the exponential rise of “connected” devices relying on IP addresses. When computers and servers within a network communicate, they need to be identified to each other by a unique address, which resulted in the creation of a 32-bit number; the combinations of these 32 bits would accommodate for more than 4 billion unique addresses, known as an IP address. Because of the explosion of connected devices, the IT world was – incredibly – running out of those 4 billion unique addresses. To circumvent this problem, NAT was introduced as a temporary solution; NAT resulted in two types of IP addresses, public and private. A range of
42 November/December 2020
private addresses were introduced, which anyone could use, as long as these were kept private within the network and not routed on the internet. The range of private addresses known as RFC 1918 are: › Class A 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 › Class B 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 › Class C 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 NAT allows the use of these private IP address on the internal network. Assuming each vehicle is considered a private network, users would assign a unique IP address in one of these ranges to all their computers, servers, and other IP-driven resources, usually done via DHCP [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol]. Then the same address scheme is rolled out on each vehicle. Using the same range of IP addresses on each vehicle does not cause them to conflict with each other because each vehicle is private to their network. However, when internal hosts need to communicate to the public network (the internet), this is where a public address comes into the equation: a WAN address, a routable public address everyone can see that represents the company’s network gateway. This public address would be unique and no one else would use this address. To clarify: When a host on the an individual vehicle needs to communicate with another device on the vehicle, it would use the internal IP address. When the host needs to communicate outside its private network, it would use the public IP address on the network’s gateway to identify itself to the rest of the world. The translation of converting a private IP address to public is done by NAT. For example, a vehicle’s computer has an internal address of 192.168.255.255 and wants to communicate with a central host back at command using the internet. NAT would translate the internal address (192.168.255.255) to the vehicle’s public WAN address, for example 1.1.1.1. In this way the internal address is identified as the public address when communicating with the outside world. When the central host back at command needs to reply to this vehicle computer, it needs to send back to the public address of 1.1.1.1. NAT would then use its records to translate the packets received from the command host that was destined to 1.1.1.1 back to the internal network address of 192.168.255.255, the computer that requested the original info. NAT can bring three benefits: 1. Reduces the number of IP addresses that must be kept track of. 2. Enables every vehicle to be set up with the same private IP address, making implementation and management much easier. 3. Bolsters security by hiding these private-vehicle device IP addresses from the outside world; only the WAN public address on external interface of the firewall or router – and nothing beyond that – can be seen. To read more Ethernet blogs from Ronen Isaac, visit the Military Embedded Systems website at https://militaryembedded.com/authors/ronenisaac.
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EDITOR’S CHOICE PRODUCTS Lincad launches LIPS 16 battery for demanding environments Lincad has announced the launch of its lithium-ion power system (LIPS 16) battery. According to the company, the LIPS 16 uses the most up-to-date lithium-ion battery technology and is designed for use in demanding environments, with a metallic enclosure (sealed to IP55) intended to offer physical protection and electromagnetic screening. Originally designed as a replacement for a lead acid battery used for an acoustic weapon-locating system, the LIPS 16 aims to offer performance characteristics suitable for a range of military applications and uses in other sectors that require military-grade performance. The LIPS 16 battery is designed to offer an internal discharge feature intended to enable standalone discharge of the internal cell stack to below 30%, a requirement for transport by air, in accordance with IATA [International Air Transport Association] regulations. Additional features include the ability to update the operational software and interrogate the battery memory using a mobile device. The LIPS 16 also uses an internal battery-management system to store operational data for user analysis and maintenance activities.
Lincad | www.lincad.co.uk
Line of AC inverters to deliver high power capacity in 1 RU Transtector Systems (an Infinite Electronics brand), has expanded its line of rackmount enterprise power management solutions with a family of 1 RU (or rack unit, measuring 1.75 inches/44.45 mm) AC inverters, designed to provide high output power and mission-critical functionality in minimal rack space. Transtector’s new inverter line uses technology to convert 48 VDC input power into AC and feed 120 VAC loads to equipment. An integrated static transferswitch bypass is intended to enable the connection of a redundant AC utility service to prevent downtime. Whether in use during commissioning, maintenance, or repair, this integrated power system is intended to provide continuous, reliable service to essential equipment. The new 1 RU product line includes two compact configurations: a 1 kVA unit and a higher-capacity 2 kVA inverter. They feature pure sine-wave AC output with programmable frequency, intended to be a space-saving design that gives users some flexibility in that the units occupy just a single standard equipment rack unit. Additional key features include advanced microprocessor design; thermostat-controlled cooling fans; RS-232 remote communications; overload, overtemp, and short-circuit protection; as much as 92% efficiency; low distortion; DSP-controlled AC power outputs; and UL 60950-1, FCC Class B compliance modules.
Transtector Systems | www.transtector.com
3U VPX based on multichannel, multiprotocol avionics VadaTech now offers the VPX339, which it terms a 3U VPX board based on the Data Device Corp. (DDC) BU-67118 multichannel, multiprotocol avionics product. The module – designed to comply with MIL-STD-1553 characteristics – features, the company says, low power, high mean time between failures (MTBF), and high performance stats. Some of the key features of the VPX339 are as many as four dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 channels, bus-control disable for remote terminal-only applications, transmit inhibit for mobile terminal-only applications, full line rate on all channels simultaneously, transmit inhibit for ARINC 429 receive-only applications, and programmable ARINC 429 speed. Other features include asynchronous communications on all channels, synchronous communication on one or two channels, up to 10 avionics/digital discrete I/O, and 48-bit/100-ns time stamp. The module can output MIL-STD-1553A/B, IRIG106, ARINC 429, CAN bus/ARINC 825 channels, discrete I/O, ARINC-717, and similar formats. Additionally, it has an onboard DMA [direct-memory access] engine for low CPU utilization. Several of the key features – IRIG-106 Chapter 10, transmit inhibit, and ARINC 717 – are intended to be integrated into flight data recorders. Overall, the VPX339 is aimed at applications such as mission computers, displays and LRUs [line-replaceable units], digital data recorders, radar systems/situational awareness, flyable avionics/unmanned vehicles, data loading, and data monitors.
VadaTech | www.vadatech.com 44 November/December 2020
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EDITOR’S CHOICE PRODUCTS Paragraf’s graphene Hall Effect sensors introduced for high-radiation applications Sensor and device company Paragraf now offers its graphene Hall Effect sensors that can withstand high levels of radiation. The company, based on testing from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), offers the part saying that unpackaged Hall Effect sensors can be used in high-radiation environments such as space. Used to measure the magnitude of a magnetic fields, Hall Effect sensors are an electronic component in a variety of applications, from proximity sensing and speed detection through to current sensing, according to the company. Conventional sensors made from silicon and other semiconductor materials react adversely to neutron radiation, unless they are encapsulated in radiation-hardened packaging. By contrast, tests conducted by NPL reveal that Paragraf graphene Hall Effect sensors are not affected by high levels of radiation. On satellites and other space vehicles where size and weight are paramount, Paragraf Hall Effect sensors require only picowatts of power and weigh fractions of a gram. Graphene Hall Effect sensors from Paragraf are now set to undergo further radiation testing (alpha, beta, and gamma radiation) as well as high-frequency testing. Paragraf states that the additional testing will open new opportunities for graphene Hall Effect sensors across critical applications such as current sensing.
Paragraf | www.paragraf.com
SOSA-aligned U-C8770 single-board computer offers cybersecurity features Aitech Systems offers the U-C8770, a single-board computer (SBC) that couples the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) outlined by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with high levels of performance and proprietary, hardware-based cybersecurity features. The new board – aligned with The Open Group’s SOSA [Sensor Open Systems Architecture] Technical Standard – is an adaptation of Aitech’s high-performance, rugged C877 SBC, and retains the same key technical features and benefits, designed to be used mainly in I/O-intensive data-processing applications in the military and aerospace markets, such as radar, signal intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW), and sensor signal processing. According to the company, the U-C8770 is aligned with the SOSA 3U I/O-intensive SBC Slot Profile, supporting both PCIe 4x and 40GE data plane options for fast transport of large amounts of uncompressed video and sensor data. The new U-C8770 also features AiSecure, Aitech’s proprietary cybersecurity framework intended to increase survivability and level of confidence by detecting and preventing unexpected attacks. The inherent security features are designed to enable both firmware and data protection and intended to prevent reverse engineering and tampering with system integrity, while enabling secure transmission and storage of sensitive data.
Aitech Systems | www.aitechsystems.com
SOLAYER offers high-performance optical filters for 3D sensing SOLAYER announced that it now produces high-performance filters based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon by using its AVIOR M-300 deposition platform. The company specializes in vacuum-coating equipment and processes for high-precision optical applications. The new technical advancement speaks to SOLAYER’s approach to resolve warpage, which is an obstacle associated with processing ultrathin substrates; the drive to eliminate warpage, the company states, will give customers a practical new solution to enable next-generation 3D sensors. According to the company, the product enables immersive virtual-/augmented-reality experiences that rely on 3D sensor technologies for core functionalities like geolocation capabilities. The company also says the technology enables biometric markers for cybersecurity, robotics, and advanced imaging equipment. SOLAYER coats substrates with a thickness of 0.2 mm and a diameter of 200 mm, generating a substrate deflection of less than 11 mm. These stats improve on traditional methods that have only been able to achieve a deflection of > 13 nm, according to SOLAYER. In addition to enabling low deflection, the SOLAYER processes can be used to produce filters with a very high transmission: T avg above 96%. At an AOI [angle of incidence] of 30 degrees, the bandpass filter shows a shift of less than 10.5 nm, according to the company.
SOLAYER | www.solayer.de/startseite-engl-neu www.militaryembedded.com
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November/December 2020 45
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GIVING BACK | PODCAST | WHITE PAPER | BLOG | VIDEO | SOCIAL MEDIA | WEBCAST
GIVING BACK
Operation Socrates Each issue, the editorial staff of Military Embedded Systems will highlight a different charitable organization that benefits the military, veterans, and their families. We are honored to cover the technology that protects those who protect us every day. To back that up, our parent company – OpenSystems Media – will make a donation to every group we showcase on this page. This issue we are highlighting Operation Socrates, a nonprofit organization that provides free mentorship and guidance for active-duty military and veterans who are interested in making the transition into the teaching profession. Operation Socrates links potential candidates to qualified, veteran-friendly collegiate education programs and connects K-12 school districts who want to hire veterans. Operation Socrates founder Zac Lois – now an 8th-grade social studies teacher in Syracuse, New York – graduated from the New York University Teacher Residency’s yearlong immersive educator preparation after a successful career as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces (commonly known as the Green Berets). He was inspired to create Operation Socrates, modeled after the Teacher Residency, which works with individuals coming off duty or veterans changing careers to embed them in schools across the country alongside mentor teachers. The nonprofit strives, according to information from the organization, to align with participating Operation Socrates higher-education institutions who will provide teaching residents and teachers to K-12 schools. Candidates receive internships and teacher training, with preferred hiring and job placement in participating school districts following graduation. The goal: To hire diverse teachers and staff with exceptional leadership skills and life experience with the aim of integrating them into the school and the neighboring community. This is where veterans come in, say organization officials: Overall, the life experiences, demonstrated commitment to the service, diversity, educational capabilities, and mentorship capabilities of military veterans have so much potential that can be useful for schools and students across the country. For additional information on Operation Socrates, please visit https://operationsocrates.org/.
PODCAST
WEBCAST
Counter-UAV advancements pull from commercial innovation to dominate the spectrum In this podcast, Emma Helfrich, guest host and associate editor with Military Embedded Systems, talks with Ryan Hurt, vice president of business development at Liteye Systems, about the types of C-UAV systems that the U.S. Army uses. Counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems are pivotal players in the realm of the electromagnetic spectrum. In their discussion, Helfrich and Hurt cover the electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, like radar and sensors, that power C-UAV systems. They also further the idea that innovation is dependent on data processing and intelligent algorithms to reduce the sensor-to-shooter timeline and protect the Army and its personnel from aerial threats. Listen to this podcast: https://bit.ly/350S0HN Listen to more podcasts: https://militaryembedded.com/podcasts
46 November/December 2020
CSfC: Protecting Classified, Top Secret, and Secret Data Via Commercial Solution Sponsored by Curtiss-Wright, Mercury Systems, and Star Labs/A Wind River company Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) is part of the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) commercial cybersecurity strategy to leverage commercial technology to protect national security systems. CSfC simultaneously implements two compliant commercial security components in a layered solution to protect the data. This webcast of industry experts will discuss how CSfC enables use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to reduce longterm costs, facilitate faster deployments, and improve flexibility and transparency. CSfC also strives to protect sensitive data while leveraging open architectures and open standards. Watch the webcast: https://bit.ly/32dnBnF Watch more webcasts: https://militaryembedded.com/webcasts
MILITARY EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
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TECHNOLOGY MAKING YOUR HEAD SPIN? WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL
Military Embedded Systems focuses on embedded electronics – hardware and software – for military applications through technical coverage of all parts of the design process. The website, Resource Guide, e-mags, newsletters, podcasts, webcasts, and print editions provide insight on embedded tools and strategies including technology insertion, obsolescence management, standards adoption, and many other military-specific technical subjects. Coverage areas include the latest innovative products, technology, and market trends driving military embedded applications such as radar, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, avionics, and more. Each issue is full of the information readers need to stay connected to the pulse of embedded militaryembedded.com technology in the military and aerospace industries.
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