COTS Journal September 2019

September 2019, Volume 21 – Number 9 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

Contactless touch – a safer method for interaction Strategic Partnerships: A key to Future Success

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing COTS (kots), n. 1. Commercial off-the-shelf.

Terminology popularized in 1994 within U.S. DoD by SECDEF Wm. Perry’s “Perry Memo” that changed military industry purchasing and design guidelines, making Mil-Specs acceptable only by waiver. COTS is generally defined for technology, goods and services as: a) using commercial business practices and specifications, b) not developed under government funding, c) offered for sale to the general market, d) still must meet the program ORD. 2. Commercial business practices include the accepted practice of customer-paid minor modification to standard COTS products to meet the customer’s unique requirements.

JOURNAL

—Ant. When applied to the procurement of electronics for he U.S. Military, COTS is a procurement philosophy and does not imply commercial, office environment or any other durability grade. E.g., rad-hard components designed and offered for sale to the general market are COTS if they were developed by the company and not under government funding.

SPECIAL FEATURES 18

Contactless touch – a safer method for interaction

By Richard Berglind, Sr Optical Engineer at Neonode Inc

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 22

DEPARTMENTS 6

Publisher’s Notes;

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The Inside Track

Weapon Automation and AI

Strategic Partnerships: A key to Future Success

By Russell Nieves, Vice President, Acromag, Inc.

COT’S PICKS 26

Editor’s Choice for September

Cover Image F-35 Lightning II Full Mission Simulator (FMS) The Joint Strike Fighter FMS includes a high-fidelity 360-degree visual display system and a reconfigurable cockpit that simulates all three aircraft variants for U.S. and international partner services.

COTS Journal | September 2019

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The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

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PUBLISHER

John Reardon, johnr@rtc-media.com VICE PRESIDENT Aaron Foellmi, aaronf@rtc-media.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

John Reardon, Publisher

Weapon Automation and AI

Throughout history militaries around the world have tried to inject a sense of intelligence into their weapons. You might argue that a fuse on a stick of dynamite was the first implementation of a smart bomb. Although not as complex as the systems we are developing today, the fuse did allow for a less indiscriminant, more focused attack. The irony of this is that today the goal is not to create a “fuse” to move away to a safe distance, but rather to reduce the latency for a real-time execution.

Between the bomb with a fuse and where we are going are systems like the Patriot Missile that can be put in an automatic mode to repel attacks. Although in a battle situation the risk may be acceptable, history has shown that friendly fire incidents have occurred. This somewhat broad based approach to intelligence relies on an understanding that certain areas are high risk and subject to friendly fire.

Somehow this seems too close to the “fuse on a bomb” and not as close to the AI systems that we envision.

Today we are striving – although in our infancy – to have a level of intelligence that restrains systems to fire only under a very strict set of parameters. It is in the level of accuracy that we find our motivation. Contingent on data

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rates and low latency the goals set forth for the hardware manufactures like Xilinx and FlexLogic seem more obvious then those for the software vendors. As frameworks such as Tensorflow, Caffe and MxNet gain status as defacto standards to be adopted the questions that begs to be asked are: Can these frame works that were developed for commercial applications truly be moved to the military space?

Is the reliance on a commercial vendor for fault tolerance something we can accept?

Hardware companies such as NVidia and Xilinx continue to advance chip design, achieving greater throughput and lower latencies within GPUs and FPGAs. Newcomers to the processors market, such as Groq will be implementing new architectures in AI focused processors. And companies like Pentek, Aitech and OSS will be creating systems that put these technologies on the front line through advance system design.

Software companies face almost a “Moon Shot”. They see lightening fast clock speeds, Chiplets with high speed interconnects, data structures that are highly tuned, new memory technologies and all the while warding of security threats. GreenHills software, AdaCore, Lynx MOSAic along with others are driven to offer solutions that meet today’s demands in a modular fashion.

As the future unfolds it is hard to keep your imagination in check and to write about what is real and to discard the fiction. It is hard to understand the moral or ethical implications, but it seems clear the goal of a fully automated AI based weapon system must always tracked back to human accountability!

Today we are striving – although in our infancy – to have a level of intelligence that restrains systems to fire only under a very strict set of parameters.

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Boeing Introduces Tailored Charts for Avionics Services to Enhance Navigation Capabilities for Pilots Boeing is offering a new navigation service to enhance efficient flight deck operations for pilots. Jeppesen Tailored Charts for Avionics is being introduced initially with Honeywell Primus Epic INAV avionics systems for tailored chart customers operating Embraer E2 commercial aircraft. Regional airline Wideroe of Norway is the first operator to use the new tailored navigation service.

Jeppesen Tailored Charts for Avionics now provides pilots with operator-specific charting navigation information that is available through installed, front-panel avionics systems. It allows pilots to view different navigation data points on different display platforms, including Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro tablet-based electronic flight bag (EFB) in addition to the front panel avionics, based on pilot preference.

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“This new tool helps pilots enhance situational awareness and information processing by displaying an airline’s tailored charts and company-specific operational content on the front panel, to provide redundancy with EFB services and flexibility in accessing flight-critical information,” said Mike Abbott, director, Data Solutions, Boeing Digital Solutions & Analytics.

While it is currently only available with Honeywell Primus Epic INAV avionics systems on Embraer E2 aircraft, Jeppesen Tailored Charts for Avionics is planned to include other popular avionics manufacturer systems in the future to serve airlines, government operators and business aviation pilots.

“We have enhanced pilot workflow by integrating Jeppesen Tailored Charts for Avionics with our E2 aircraft and it works as a

redundant chart display system to reduce risk of disruptions,” said Espen Bergsland, Wideroe chief pilot, Embraer E2 aircraft. “This service is valuable, as our pilots are able to view the active phase of flight on front panel avionics while we display the next phase of flight on tablet EFB, allowing our flight deck crew to execute tasks independently. We also have eliminated paper-based flight materials to reduce weight in the flight deck.”

Jeppesen tailored charts provide pilots with a complete system of high quality, accurate and standardized aeronautical charts, procedures and information to efficiently plan and operate flights anywhere in the world. Any charting component can be modified per the requirements of the operator within system capabilities, to meet their fleet-specific regulatory or operating needs.

The

INSIDE TRACK AdaCore Expands its Presence in the UK to Support Thriving Aerospace and Defence Industries

AdaCore, a trusted provider of software development and verification tools, today announced the opening of AdaCore Ltd, which will serve as the company’s UK centre-of-excellence for the development of safety- and security-critical software tools.

AdaCore has a long and successful history serving customers in the UK. The company maintains relationships with many of the world’s major aerospace, defence and rail contractors. It is a member of ADS, the premier trade organisation for companies in the UK in Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space sectors. And it actively participates in standards-related working groups and committees (such as for DO-178C).

“The ATI welcomes the launch of AdaCore’s new operation, which will increase the UK’s capability in safety-critical software,” said Mark Scully, Head of Technology for Propulsion & Advanced Systems at the Aerospace Technology Institute. “The ATI has been working with AdaCore as we facilitate new software development projects and are delighted to see this lead to a new

UK centre-of-excellence and more collaborations in the future.’’

“Our decision to open AdaCore Ltd is part of a larger corporate strategy to invest our intellectual property, tools, and services in regions where the demand for secure software-based systems continues to grow,” said Cyrille Comar, AdaCore Group President. “This move will enable us to better support our existing customers in the UK; collaborate on new contractual, research, and mentorship opportunities within the British ecosystem; and share our expertise in product qualification and certification.”

As it does in other countries around the globe, AdaCore plans to expand its offering of public Ada training courses and events in the UK to help new users get up to speed with the Ada and SPARK languages.

“Many of the world’s top academic and global research universities reside in the UK, and we hope to collaborate with them regularly to broaden the reach of our GNAT Academic Program (GAP) and to address the need for safe, secure and reliable software,” said Emma Adby, AdaCore Ltd Managing Director.

Lone Star Analysis Launches Price-to-Win Software TruPredict Accessible solution provides a standardized method for bidding federal contracts

Lone Star has launched Tr u P re d i c t ™ , a price-towin software designed to build and analyze competitive pricing.

The solution allows users to win federal contracts in a fraction of the time comCaption - Steven Roemerman is pared to tra- the chairman and CEO of Lone ditional solu- Star Analysis tions.

“Many pricing processes being used today are convoluted. They require awkward spreadsheets, while they skip advanced strategic value pricing,” said Steve Roemerman, CEO and chairman, Lone Star Analysis. “TruPredict streamlines bidding and captures strategic insights, helping users achieve more wins.”

Understanding the need for a powerful competitive differentiation solution, Lone Star created TruPredict to be accessible with a standard methodology for everyone involved in the pricing process. Using a combination of existing data points and variables of uncertainty, TruPredict runs a series of “what-if ” scenarios to determine the best value and price for bidding.

TruPredict simulates competitive scenarios in seconds. It significantly reduces the time to test bid strategy including “what-if ” assessments of competitors’ moves. It accelerates the pricing and bidding process providing decision makers more time to think and strategize. Users have the ability to update simulation conditions and desired bidding price in real time.

Using reliable and accurate data, TruPredict enables companies to win more contracts and maximize profitability.

Caption Cyrille Comar, co-founder and President of AdaCore

The application incorporates an easy-touse interface and help function, allowing those with limited competitive pricing experience to familiarize themselves with the software.

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L3Harris Technologies Delivers Eighth GPS III Navigation Payload Highlights delivery momentum ahead of upcoming second GPS III satellite launch Continues production cadence of navigation payloads available for on-orbit testing Boosts GPS signal power, accuracy, flexibility and lifespan

As the U.S. Air Force prepares to launch its second next-generation GPS III satellite, L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) delivered its eighth navigation payload to GPS III satellite prime contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT).

The first GPS III satellite launched in December 2018 and its navigation payload has performed beyond expectations on-orbit during pre-operational testing. In May, the Air Force declared the third GPS III satellite “Available for Launch,” pending a launch date. L3Harris payloads are also already fully integrated in the GPS III 4-6 space vehicles currently in production and testing at Lockheed Martin.

Mission Data Unit (MDU) with a unique 70-percent digital design that links atomic clocks, radiation-hardened processors and powerful transmitters – enabling signals three times more accurate than those on current GPS satellites.

The payload also boosts signal power, which increases jamming resistance by eight times and helps extend the satellite’s lifespan.

In 2017, L3Harris announced that it completed development of an even more-powerful, fully digital MDU for the Air Force’s GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF) program. The new GPS IIIF payload design will further enhance the satellite’s capabilities and performance.

In September 2018, the U.S. Air Force select-

ed Lockheed Martin for a fixed-price-type production contract for up to 22 GPS IIIF satellites.

L3Harris is Lockheed Martin’s navigation signal partner for GPS IIIF satellites, and in January received a $243 million award to provide the navigation signals for the first two GPS IIIF satellites, space vehicles 11 and 12.

L3Harris’ expertise in creating and sending GPS signals extends back to the mid-1970s – providing navigation technology for every U.S. GPS satellite ever launched. While the Air Force originally developed GPS for warfighters, millions of people around the world and billions of dollars of commerce now depend on the accurate, reliable signal created and sent by L3Harris navigation technology.

The GPS III navigation payload features a

TopLine Urges Defense Contractors to Take Control of FPGA Column Attachment TopLine Corporation, a producer of components for ruggedized semiconductors, urges defense contractors to plan for delivery delays of critical military components, specifically Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices, in the event FPGA makers suddenly cannot provide FPGAs with solder columns.

“The defense industry should be concerned about its dependency on a single source vendor to attach copper-wrapped solder columns to FPGA devices as recorded in the Qualified Manufacturer List (QML-38535) published by an agency of the Department of Defense. Military-grade FPGA devices used for defense applications cannot function without solder columns,” states TopLine CEO Martin Hart. “Defense contractors are better served by bringing control of attaching such solder columns in house rather relying on the current single-source subcontractor to provide this service. Delivery of warfighters and aviation systems may be interrupted without solder columns to connect FPGA components to Print10

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ed Circuit Boards (PCBs),” said Hart.

“TopLine is a National Resource as an American manufacturer of copper-wrapped solder columns. We can fully support defense contractors who want to take full control of attaching copper-wrapped columns on FPGA devices by themselves. Defense contractors with in house capability to attach solder columns can have FPGA devices ready in days rather than waiting for months. The current monopoly supplier has no incentive to deliver column attachment services quickly because no competition exists,” adds Hart.

Hart suggests that major customers of FPGA devices such as Boeing, L-3 Harris, Lockheed Mar-

tin, Northrop-Grumman and Raytheon, would all benefit by developing their own internal capability to attach solder columns as the last step in getting FPGA devices to be PCB ready.

“The U.S. industrial base benefits by executing a risk mitigation strategy to take control of solder column attachment to ensure a resilient capability to produce critically needed FPGA components. By acting now to qualify their column attachment process, defense contractors can reduce the risk of a future FPGA shortage instead of waiting for a sudden disaster to strike, potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars in delays,” concludes Hart.

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Viasat Completed NATO UHF Satellite Communications Control Station Upgrade Ahead of Government Mandated Timelines

Viasat Inc announced it has successfully upgraded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM) control stations to comply with the new Integrated Waveform (IW) baseline. Using Viasat’s Visual Integrated Satellite communications Information, Operation and Networking (VISION) software platform, NATO gains greater communications interoperability, scalability and flexibility across legacy and next-generation platforms, which it expects will significantly enhance warfighters’ situational awareness and operational insights on the battlespace.

Viasat’s VISION platform is the first commercially-available software package to simultaneously support all 25-kHz legacy De-

mand-Assigned Multiple-Access (DAMA) and next-generation IW networks and services. The VISION platform has enabled the following benefits for NATO: • Faster communications: VISION reduced time to access software from 90 seconds to 4 seconds • Better reliability: VISION offered greater reliability when compared to previous waveforms • Improved functionality: VISION doubled NATO’s channel efficiency • Enhanced bandwidth: VISION gave network operators real-time capabilities to reconfigure UHF satellite networks to meet new mission profiles on-the-fly.

“Viasat’s close partnership with NATO has been instrumental in helping the agency transition to new IW standards ahead of government schedules,” said Giovanni Battista Durando, NATO Communications and Information Agency, Network Services and IT Infrastructure, SATCOM Service Area Owner. “By leveraging the Viasat VISION software, NATO network operators have gained more control over communications stations from a single terminal, simplifying operations and increasing the readiness of today’s warfighter.”

“This NATO upgrade was fielded on time and under budget—further demonstrating the value of Viasat’s agile business models and deep customer knowledge,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. “By working closely to understand NATO’s most urgent needs, Viasat was able to deliver a cost-effective, scalable and interoperable technology capability needed to support emerging mission demands and help NATO warfighters maintain communications at the tactical edge.”

The Viasat VISION platform provides a single, user-friendly network management interface for legacy DAMA and IW services, inclusive of the ability to locally or remotely manage and control ground station networks, monitor status and system performance, track event/alarm management situations and add/remove services when missions change. By enabling interoperability between DAMA and IW platforms, NATO can double its channel efficiency without additional investment in the UHF space segment. This optimization doubles the number of users, giving more warfighters access to reliable, high-quality, resilient voice and data communications.

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Curtiss-Wright Awarded Contracts Valued in Excess of $80 Millon to Suppoty U.S. Navy’s Virginia-Class and Columbia-Class Submarine Programs

Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it has been awarded contracts valued in

excess of $80 million to provide propulsion valves for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine and Columbia-class submarines programs. The awards were received from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to support ship construction and spare parts procurement and General Dynamics Electric Boat to support ship con-

struction for Block V, which includes the new Virginia Payload Module.

“Curtiss-Wright is pleased to have been awarded these important naval defense contracts, building upon our long-standing relationship with the U.S. Nuclear Navy and continuing our ongoing support of this critical naval defense platform,” said David C. Adams, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. “We look forward to delivering the most advanced, reliable, and vital technologies to our nation’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, which continue to receive strong Congressional support.”

Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its facility in East Farmingdale, N.Y., a business unit of Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division within the Commercial/Industrial segment. Engineering and manufacturing has commenced and will continue through 2024.

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Mercury Systems Receives $9.2M in Orders for Rackmount Servers for Airborne Surveillance Application

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced it received $9.2 million in orders from a leading defense prime contractor for rugged rackmount servers to be used in an airborne surveillance application. The orders were booked in the Company’s fiscal 2019 third quarter and fiscal 2020 first quarter and are expected to ship over the next several quarters.

“We work closely with customers to understand and fulfill their unique application requirements.” said Scott Orton, Vice President and General Manager of Mercury’s Trusted Mission Solutions group. “In collaboration with a leading prime contractor, we designed our airborne servers to meet the unique requirements of the airborne cabin environment while optimizing performance, mitigating risk, and minimizing long-term costs. As a leading manufacturer of rugged rackmount servers, we continue to develop reliable solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.”

Mercury’s Rugged Enterprise Servers (RES) are deployed in a broad range of surface, subsurface, ground and airborne mission-critical applications. Featuring the latest commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies, Mercury’s servers deliver industry-leading performance and superior resilience to shock, dust, vibration and temperature extremes, ensuring availability in space-constrained, harsh environments.

General Dynamics Mission Systems Introduces New Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle General Dynamics Mission Systems today released the new Bluefin-12 autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle at Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2019.

This new vehicle builds upon the proven Bluefin autonomy and uses shared Bluefin Robotics’ core capabilities, increased mission modularity and embedded intelligence to complete users’ long endurance, high-consequence and changing missions.

The base Bluefin-12’s extended modularity supports the integration of user-designated sensors and payloads to deliver new mission-critical

capabilities. The Bluefin Robotics core autonomy with Standard Payload Interfaces (SPI), open-architecture compatibility and greater than 4,000 cubic centimeter-payload section supports the rapid integration of sensors and payload needed for the successful completion of new missions.

The Bluefin-12 may be configured with an optional turnkey survey package delivering integrated survey capabilities including high-resolution sonar, environmental sensing, powerful on-board data processing and highly accurate navigation.

“The General Dynamics’ team has invested in a completely new generation of vehicles,” said Andy Rogers, vice president of undersea systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems.

“The new Bluefin-12 provides superior design, high quality, excellent modularity and best-inclass reliability to deliver exceptional mission capability and range.”

“We are proud to add the Bluefin-12 to our UUV family of products and to deliver both the Bluefin-12 and Bluefin-9 UUVs to Thales in support of the Royal Australian Navy’s SEA 1778 program,” Rogers said.

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General Atomics Orbital Test Bed Satellite Payload Commissioning Underway

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that commissioning of NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC), the primary hosted payload on-board the Orbital Test Bed (OTB) satellite, is now underway. GA-EMS’ OTB was successfully launched at 2:30 a.m. EDT on June 25, 2019 on board the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

“Our OTB spacecraft is operating nominally and we have successfully met the first milestone in DSAC commissioning which involves power up and establishing normal telemetry,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “We are working closely with JPL to successfully bring DSAC to operational status, and will continue to provide operations support services as DSAC enters its year-long mission to demonstrate its capabilities to support deep space navigation.”

“Before DSAC began the commissioning process, OTB underwent its own critical checkout sequence, including establishing communications, “de-tumbling” and spacecraft stabilization, solar panel deployment, and entering a power and thermally safe mode,” said Nick Bucci, vice president of GAEMS Missile Defense and Space Systems. “We are extremely proud of our team for successfully completing these critical milestones to begin the on-schedule commissioning process for DSAC. In addition, we are now powering up and establishing communication links with the other four customer-provided

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technology payloads on-board OTB, to begin their commissioning processes.”

DSAC is a miniaturized, ultra-precise, mercury-ion atomic clock intended to support deep space navigation and exploration.

It was designed and built at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Technology Demonstration Missions Program. In addition to DSAC, GA-EMS’ OTB spacecraft is hosting technology demonstration payloads including: a Modular Solar Array developed for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL); an Integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer sensor payload developed by cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy; the RadMon next generation radiation effects monitor; and the

FlexRX programmable satellite receiver. Also on board OTB as a passive payload are Celestis cremains for Earth orbit memorial spaceflight.

“Think of OTB as a configurable, versatile rideshare platform designed to increase the number of flight opportunities to space-qualify multiple demonstration payloads on a single satellite,” continued Bucci.

“We work closely with our customers to design and build OTB satellites to meet multiple payload requirements to alleviate the costly burden of designing, building, and launching a dedicated platform for each payload. Customers can focus more on their mission objectives, and leave the design, manufacture, launch and mission operation services to us.”

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U.S. Air Force awards Leidos task order to support ISR operations

Leidos has been awarded a new task order by the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) to support the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Support Services program. The single award, cost-plus-award-fee task order has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options and a total ceiling of approximately $900 million if all options are exercised. Work will be primarily performed at U.S. Air Force sites in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, and California.

industry to create solutions synchronized with ACC stakeholders for next generation requirements. The company was able to differentiate from competitors by bringing innovation along with subject matter experts who have lived, led, and commanded the mission and understand the customer’s unique needs.

“ACC ISR represents a significant accomplishment in our C4ISR growth campaign

across each military service, the combatant commands, and strategic international partners,” said Gerry Fasano, Leidos Defense Group President. “It allows us to bolster our already significant ISR capabilities and further assist our customers in addressing their enduring mission requirements. This award recognizes Leidos’ strong performance as an industry leader in Air Force intelligence analysis, targeting, and training.”

ACC maintains combat-ready forces for rapid deployment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet challenges.

Leidos will provide full-spectrum ISR support to the warfighter through intelligence gathering, analysis, distribution, and training across the ACC enterprise. The Leidos team will bring a cadre of professionals and tools from across

RAFAEL enters unmanned aerial platform domain with acquisition of Aeronautics

er aerial domain, relying on best practices, mutual expertise and capabilities, to create new synergies and solutions.

RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., developer and manufacturer of some of the world’s most groundbreaking technologies for air, land, naval, space and cyber applications, announces it has completed, with its partner, Mr. Avichai Stolero, the acquisition of Aeronautics Ltd., one of Israel’s leading developers of unmanned aerial systems.

RAFAEL President and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yoav Har-Even: We are proud and look forward to working with Aeronautics’ scientists and engineers who bring with them vast experience, knowhow and unique technologies, some of the world’s best. Connecting those with RAFAEL’s technological richness, proven systems, infrastructure and resources, financial robustness, and most importantly, our excellent human capital, is a force-multi-

Heading an industry group focused on unmanned solutions, systems and subsystems, Aeronautics Ltd. provides integrated turnkey solutions based on unmanned systems platforms, payloads and communications for defense and civil applications.

RAFAEL will hold 50% of Aeronautics, with partner Mr. Avichai Stolero, holding the other half. The move comes as part of RAFAEL’s long term strategy to evaluate and implement new areas of growth, including by M&A of unmanned platform companies.

Aeronautics will take part in some of RAFAEL’s innovation projects, with a vision to increase mutual growth, explore new markets, and provide end-to-end solutions in the low-ti16

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plier, guaranteed to be of high technological and strategic value in helping us to reach our goals. I would also like to thank all the people involved in the process, as well as our partner, Mr. Avichai Stolero.

RAFAEL Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Uzi Landau: I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the employees and management of RAFAEL and Aeronautics for their work and cooperation and for the successful completion of this acquisition process.

I wish us all the best of luck with our new future endeavors and challenges.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Contactless touch – a safer method for interaction

By Richard Berglind, Sr Optical Engineer at Neonode Inc The ubiquitous smartphone is driving the demand and acceptance for touch as a method of interaction with electronic devices. Touch controls are now present in all parts of our daily lives. At home, we use touch to interact with our phones and home appliances; at work, whether in an office, retail store, hospital, or heavy industry plant, we are likely to use touchscreens or touchpads. Touch interaction is also finding its way into public areas such as elevator buttons, vending machines, information boards, and ordering screens in fast food restaurants.

However, there are instances where we hesitate to touch the interaction surface. We may want to avoid soiling it with greasy, dirty fingers or avoid the risk of being contaminated by anything residing on the surface.

Making the interaction area hover over the screen/surface enables the familiarity of touch interaction without actually being in contact with the screen.

Introduction Over the years, there have been recurring media reports about sanitary problems with frequently used public surfaces [1-3]. A study performed at three hospitals in Toronto, Canada, revealed that significantly more bacteria existed on elevator buttons than on surfaces in the hospital bathrooms [4]. The authors suggest replacing the elevator buttons with touchless proximity sensors to mitigate the risk of pathogen transmission.

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Another report revealed that fecal bacteria were found on the touchscreens of ordering machines in a fast food restaurant chain [5].

There are other instances when contactless interaction would be beneficial, ranging from clinical environments where the user’s fingers may be contaminated by blood, viruses, or bacteria to industrial locations where the user’s fingers are covered with oily or greasy substances that would leave opaque residues on the screen making the screen information unreadable after using it for just a short period of time.

Available technologies As suggested above, proximity sensors could work well for simple interaction surfaces such as elevator buttons, but would not work for touchscreens that require a continuous interaction area in mid-air.

Time of flight An alternative solution would be to use a time-of-flight technology to identify mid-air interactions above a touchscreen. Time-offlight is a ranging technique that resolves

Infrared touch based on reflective technology By using reflective technology, infrared touch can be implemented by mounting a sensor along one edge of a display. The interaction area consists of a sheet of light which is projected out of the sensor and positioned a desired distance above the surface of the display, see Figure 1.

Image 1 - A touch sensor based on reflective technology with the interaction area raised above the screen.

the distance between the sensor and an object by measuring the time it takes for light to travel to an object and back to the sensor.

The accuracy lies in the order of 1 cm, which makes it unsuitable for touch interaction purposes.

It is possible to improve the accuracy, but that will generally be at the expense of the frame rate.

Furthermore, this kind of sensor requires calibration and is sensitive to changes in temperature.

Image 2 - Each receiver looks across multiple emitter beams. The central part of each area of overlap between an outgoing beam and the receiver’s field of view is marked with a filled circle.

Traditional touch technologies • Resistive touch technology is not an option as it requires physical contact between the user and the device.

• Projected capacitive touch technology could be tweaked to operate at a distance above the screen. It will however put restrictions as to what kind of objects could be used for touch operation and the accuracy and response behavior will differ between different objects.

• Traditional infrared touch requires a frame surrounding the screens with emitters on two adjacent sides and receivers on the opposing sides. The touch interactive area is raised from the screen by simply raising the frame around the screen. The resulting rim around the screen will not only be difficult to incorporate aesthetically in a device, it will also make the screen difficult to clean, thereby defeating one of Image 3 - The emitter and receiver share part of the same optics, forcing the receiver field of view to make an angle toward the emitted the purposes for its introduction. light.

Sensor geometry The infrared touch sensor consists of an array of alternating emitters and receivers. Laser emitters are preferred over LEDs as they are easier to collimate and they generate less internal stray light within the sensor module.

Any internal stray light needs to be kept to a minimum so that it does not interfere with the signal-generating light reflected from an object outside the detector. Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) operating at 945 nm are used as emitters and silicon photodiodes are used as receivers.

Molded polycarbonate lenses are used to collimate the light from the emitters and narrow the field of view of the receivers. By using shared optics for both the emitters and the receivers we force the receiver’s field of view to make an angle toward the direction of the emitted light, as shown in. This angle typically varies between 17 and 26 degrees depending on the aspect ratio of the sensor’s detection area.

When adding multiple emitters, we can see the benefit of this geometry. Each receiver looks across several emitters and for each emitter there exists an area where the emitted light and the receiver’s field of view overlap, as shown in Error! Reference source not found.. It is only in this area that a detector can receive a signal from an object illuminated by the specific emitter. Outside this region, the detector won’t receive any signal at all.

Since each receiver is positioned between two emitters, the receiver will also detect light coming in through the optics shared with its other neighboring emitter, as shown in Figure 4 on next page. This enables us to generate a 2D-grid of regions of overlap.

Operational principles During a scan each emitter is scanned consecutively, while multiple receiver signals are recorded simultaneously. In contrast to infrared proximity detectors, which rely on signal strength for object positioning, the geometry of the sensor has turned object positioning into a geometrical question. An object’s position is determined based on which emitCOTS Journal | September 2019

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Image 4 - Each receiver looks in two directions, enabling the generation of a complete 2D-grid of regional overlaps.

ter-receiver combinations generate a signal during a scan. Figure 5 shows detection of an object close to the sensor along with detection of an object positioned further away from the sensor. Each detection is based on signals from two emitters and three receivers.

The emitters are the same, but the receivers

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are different, which makes it possible to distinguish between the two object locations.

The accuracy of the sensor is somewhat dependent on the center to center distance between the regions of overlap for the emitted light and receiver field of view. However,

the accuracy is improved by comparing the different signals. For any giving signal combination, the ratio between the signals from different emitters can be used to improve the lateral accuracy and the ratio between different receiver signals from the same emitter can be used to improve the distance accuracy.

Physical dimensions and electrical integration In order to accommodate for different display sizes, the sensor is available in different lengths ranging from 115 to 346mm. All sensors share a common width (14.5 mm) and thickness (3.46 mm). Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the sensor and its internal components. Electrical integration is performed via the connector at the edge of the PCBA. There are 8 contact pads and the PCB outline matches that of a standard 0.3-0.33 mm thick FFC/ FPC with 1 mm pitch and top mounted connectors. This connection enables the sensor to communicate with a host system through a standard USB or I2C interface.

Conclusion There are several occasions when it would be desirable to interact with a display or surface without actually touching it. Such contactless touch interaction can be provided with a sensor based on reflective infrared technology. The sensor projects a sheet of light that is responsive to touch. This sheet of light can then be raised Image 5 - Depending on the object position, reflected light is detected above the display by controlling by different receivers. the spacing between the sensor and the display, resulting in a

touch interaction area hovering above the display. This makes the display responsive to touch without any physical contact between the user and the display.

References 1. Hospital elevator buttons show more germs than toilet stall surfaces, CBC News, July 8, 2014, Amina Zafar.

2. The most germ-infested places you encounter every day — and how to avoid getting sick, Washington Post, December 14, 2017, Elisabeth Leamy.

3. Investigation of Bacterial Pathogens on 70 Frequently Used Environmental Surfaces in a Large Urban U.S. University, Journal of Environmental Health Vol. 71, No. 6 ( January/February 2009), pp. 17-22, Joanna S. Brooke, John W. Annand, Angela Hammer, Karen Dembkowski, Stanford T. Shulman.

4. Elevator buttons as unrecognized sources of bacterial colonization in hospitals, Open Med. 2014; 8(3): e81–e86. Published online 2014 Jul 8. Christopher E. Kandel, Andrew E. Simor, Donald A. Redelmeier.

5. Poo found on every McDonald’s touchscreen tested, Metro.co.uk, Nov 28, 2018, Adam Smith.

About the Author Richard Berglind is a Senior Optical Engineer at Neonode and has more than 20 years of experience in various fields of optics. He holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Physics from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

Image 6 - The internal structure of a sensor.

COTS Journal | September 2019

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SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Strategic Partnerships: A key to Future Success

By Russell Nieves, Vice President, Acromag, Inc.

In today’s world, defending freedom has taken on an entirely new look. Technology continues to accelerate at a very rapid pace, making it difficult for our military forces to maintain an edge on the rest of the world.

Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon and Boeing just to mention a few are now partnering up to create solutions for the needs of our military.

Form Factor), highly specialized board-level FPGA solutions (i.e. software radio, high-speed graphics, high-speed analog I/O, MILSTD 1553, etc.) and general-purpose analog and digital I/O modules.

In the field of radar detection and monitoring, missile guidance, UAV / UAS development and a vast array of mobile communications technologies required to keep a battalion of troops communicating securing on the battlefield, companies are teaming up to provide the optimum solution to our military’s needs.

Each one of these four elements has many companies dedicated solely to the development and support of a family of products that fit various requirements within their respective element. This requires millions of dollars annually to keep up with the needs requested by the companies mentioned in my opening statement. There are a few that have been successful at all four (and a few that have tried and lost) but for the most part, technological advancement succeeds best in a “creative environment” that typically comes from smaller,

With this continual advancement in technology comes the ever-increasing costs to produce these specialized, high-speed thoroughbred systems. Twenty-year-old VMEbus crates no longer provide the high-speed data throughput that is available on 3U and now 6U VPX systems. High-speed vison-based sensors send more images back than many storage devices can hold after a short period of recording during test flights! FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and I/O products are evolving almost annually to keep up with the algorithmic requirements, making instantaneous decisions based on that accumulated data.

As head of sales for a small technology-based company, I found the difficulty in plotting a course for success in this highly competitive market very challenging. Our company has been in business over 60 years and has evolved into a leader in general purpose I/O products, expanding globally with a solid sales channel. We focus primarily on the MIL-AERO and Defense industry and the solutions that are developed in that market are based on four basic elements (as we see them) that encompass the heart of these techFigure 1 - AcroPacks nical solutions. They are CPUs, SFF Box Solutions (Small 22

COTS Journal | September 2019

more focused companies. So how does the “little guy” survive (better yet, thrive) in this environment?

We found that by staying focused on what we do best, it has allowed us to create a new general purpose I/O platform, perfect for our market’s current and future needs. Using PCIe as a critical interface requirement, we took the mini PCIe concept up to the next level by extending the PCB 19mm and adding a 100pin connector to the opposite end and side of the board (see ill#). This allows us to run signals in and out of the FPGA controller and board logic without the need for any cables and providing additional feature capability on each board.

allows rugged server companies and integrators (using rugged servers) to add a huge variety of I/O on single, double and four-site I/O carriers (see figure 2). After addressing the servers, the next logical choice was VPX.

Whether the board contains analog, digital, programmable FPGA logic or serial communications, each one is designed using SMT components that provide a small footprint, low power consumption (less than 5 watts) and very little weight (excellent SWAP factor).

The majority of them function in -40 to +85C and MIL-STD 810 environments. We call them AcroPacks (see figure 1 on previuos page).

Once a family of I/O products were in design, efforts turned to carrier cards to provide homes for them in a variety of PCIe-based systems. This is where the future of the plan had to contain clear definition for success. Analyzing the market led to the clear identification of rugged servers and VPX systems as our first two strategic partnership potentials. Creating single-height, double-height ½ length and double-height full length PCIe carriers

Figure 2

COTS Journal | September 2019

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Figure 3

The 3U conduction-cooled format does not allow for more than a single I/O module to communicate thru the backplane, due to a limited number of pins available. However, on air-cooled applications we can support three I/O modules. It took very little time to realize that we could really provide optimal general purpose I/O flexibility on the 6U VPX platform (see figure 3). This form factor allowed for much higher data throughput speeds but has always been more expensive on a per-slot basis than 3U VPX. With the opportunity to create a 6U VPX carrier that handled an XMC site and four of the AcroPack products, I realized the potential would be even greater if the XMC site could host an XMC/SBC board. Once our design engineer confirmed it was possible, we completed and tested the design with XMC/SBC boards from both Curtiss Wright and Concurrent Technologies. CCT has also exercised the combination successfully as well (see figure 4).

Figure 5

AP I/O modules and M.2 storage. Our Channel Partner in France, Ecrin is developing a fanless SFF solution using #38999 connectors and removable storage for extreme applications based on a similar CPU/carrier combination (see figure 5).

In conclusion, smaller companies that stay focused on their core technologies can find success in this high technology world by adopting a strategic partnership approach. Partners that complement each other’s product lines offer up another way to expand market share together. It also provides significant benefit to the market customers by creating an improved price/performance solution for many of their applications. We are finding that by maintaining a win-win attitude with our partners, it can be done!

Figure 4

This capability now allows an end user to select an XMC/ SBC that meets their needs and install it on the 6U VPX carrier along with four additional I/O modules (including programmable FPGAs) and have a single-slot 6U VPX solution. Using a second and even a third carrier with additional I/O modules, other specialized XMC cards can be added (multi-channel high speed communications, software radio, high-speed analog I/O, custom graphics and video, etc.) to create a 2-3 slot 6U VPX solution that would rival a 5-8 slot 3U VPX system in price, yet out perform it by several times! Its overall package size could be smaller as well.

Continuing on this path, we are doing additional partnerships using the AcroPack family of I/O for COMM Express TYPE 10. Our ACEX-4041 carrier will accept a CPU from ADLINK and handle four COTS Journal | September 2019

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS Xilinx Announces the World’s Largest FPGA Featuring 9 Million System Logic Cells New Virtex UltraScale+ Device Enables the Creation of Tomorrow’s Most Complex Technologies

well as the development of emerging, complex algorithms such as those used for artificial intelligence, machine learning, video processing and sensor fusion. The VU19P is 1.6X larger than its predecessor and what was previously the industry’s largest FPGA — the 20 nm Virtex UltraScale 440 FPGA.

Xilinx, Inc. announced the expansion of its 16 nanometer (nm) Virtex® UltraScale+™ family to now include the world’s largest FPGA — the Virtex UltraScale+ VU19P. With 35 billion transistors, the VU19P provides the highest logic density and I/O count on a single device ever built, enabling emulation and prototyping of tomorrow’s most advanced ASIC and SoC technologies, as well as test, measurement, compute, networking, aerospace and defense-related applications.

“The VU19P enables developers to accelerate hardware validation and begin software integration before their ASIC or SoC is available,” said Sumit Shah, senior director, product line marketing and management, Xilinx. “This is our third generation of world-record FPGAs. First was the Virtex-7 2000T, followed by the Virtex UltraScale VU440, and now the Virtex UltraScale+ VU19P. But this is more than silicon technology; we’re providing robust and proven tool flows and IP to support it.”

The VU19P sets a new standard in FPGAs, featuring 9 million system logic cells, up to 1.5 terabits per-second of DDR4 memory bandwidth and up to 4.5 terabits per-second of transceiver bandwidth, and over 2,000 user I/Os. It enables the prototyping and emulation of today’s most complex SoCs as

The VU19P is supported by an extensive set of debug, visibility tools, and IP, providing customers with a comprehensive development platform to quickly design and validate next-generation applications and technologies. Hardware and software co-validation allows for developers to bring up soft-

Concurrent Technologies announces support for Acromag Carrier Board

The combination enables a wide variety of I/O combinations to be available within a single slot. Air and conduction-cooled variants are available to meet environmental requirements for the military, aerospace, oil and gas exploration and industrial applications.

Concurrent Technologies and Acromag have together delivered a single slot, stand-alone I/O controller for 6U VPX™ deployments. The base product consists of a Concurrent Technologies processor XMC module fitted on an Acromag VPX452x carrier which has four sites for AcroPack® modules.

Depending on computing requirements, the XP B5x/msd XMC processor module supports either

ware and implement custom features before physical parts are available. Moreover, the design flow can be co-optimized by using the Xilinx Vivado® Design Suite, which reduces cost and tape-out risk, and improves efficiency and time-to-market.

Xilinx, Inc. www.acromag.com

a 2-core Intel® Core™ i3-6102E processor or 4-core Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1505L v5 and is available with up to 16 GB of soldered down DDR4 memory.

AcroPack modules are available for FPGA, Analog I/O, Digital I/O, Ethernet, Timers, Serial Communications and MIL-STD-1553 I/O and these modules are interchangeable making the solution suitable for a huge variety of different applications.

Brent Salgat, President of Concurrent Technologies Inc., commented: “Working alongside Acromag to create this solution was an easy choice as our products are highly complementary. This single slot, stand-alone I/O controller will enable us to target application areas that require a flexible I/O solution which will help us to broaden our portfolio.”

Russ Nieves, Vice President of Sales at Acromag Inc., added: “By working with Concurrent Technologies, we’ve created a system in a slot that is ideal for customers looking to migrate from previous architectures to 6U VPX as it provides a processor and customer-configured I/O as a cost-effective solution. Each AcroPack® module securely routes its I/O signals through the VPX452x carrier card without any extra cabling, making for a robust and reliable solution.”

Concurrent Technologies www.ctc.com

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS METCASE now offers a wider range of standard and customized 19” aluminum enclosures for desktop and portable instrumentation

Its new TECHNOMET 19” mini-rack enclosures and proven INSTRUMET 19” cases

offer solutions for test and measurement, laboratory instrumentation, networking and communications, industrial computers, sound/ audio systems and industrial control.

Innovative and robust TECHNOMET 19” is the most advanced enclosure ever created by METCASE, setting new standards of cohesive design. Diecast bezels front and rear fit flush with the main case body; there are no visible fixing screws.

Both models offer smart design for swift and easy installation of 19” subracks, chassis and front panels. They feature threaded M4 pillars for earth connections and ventilation in the base and rear panels. TECHNOMET 19” is supplied with ABS side handles and non-slip feet. INSTRUMET 19” has ABS tilt feet and an optional a bail arm that doubles as an ergonomic desk stand.

METCASE www.metcaseusa.com/en

Space Saving GPS Splitter from ViaLite Supplies Local Areas

control is included as well as dual redundant PSUs, all backed by a five year warranty.

Minimizing rack space was a key factor for ViaLite when designing its new Local Integrated GPS Splitter, which has a height of only 1RU. The system is suitable for feeding timing/ sync signals to single or multiple floors or rooms through 8 to 32 optical fiber links with no system loss. Ideally suited to applications requiring a fan-out of GPS/GNSS signals within a single local area, the unit can acceptoptical inputs from up to four antennas.

Typical application areas include data centers, banking institutions, scientific research establishments, cellular test environments, fixed satcom earth stations and teleports, oil and gas platforms and big data. “Our new GPS Splitter was developed in response to customer demand across a wide range of sectors,” said ViaLite Product Manager John Golding. “We are pleased to have been able to meet their needs by providing a very high quality product at a reasonable cost.”

Available with 1x8, 2x8, 4x8, 1x16 and 2x16 options, the easy to install GPS Splitter has a 1000-1800 MHz frequency range. Built-in SNMP

ViaLite Communications www.vialite.com

COTS Journal | September 2019

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS Abaco Extends Family of Avionics Devices for Test and Simulation, Flightline, and Development Featuring Thunderbolt 3 Interface

• Addresses demise of ExpressCard, PCMCIA card • Provides superior solution to USB • Leverages high speed 40Gbps interface for minimum latency, maximum channel density • Allows minimum cost/disruption expansion of existing test/lab systems Abaco Systems further extended its range of portable avionics devices that feature the Intel® Thunderbolt™ 3 interface with the addition of an ARINC664-compatible RCNIC-A2PA-TB and multiprotocol RAR15XF-TB that supports up to four channels of MIL-STD-1553 and 18 channels of ARINC 429 on a single device. These new devices complement Abaco’s previously announced QPM1553-TB and RCEI-830A-TB. Abaco’s Thunderbolt 3 design delivers maximum flexibility and performance to extend the functionality of existing test systems without adding more slots. It also delivers portability and convenience for test and simulation users and for flight-line use. Typical applications include bus analysis/simulation, system integration activities, and flight-line including 615-3 data loading and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul).

ExpressCard™ and PCMCIA slots are disappearing from the portable computers widely used in avionics test and simulation, and have largely been replaced by USB. However, USB latency limits real time interaction with data, and channel density is similarly limited.

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COTS Journal | September 2019

Neither is desirable in an avionics environment in which low latency and high bandwidth are imperative. The Thunderbolt 3 interface has become a de facto standard interface on new laptops and is a solution that limits neither the performance nor the flexibility of avionics databus adapters. Thunderbolt 3 throughput is at least 4x faster than the highest speed USB connection, and has orders of magnitude lower latency than USB. It provides customers with a stable roadmap into the future, ensures long-term viability and provides performance advantages over USB-based devices.

“In addition, recent government-mandated security requirements have presented a challenge to avionics interface customers in that migrating to newer operating systems and hardware creates significant technical obstacles,” said Peter Thompson, Vice President, Product Management at Abaco Systems. “The RCNIC-A2PA-TB and RAR15XF-TB ease this process by providing support for the Thunderbolt 3 interface, which is widely available across modern systems.”

“Beyond this,” he added, “Power over Thunderbolt 3 simplifies wiring and connections for reduced integration time.”

The RCNIC-A2PA-TB is the first portable ARINC 664 device to come to market with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. It is a dual port ARINC 664 interface for monitoring, generating

or analyzing full-bandwidth AFDX/ARINC 664 Part 7 protocol traffic. Abaco’s exclusive pipeline architecture maximizes packet throughput using parallel controllers and efficient DMA transfers, thereby avoiding the bottlenecks of CPU-based interface The RAR15XF-TB is the highest density portable MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 device available. It delivers up to four channels of 1553 and 18 channels of ARINC 429 for the highest density in an extremely portable device. Its onboard firmware, large data buffers, and a highlevel API are integrated to provide total flexibility in monitoring and generating ARINC bus traffic.

Simultaneous scheduled and burst mode (FIFO) messaging is supported on all ARINC 429 transmit channels. Each ARINC 429 receive channel provides simultaneous dedicated and buffered mode storage, along with label/SDI filtering.

Previously announced Abaco portable avionics devices featuring the Thunderbolt 3 interface were the RCEI-830A-TB and the QPM1553-TB. Abaco Systems www.abaco.com

September 2019

COT’S PICKS Alpha Data and Star-Dundee Demonstrates Spacefibre and Spacewire on Alpha Data’s ADA-SDEVKit XQRKU060 Development Kit

Alpha Data and STAR-Dundee have demonstrated compatibility between the Alpha Data ADASDEV-KIT and the STAR-Dundee FMC SpaceWire/ SpaceFibre board. The Alpha Data ADA-SDEV-KIT is the principal prototyping platform for designs

targeting the Xilinx Space Grade UltraScale part, the XQRKU060.

This new FPGA allows deployment of Space Based Reconfigurable solutions more than five times the performance of previous generations, and has significantly higher performance transceivers that can support the highest SpaceFibre data rate of 6.25 Gbit/s per lane. The STAR-Dundee FMC SpaceWire/SpaceFibre board provides the perfect development platform, for customers wishing to test and develop SpaceWire and SpaceFibre solutions with the STARDundee VHDL IP cores.

“STAR-Dundee’s SpaceWire and SpaceFibre IP and FMC card will enable Alpha Data ADA-SDEV-KIT customers to develop and implement robust, fault tolerant, space capable communications systems” – Andrew McCormick, Technical Director, Alpha Data.

Alpha Data www.alpha-data.com

KP Performance Antennas Introduces New ProLine, 8-Port Sector Antenna with 2.3 GHz to 6.4 GHz Frequency Coverage New Broadband Sector Antenna Features 17 dBi Gain and Slant Polarization IRVINE, Calif. - KP Performance Antennas, a manufacturer of wireless network antennas, has just launched a new 8-port ProLine sector antenna that is perfectly suited for broad-frequency, point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and backhaul applications.

KP’s new KPP-2S5SX8-65 ProLine Sector Antenna is specially designed to deliver high, stable

gain over wide bandwidths and suppress sidelobes for mitigating inter-sector interference.

Features include 65 degree azimuth beamwidth, 8 ports (4 ports for each band range), dual band 2300-2700 MHz and 4900-6400 MHz frequency support, 17dBi gain, slant polarization, front to back ratio of 30-35dB and 0 degree electrical downtilt.

“Our new KPP-2S5SX8-65 ProLine antenna reduces tower loading and rental costs by incorporating 4 ports for each frequency band range in one radome. Typically, installers would use four 2-port antennas or two 4-port antennas to achieve the same coverage on the tower,” said Ken Izatt, Antenna Product Line Manager.

KP Performance Antennas www.kpperformance.com

COTS Journal | September 2019

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS Crystal Group Takes Complexity Out of Data Security with Innovative MilitaryGrade NAS Capabilities Crystal Group, Inc., announced the availability of its latest Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution to ensure hardware-level protection of data classified as top secret and below. The versatile and easily-deployable system withstands the dynamic environments of multi-domain battlefields and expands cybersecurity to the tactical edge. The rugged and secure high-performance storage system will debut at DoDIIS in Crystal Group’s booth #749.

This multipurpose storage solution provides FIPS 140-2 certified data encryption with near-zero latency, instant data destruction and integrated key management. Addressing these critical needs along with strict U.S. Department of Defence quality and security requirements with a turnkey, scalable NAS system reinforces Crystal Group’s proven track record for delivering reliable data handling and security at the edge.

to process and store data at near-zero latency, our customers gain a tactical advantage and confidence that mission-critical data is protected,” said Jim Shaw, executive vice president of Engineering at Crystal Group.

Meeting MIL-SPEC environmental performance and NIST compliance, this system is ideal for a myriad of defence applications in any domain. The low SWaP solution is comprised of the Crystal Group’s FORCE™ rugged storage server, RCS7450 network switch, small form factor rugged embedded computer and 19” rugged display integrated in a rugged transit case for mobile and tactical environments.

servers are designed for tactical military deployments in volatile environments. This high-reliability system includes Intel® Xeon® Cascade Lake scalable processors and can be configured with up to 12 different modules that offer high-speed communication, expanded storage capacity, audio and enhanced security to meet your specific operating needs.

Crystal Group www.crystalrugged.com

Crystal Group FORCE™ rugged

“With a secure, rugged NAS solution that dependably operates in all conditions and is optimized

VadaTech Announces FMC with Dual NVMe Solid State Drives and RS485/422 Henderson NV – September 4, 2019 – VadaTech, a leading manufacturer of integrated systems, embedded boards, enabling software and application-ready platforms, announces the FMC257.

The FMC257 is a storage module with dual NVMe storage SSD which provides high speed and low

latency read/write. The module allows the FPGA to access a large capacity of storage in a compact space. The FMC257 interfaces to the carrier via dual PCIe x4 (DP0- and DP4-7), with supporting IP being available for VadaTech carriers.

The storage has an option for SED which is hardware-based AES-256 Encryption engine.

In addition, the FMC257 provides eight RS485/422 RX plus eight RS-485/422 TX, and eight single-ended +3.3V input or outputs (user configurable per I/O). The RS-485/422 configuration can be selected as full-duplex RS-422 (independent RX/TX pairs with RX termination) or half-duplex RS-485 (RX/TX pairs tied together, no termination on board) based on the ordering option. The FMC257 can provide power of up to 12W to an external module.

VadaTech www.vadatech.com

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS New Cybersecurity Features Ensure Data Protection in Critical Embedded Military Applications

Secure Boot and BIOS Guard based on Intel’s TXT, TPM 2.0 and BIOS security SSD.

Intel Xeon E-based 3U VPX SBC integrates powerful processing with advanced data security

(with ARM core) as well as exceptional storage capacities and security options. This makes the new board ideal for a variety of harsh environment military and defence applications, including deeply embedded, real-time HPEC processing, intelligent multi-head smart displays.

Designed to secure critical data within embedded military and defence applications, Aitech Group’s C875 uses the new 8th generation Intel Xeon E processor to provide advanced cybersecurity as well as exceptional processing performance (link is external). As the risk of tamper attacks and theft of data continues to increase at all levels of embedded computing, the new 3U VPX SBC incorporates Aitech’s proprietary AiSecure architecture to help protect against data breaches that may occur at the system site itself.

Emil Kheyfets, director of military & aerospace products at Aitech Group noted, “System requirements in today’s defence applications call for both exceptional levels of performance as well as ensuring that any sensitive data collected is accessible to only those individuals who are cleared for access.

Thanks to powerful processing technologies, coupled with Aitech’s AiSecure architecture, system designers can now easily integrate multiple, cybersecurity attributes into a high performance HPEC embedded system platform.”

The Intel Xeon E-2176 M 6-core (12-thread) architecture with 12 MB of Smartcache is integrated into the C875, delivering an impressive 2.7 GHz of performance that increases up to 4.4 GHz when Turbo Mode is enabled.

Built with up to 1 TB of onboard, securityenable SSD supporting Quick erase, Secure erase and data encryption per DoD AES256 as well as up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, the new C875 provides vast storage capacities that meet the growing library of graphics-based data intelligence applications.

The board is available in both conduction and convection cooled versions and offers a range of operating temperatures, from -40°C to +85°C, depending on the cooling method. Shock levels of OS1 and OS2 in addition to vibration levels from V1 to V3 are available, all per VITA 47.

The cybersecurity features on the C875 include Intel’s Trusted Platform architecture,

Aitech www.rugged.com

Further complementing its cybersecurity advantages, the rugged C875 brings with it powerful performance attributes. These include three independent Intel UHD graphics ports, an onboard Microsemi SmartFusion FPGA

The board’s versatile I/O includes a host of popular interfaces that meet a wide range of system requirements, with the ability to expand I/O options using the industry-standard XMC slot. Standard I/O integrated on the SBC includes USB 3.0 and 2.0, SATA III and HDMI as well as serial and discrete I/O, RGBHV and GbE. Complete with an 8-lane PCIe Gen 3 VPX data plane, the SBC offers a number of VITA 65 OpenVPX slot profiles to meet different configurations. Onboard resources include Avionics and standard watchdog timers, temperature sensors, a run time clock and an elapsed time recorder. A VITA 46.11 IPMI, PCIe NT port support and a general-purpose DMA engine round out these resources.

COTS Journal | September 2019

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September 2019

COT’S PICKS

Pentek Adds Digital I/O Capability to Talon Extreme Rugged 1/2 ATR Recorder Family

of military standards in the MIL-STD 810 and 461 specifications to assure that whether in a UAV, an aircraft pod or shipboard, our recorders will perform at the highest level.”

Pentek, Inc., today announced the most recent addition to the Talon RTX small form factor (SFF) series of high-speed, high-performance, rugged recording systems, the Model RTX 2596, capable of recording and playing back four Serial Front Panel Data Port (sFPDP) data streams.

Extremely Rugged, Sealed Design Not only are RTX SFF recorders engineered to operate in the toughest environments with high levels of shock and vibration, the chassis also keeps all electronics sealed from the external environment.

The ½ ATR chassis uses military standard circular I/O connectors to control RF emissions while protecting the recorder’s electronics from humidity, water, dust, sand and salt fog.

The Talon RTX 2596 is fully-deployable and ideal for capturing digitized sensor data from radar systems and RF downconverters that use the lightweight VITA 17.1 sFPDP protocol. It supports baud rates to 4.25 GBaud and has options for multi-mode or single-mode optical interfaces. The VITA 17.1 specification is fully implemented, providing standard sFPDP features such as Flow Control, Copy/ Loop Mode and CRC error checking. The Talon RTX 2596 also provides playback capabilities, allowing users to operate the system as either a receiver or a transmitter.

The Talon RTX 2596 SFF recorder weighs just 18 pounds and is designed for extreme operating environments. Optimized for SWaP (size, weight and power), the rugged sealed ½ ATR recorder is available with up to 61 TB of removable SSD storage.

“The Talon RTX SFF recorders have undergone extensive independent laboratory testing to assure they can operate in some of the toughest environments,” said Chris Tojeira, Recording Systems Director, Pentek. He added, “We’ve tested to a wide array

The Talon RTX SFF chassis seals the internal electronics from the outside environment by extracting heat through conduction to an air-cooled inner plenum. A thermostat-controlled, removable fan pulls air into the front of the chassis, through the plenum and then out the back of the chassis.

Only the fan is exposed to the outside environment, assuring all system electronics are protected in the sealed chassis. The inner plenum can be replaced to provide other cooling options, such as liquid or conduction cooling.

Designed to operate from -40ºC to +60ºC, these recorders can handle most thermal environments, making them ideal for UAV’s, aircraft pods, tight equipment bays, military vehicles and most outdoor environments.

High-Speed Data Storage and Security Pentek’s QuickPac drive pack is easily removed from the recorder via a set of captive thumb screws

on the front panel. Fully sealed with environmental gasketing, an empty QuickPac drive pack can replace a full one for short down times and extended missions. A companion offload system for the QuickPac drive pack is available so the recorder can be redeployed while the recorded data is transported and reviewed via the offload system at a ground facility. The QuickPac drive pack holds up to 61 TB of SSD data storage and supports RAID levels 0, 5 or 6.

For secure applications, a separate operating system drive can be removed, allowing users to extract all non-volatile memory from the system in just a few seconds.

Mission Computer Capable Talon RTX SFF recorders with the Intel Core i7 7700K, 7th Generation Quad Core 4.2 GHz processor and 8 GB DDR4 DRAM, are expandable to 16 or 32 GB with enough processing power to act as the primary mission computer when needed, delivering state-of-the-art processing for mission applications and control, with minimal impact on the overall power budget of the system.

Ease of Operation Pentek’s SystemFlow® software interface is integrated into every Talon recorder. The software includes the graphical user interface (GUI) that is used to control the recorder with point-and-click configuration management, using a client/server communication interface. An NTFS file system ensures immediate access to recorded files, and an application programming interface (API) supports custom user applications and control. The system can be controlled remotely via the Gigabit Ethernet interface available on one of the MIL-STD circular connectors. Signal analysis tools include a virtual oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, and spectrogram to monitor signals before, during and after data collection.

Available Options and Simulation Package The Talon SFF recorders offer an optional GPS receiver for precise time and position stamping.

Additional QuickPac drive packs with 3.8 to 61 TB are available. Computer I/O on all models includes Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, RS-232 and HDMI. Pentek’s SystemFlow Simulator provides a “test drive” of the SystemFlow recording software installed on all Talon recording systems. The simulator allows users to operate the standard GUI and the SystemFlow API. Pentek, Inc www.pentek.com

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COTS Journal | September 2019

September 2019

COT’S PICKS

PacStar® Announces Availability of IQ-Core® Software With Remote Operations and Management (ROAM)

PacStar® announced a new major edition of its widely deployed IQ-Core Software, now with remote operations and management (ROAM).

The new edition called IQ-Core ROAM enables network administrators to view entire tactical networks through a single pane of glass, while sharing views and access to deployed operators at any level or echelon of the network, creating a collaborative, hierarchical, network operations and management structure.

IQ-Core ROAM integrates with and complements PacStar’s IQ-Core Network Communications Manager (NCM) for nodal management and IQ-Core Crypto Manager for CSfC and VPN management, creating a suite of solutions that ensure network situational awareness and consistent configuration and uptime, even in environments with disconnected, intermittent and limited connectivity. IQ-Core ROAM delivers unprecedented NOC to Node management capabilities in a unified easy-to-use, single pane of glass.

Key capabilities in IQ-Core ROAM include: • Management capabilities for both local operators and central NOC administrators, running simultaneously at central and distributed locations • Multiple site or mission-based diagrams to quickly gain targeted situational awareness • Aggregated bandwidth, latency, flow, and availability data views to help troubleshoot and plan network configurations • Ability to distribute and activate configurations, certificates, and other content to remote sites • Drill down access to network nodes with full IQ-Core NCM and Crypto Manager capabilities IQ-Core Software NCM, Crypto Manager and ROAM are used today by multiple US DoD tactical network programs, improving delivery of mission objectives by speeding network setup time, reducing configuration errors, automating configuration management and enhancing cyber defense. Its intuitive user in-

terface with roles-based access control is ideal for both advanced administrators and entry-level operators, and enables programs to deploy advanced communications equipment while reducing reliance on contractor support personnel.

“IQ-Core ROAM brings the power, automation and ease-of-use of IQ-Core Software to the NOC,” said Peggy Miller, chief executive officer, PacStar. “PacStar is committed to delivering these benefits to all types of tactical networking systems, and this new edition illustrates our continuous development and high investment in R&D.” PacStar www.pacstar.com

COTS Journal | September 2019

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COTS COTS

Index

ADVERTISERS

Company Page# Website Amsterdam Drone Week.......................................... BC ............................................ www.behlman.com Annapolis Micro Systems ...................................... 33 ....................................... www.annapmicro.com Behlman Electronics ............................................ 5 .............................................. www.behlman.com Critical Link ......................................................... 20 ............................................ www.criticallink.com Fairview Microwave ................................................ 11 .............................. www.fairviewmicrowave.com Milpower Source ..................................................... 4/12 ............................................. www.milpower.com MilesTex ................................................................ 35 ............................................. www.milestexs.com Neonode ................................................................ 24 ............................................... www.neonode.com New Wave DV ......................................................... 14 ............................................. www.newwave.com MPL ..................................................................... 25/35 .................................................... www.mpl.com OSS ........................................................................ 17 ................................. www.onestopsystems.com Pasternack ............................................................ 27 ......................................... www.pasternack.com Pentek .................................................................. IFC ................................................. www.pentek.com Percepio ............................................................... 13 .............................................. www.percepic.com Pico Electronics Inc .............................................. 29 ................................... www.picoelectronics.com Vicor Cororation ..................................................... IBC ........................................................ www.TE.com Vocal Corporation .................................................. 23 ................................................... www.vocal.com COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COTS Journal, 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

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COTS Journal | September 2019