20 minute read
Editor’s Choice for August
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
ThinKom Unveils New VICTS Antennas for Space Payloads
ThinKom Solutions today announced the development of a new family of phased-array antennas for deployment on satellites and other space vehicles.
The antennas are based on ThinKom’s proven VICTS (Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub) technology. The multi-frequency full-duplex antennas are designed for operation on geostationary and non-geostationary satellites using C-, X-, Ku-, Ka-, Q-, V-, E- and W-band frequencies. They can provide steerable high-capacity inter-satellite links as well as space-to-earth and Earth-to-space feeder and user links.
The new ThinKom payload antennas are compact and lightweight, with a 30-cm diameter antenna weighing less than 5 kg. They can be nested for multi-beam applications without the blockages that can occur with multiple parabolic dish arrays. They can also support digital beamforming within regional user beams.
The space payload VICTS antennas are designed with an aluminum structure and space-compatible components to function reliably under extreme conditions of radiation, shock, vibration, and temperature. The compact highly reliable conformal arrays do not require any post-launch deployment mechanisms, eliminating the added weight and complexity of traditional satellite antenna systems.
The high-efficiency VICTS antenna architecture enables a smaller mounting size and volume for a given level of performance, as well as lower inertia than traditional satellite designs. The result is extremely low power consumption, a critical requirement for space applications.
Other key features include 80-degree scan angle coverage, wide instantaneous channel bandwidth up to 2 GHz, polarization diversity, low sidelobe emissions, and continuous jitterless high-agility scanning.
“For space-based applications, long-term dependable and maintenance-free performance is a no-compromise requirement,” said Bill Milroy, CTO, and chairman of ThinKom Solutions. “Our highly reliable VICTS platform has been thoroughly field-proven with thousands of units already deployed in aero, land, and maritime mobile environments, across more than 23 million cumulative hours of service.”
“We believe our space payload antennas hit the ‘sweet spot’ between the bulkier and heavier gimbaled dish antennas, with their deployment and kinematic complexities, and the less efficient power-hungry electronically steered arrays (ESAs),” Milroy added. “A 30-cm VICTS antenna only requires a small fraction of the power and area required for a comparable performing ESA.”
ThinKom Solutions Inc. www.thinkom.com
Concealment Antenna for DoD Band Applications
RFMW announces design and sales support for a Southwest Antennas’ omnidirectional antenna. The 1066-094 is a concealment antenna designed for use in systems where covert antennas are necessary for mission security. Operating in the 1.35 to 1.4 GHz band, the 1066-094 offers a small form factor, very lightweight, and high gain performance of up to 2 dBi. Offered without a radome, the antenna is not suited for outdoor use unless integrated into another product, such as unmanned vehicles or concealments for covert surveillance applications. It comes with an integrated, 54 inch, low-loss RF cable terminated with a rotating SMA male connector.
RFMW Ltd. www.rfmw.com
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
General Dynamics Mission Systems Introduces Badger Software-Defined Radio Badger Radio Unveiling Video Thumbnail
New 2-channel radio provides multi-level security for voice and data communications in a small, compact form factor
General Dynamics Mission Systems introduced the new Badger software-defined radio today at the Navy League’s SeaAir-Space Symposium in National Harbor, Maryland. Produced at the company’s
Scottsdale, Arizona facility, the Badger is a compact, 2-channel software-defined radio that provides Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) for ship-to-ship and shipto-shore voice and data communications. It is the only radio available that provides High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), and SATCOM Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform capability. The integration of MUOS significantly enhances beyond-line-of-sight, or satellite voice and data communications.
Badger’s software-defined, flexible open architecture enables future next-generation communications including waveforms, encryption algorithms, and advanced network connectivity to be easily incorporated without redesign. Similar to a commercial smartphone, this approach simplifies the incorporation of new features and functions by enabling the radio to be upgraded in the field without having to take it out of service, resulting in significant time and cost savings. In addition, the Badger’s Voice over IP (VoIP) audio capability modernizes and simplifies platform audio distribution using network connectivity.
The Badger is based on the long history of General Dynamics’ Digital Modular Radio (DMR). With over 900 radios delivered, DMR provides secure communications aboard
U.S. Navy surface and sub-surface vessels, as well as fixed sites. At a quarter of the size of DMR, Badger provides the waveforms and flexibility of the DMR in a compact platform.
“The Badger was developed in collaboration with our customer to meet their requirements for smaller ships and platforms,“ said Stan Kordana, Vice President of Surface Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems. Badger offers many of the same capabilities that have made DMR a communications standard for the U.S. Navy, in a much smaller form factor. The reduced size, weight, and power make it ideal for smaller platforms across multiple domains that only require two channels, and at the same time simplifies logistics and reduces costs.”
The Badger has programmable embedded NSA certified Type 1 encryption that secures communications and simplifies the system architecture. It has MILS capability which enables it to communicate simultaneously at multiple levels of security, on each of the radio’s two channels.
General Dynamics www.gd.com
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
DT Research Announces Unique 6-inch Windows 10 Ultra Rugged Tablet with Walkie-Talkie Communication
Highly Durable, Robust Handheld Tablet with Night Vision Capabilities Designed to Fit into Tactical Vest
DT Research announced the DT361AM and DT361AD, 6-inch military-spec rugged handheld tablets that run the Microsoft® Windows® 10 operating system and contain walkie-talkie communication and night vision capabilities. These highly robust, yet compact tablets weighing only one pound are purpose-built for mission-critical environments and designed to secure a tactical vest for easy access.
The DT361AM and DT361AD handheld tablets will be showcased August 2-4th in Booth 1911 at the Sea-Air-Space Conference and Expo in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Users appreciate these feature-rich handheld tablets, which have a 6-inch, daylight mode/night vision screen with capacitive multi-touch for ultimate viewing versatility. Military durability IP65 and MIL-STD-810H ratings verify that the tablets will perform well in harsh conditions. DT Research’s signature hot-swappable batteries ensure continuous operation, while Intelâ 10th Generation Coreä i7 processors deliver high performance and energy efficiency.
“These unique handheld tablets showcase our innovative design capabilities to deliver purpose-built mobile solutions for military tactical operations, law enforcement, and other mission-critical field use cases,” said Daw Tsai, President of DT Research. “While working with various U.S. military groups, we saw the need for a small, highly durable device with the robust functionality enabled by Windows® 10, combined with special features such as walkie-talkie communication, night vision capabilities, and multifactor authorization for enhanced security.”
Purpose-built for Tactical Operations
The DT361AM and DT361AD tablets provide hands-free walkie-talkie communication, enabling a user to easily speak to many people simultaneously through built-in speaker/microphones and effectively communicate in noisy environments. For stealth operations during low-light situations, a luminance night vision screen provides clear readability of the display with the naked eye in dark environments and does not interfere with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). Users can take advantage of a vest tablet mount, which supports handsfree communication and offers quick access to the device when necessary.
Designed for Mission Critical Environments
The tablets are highly durable and reliable with IP65-rated for water and dust resistance; MIL-STD-810H for shock and vibration protection. The DT361AM and DT361AD are tested to operate in environments 122 degrees Fahrenheit and can be safely stored in temperatures as low as -4 Fahrenheit. The 3100mAh batteries are hot-swappable for 24/7 operation.
Advanced Identity Verification and Security
A built-in Common Access Card (CAC) reader provides two-factor authentication by matching a user’s smart card with a personal identification (PIN) number. CAC readers also meet the requirements for data encryption and digital signature technologies to provide secure logical access to computer systems and networks. The DT361AM and DT361AD tablets are TAA compliant with NIST compliant BIOS. The DT361AM and DT361AD handheld rugged tablets include a robust set of features and options.
Ultra Rugged - IP65-rated for water and dust resistance; MIL-STD-810H for shock and vibration protection. Temperature operation: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F); storage: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) and humidity 0% – 90% non-condensing. FCC Class B, RoHS compliant.
Interactive Display with Night Vision Screen – 6-inch LED-backlight screen with capacitive touch and digital pen support. Optional luminance night vision screen with daylight mode 800 nits; NVIS mode: 0 to 20 or 0 to .7 nits. MIL-STD-3009 Class B compliant, providing clear readability of the display with the naked eye in dark environments and does not interfere with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs).
High Performance and Robust – Microsoft® Windows® 10 IoT Enterprise operating system runs Intel® 10th Generation Core™ i7 processors with a fanless, robust design.
Smart Card/SD Reader – Built-in, full-slot smart card/Common Access Card (CAC) reader (DT361AM); full-slot SD card reader (DT361AD).
Wireless Communication – Walkie-talkie communication with a built-in speaker and two microphones. Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2.4 GHz/5GHz dual-band, and Bluetooth 4.2 LE.
Vest Mount – Optional vest tablet mount secures the device to a tactical vest and provides hands-free operation and quick access.
Continuous Operation – Hot-swappable battery 7.6V, 3100mAh.
Availability
The DT Research DT361AM and DT361AD rugged handheld tablets are immediately available from DT Research’s authorized resellers and partners.
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
Crystal Group Introduces First Military- and IEC-Compliant Video Encoder and IP KVM for Demanding Edge Environments
Crystal Group, Inc. announced it will offer the industry’s first ruggedized video appliances (RVA) that combine critical, real-time 4K video streaming, recording, extension, and storage with strict military and industrial standards.
“Customers have exacting needs when it comes to their expanding use of performance-media-over-IP products. Crystal Group is a trusted source for the demanding projects using these technologies and is a domestic solution provider we are very proud to partner with.”
“Whether it’s conducting live, virtual, constructive training or providing real-time oil rig monitoring, video-based data is critical to the accuracy and effectiveness of edge applications,” said Jeff Dixon, technical director at Crystal Group. “Providing ruggedized versions of these Matrox products to meet or exceed International Electronic Commission (IEC) compliance standards, as well as MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-901E proactively address the dynamic operating challenges and requirements.”
Equipped with compressed H.264 technology, the RVA6152 video encoder delivers quality, low-bitrate streaming, and recording. The quad 4K input capture and encode enables secure, real-time streaming and/or recording of four or more 4K channels simultaneously over standard Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) networks. The plug-and-play design integrates easily into existing infrastructures for high-density content distribution and system scalability.
The RVA3408 IP KVM extender provides 4Kp60 4:4:4 UHD performance or quad-monitor capabilities over standard GbE at unprecedented low bitrates. This transmitter-receiver duo can be configured as a point-to-point or networked extender to securely deliver multiple video, keyboard, mouse, USB 2.0, and audio signals, as well as provide aggregated and seamless control of multiple systems from a remote 4K/multi-display station with a single keyboard and mouse.
“Crystal Group’s experience in and reputation for designing and building rugged compute solutions for demanding edge environments is unmatched,” said Samuel Recine, vice president of sales for the Americas and the Asia Pacific, AV/IT Group at Matrox Video. “Customers have exacting needs when it comes to their expanding use of performance-media-over-IP products. Crystal Group is a trusted source for the demanding projects using these technologies and is a domestic solution provider we are very proud to partner with.”
Crystal Group, Inc. www.crystalrugged.com
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
JLT Mobile Computers announces a next-generation version of its fully rugged slim and light 10-inch Android tablet
The upgraded tablet offers Android 9 along with a substantial processing performance increase, sharper and brighter display, faster communication, USB Type-C, and higher resolution cameras
Mobile Computers announces the launch of the Android™ 9 based next-generation MT3010A™ tablet computer. With its small 10-inch form factor and lightweight, the fully rugged tablet is ideal for deployment in markets such as warehousing, logistics, food and beverage, transportation, and ports.
The MT3010A tablet provides a substantial upgrade in terms of performance and functionality to the existing MT2010A, yet shares exterior design, dimensions, and peripherals with the predecessor model, preserving existing investment in platform peripherals and accessories.
Android holds a dominant market share in smartphones, with billions of users familiar with Android operation. Given the tremendous software and developer support, Android makes a perfect complement to Microsoft Windows-based systems and infrastructure, as well as a migration opportunity from discontinued legacy systems. As a result, there have been very rapid technological and functional advancements in Android hardware and software, which JLT is bringing to its customers with the new MT3010A.
“Android is progressing in leaps and bounds in terms of raw performance and what it can do out there in the field,” says Per Holmberg, CEO of JLT Mobile Computers. ”We’re making sure our customers always get the latest and greatest, and our new MT3010A tablet is a major step forward for their operations and productivity. With this new unit, we’re offering a big jump in performance and functionality to give customers in warehousing, ports, and similar environments what they need on the job.”
Like its predecessor, the new MT3010A combines tough, durable construction with a slim, light, and ergonomic form factor that fits anywhere and doesn’t weigh the user down. The tablet can handle 4-foot (122 cm) drops to concrete, has a very wide operating temperature range, is IP65 dustproof and highly water-resistant, and has been tested to rigorous MIL-STD810H shock, drop, and vibration military standards.
Among the MT3010A’s immediately obvious improvements are the significantly higher performance of the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ SDA660 octa-core processor and the much higher resolution of its Full HD (1920 x 1200 pixel) capacitive multitouch display with hand, glove, and rain modes that also offers twice the luminance and optical bonding for optimal sunlight viewability (800 vs 400 nits).
The new MT3010A comes with twice as much storage, 50% more system memory, much higher resolution front and rear cameras (8MP and 13MP), much faster 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5 connectivity, as well as much faster USB 3.1 wired connectivity on both a full-size Type A and a reversible Type C port. Optionally available are a Micro HDMI port, an integrated 1D/2D barcode reader, 4G LTE mobile broadband, and optional high-capacity battery and warm-swapping functionality.
Android 9, which has options for future upgrades, provides the MT3010A with enterprise features such as lock task mode, improved control over the user interface, support for multiple users as well as improved system security.
JLT offers an easy insert and release vehicle dock with VESA mounting support, additional USB support, and 9-36V DC vehicle power. Also available is a lockable vehicle cradle that keeps the tablet securely fastened to moving vehicles.
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
Supermicro Debuts New Top-Loading and Simply Double Storage Systems with 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Processors
Super Micro Computer, Inc. announced new versions of its market-proven top-loading storage solutions with 60-bay and 90-bay systems along with new Simply Double storage systems fully optimized for the latest 3rd Gen Intel Xeon
Scalable processors and PCI-E 4.0 NVMe drives. These best-in-class high-capacity storage and expansion systems are ideal for cloud-scale storage implementations as well as HPC storage workloads.
“As the growth in software-defined, cloudbased storage continues to accelerate, Supermicro helps data centers to rapidly modernize their infrastructure to leverage flexible configuration, tool-less modular designs that can be serviced by a technician, and simple expansion capabilities with our new X12 60-bay or 90-bay single, dual node and high availability architecture innovation,” said Charles Liang, president, and CEO, Supermicro. “Our new high-capacity storage systems continue Supermicro’s focus on resourcesaving and delivers industry-leading capacity for a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).”
Top-Loading Storage Systems
Supermicro’s new top-loading architecture delivers improved flexibility, modularity, and serviceability that customers require. Both 60-bay and 90-bay systems are available in single-node, dual-node, and dual-node high availability (HA) configurations. The dual-node HA and singlenode configurations control access to all drives in the systems. The dual-node configuration evenly split the drive control access between each node. With a modular, tool-less design, all critical onboard systems – hot-swap server nodes, expanders, fan modules, power supplies, and drives – are fully optimized for easy serviceability by one technician.
Supermicro’s new high-capacity top-loading systems are optimized for enterprise and cloudscale storage environments. This scale-up and scale-out architectures design offer customers the configuration options of PCI-E 4.0-based RAID or IT mode SAS controller. These 4U systems feature 60 or 90 hot-swap 2.5” or 3.5” SAS3/SATA3 bays plus two onboard PCI-E M.2 slots and two internal
slim SATA SSD slots. The single-node system also supports two rear hot-swap 2.5” bays for OS mirroring and four optional NVMe U.2 bays for fast caching. The system supports 1.6 petabytes of cost-optimized storage at the maximum configuration, plus up to 60TB of SSD flash via the rear-accessed NVMe. The single- and dualnode systems use 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors in a dual-socket configuration with 16 DIMM slots per server node.
Simply Double Storage Systems
Supermicro’s Simply Double storage server is an industry-leading solution for content delivery. Today’s announcement introduces performance and serviceability enhancements to the overall design to support 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors in a dual-socket configuration with 16 DIMMs while maintaining the same dense storage footprint. Up to four rear hot-swap U.2 NVMe bays are supported, allowing users to add flash without sacrificing any of the 24 SAS/SATA 3.5” storage bays. Innovative chassis design enhances airflow and streamlines system service accessibility to components such as the motherboard, CPU, memory, PCI-E slots, internal drive bays, and rear drive bays. Along with these mechanical improvements, the system can be configured with the options of PCI-E 4.0-based RAID or IT mode SAS controller.
Super Micro Computer, Inc. www.supermicro.com
The expanded range features water and fluid resistant operation
Display solutions and embedded systems provider, Review Display Systems Inc. (RDS) has announced the availability of a new generation of projected capacitive (PCAP) touchscreens from leading touch solutions specialist AMT. With a combination of PCAP touchscreens, touch controllers, and drivers, AMT can provide best-inclass, fully integrated touch solutions.
An extensive line-up of new generation projected capacitive touchscreen solutions have been introduced with a wide range of standard sizes and aspect ratios available between 3.5-inch and 23.8-inch. The new PCAP touch screens are suitable for use in the industrial, medical, and commercial market sectors, where larger screen sizes can be easily accommodated.
AMT has also simplified the process of connecting and interfacing to the touchscreen by featuring a fully integrated touch controller on a Chip-on-Flex (COF) interconnect cable. The PenMount K1 series is AMT’s proprietary PCAP touch controller and features through the new product line-up.
The PenMount K1 series PCAP touch controller is suitable for use in various environments and provides support for high sample rates which enables multiple touchpoints and gestures. The K1 series controller also features enhanced noise immunity and the ability to deal with interference signals and operational errors. These features enable the touch screen to continue to operate correctly despite the touch screen surface being in contact with water, liquid solutions, and other fluids.
Justin Coleman, display division manager, RDS said, “Being able to develop effective and efficient human-machine interfaces for a wide range of applications is essential for design engineers, system developers, and their end customers. AMT is a progressive business that focuses on providing innovative, easy-to-use touch solutions for many varied industries and market sectors.”
August 2021 COT’S PICKS
WIN Enterprises Announces 2U Rackmount Server Platform with Dual 3rd Gen Intel© Xeon Scalable Processors
WIN Enterprises, Inc. announces the PL50250, a 2U rackmount server for IoT and Cloud applications. The platform supports the Intel® Whitley/Ice Lake-SP to deliver efficient processor performance. The new generation platform delivers high performance with CPU cores offering up to 38 processing cores, and 3 Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) links up to 11.2 GT/s.
Features
• Supports 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processor (Ice Lake-SP), Socket P+ 4189pin • Supports Max 2TB DDR4 2933/3200MHz & Optane DC Persistent Memory • Max support for 8x PCIe Gen4 x8 slots for Network Expansion Modules • Supports BMC/IPMI& hardware one-key Bypass function
The PL-50250 supports 8x channels of DDR4 registered ECC RDIMM memory (up to 3200 MHz) with a maximum memory capacity of up to 1TB with 64 PCIe lanes per CPU. The PL-50250 can support up to 8x Network Expansion Modules, and –provides support for multiple different Ethernet modules to enable flexible port configurations, such as 1/10/40/100 Gigabit fiber, Gigabit Copper/Fiber with or without BYPASS function. The maximum Ethernet bandwidth capacity is up to 1,000 GbE.
The strong IO elements of PL-50250 include two management ports -- one for management, another for optional IPMI functionality; a console port, and 2x external USB ports with 1x internal USB port, LEDs for power/ HDD/ 2x GPIO. In addition, the PL-50250 supports two front panels mounted, hot-swappable 2.5” SATA HDDs/SSDs and an onboard CompactFlash® /m-SATA/mini PCIe port, plus an M.2 slot for network storage applications.
United Electronic Industries announces Solutions Stack aligned with The Open Group FACE™
Technical Standard for its leading Hardware Platform using FACE TSS technology from RealTime Innovations
United Electronic Industries (UEI) announces an integrated avionics solution stack aligned with The Open Group Future Airborne Capability Environment™ (FACE) standard using the certified FACE conformant Transport Services Segment (TSS) product from Real-Time Innovations (RTI). This capability enables rapid integration with other portable FACE software applications to the UEI platform through the RTI TSS, providing a low-risk, cost-effective connectivity foundation for FACE systems integrators.
UEI supplies data acquisition, control, and test system hardware to meet the stringent requirements of military and aerospace industry applications. Whether commercial or military aviation, UEI has rugged and reliable solutions that are deployable in a variety of environments. With flexible 1-12 slot chassis, and more than 80+ I/O and avionic boards commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), UEI ensures FACE applications executing with the RTI TSS can easily, seamlessly, and securely pass data between both simulated and deployed systems. Plus, with UEI’s long-term 10-year availability guarantee, product obsolescence is no longer an issue.
RTI’s FACE Transport Service Segment (TSS) was the first TSS solution to achieve FACE conformance certification. The RTI TSS accelerates and assures interoperability of FACE applications. It extends FACE application software portability and system interoperability benefits by integrating the RTI FACE TSS with the Object Management Group (OMG®) Data Distribution ServiceTM (DDS) Standard, now used by over 1,000 global defense systems.
UEI will share its experiences using RTI’s FACE TSS to read and control avionics within its COTS platform at the upcoming FACE Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM). “The ease of use and interoperability, coupled with RTI’s leading connectivity software, brought this project in early and under budget,” said Erik Goethert, Senior Director of Technical Marketing for UEI.
“We welcome UEI to the FACE Consortium,” said Chip Downing, Senior Market Development Director at RTI. “This integrated solution accelerates the integration of FACE Units of Conformance (UoCs) using a MOSA standards-based environment.”
WIN Enterprises, Inc www.win-ent.com
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