Articles 1 - 14
Radar/EW
New hybrid FPGA devices a game-changer for radar and signal processing - Story
February 12, 2025The three traditional compute architectures used for high-performance embedded computing (HPEC) and radar processing are CPUs [central processing units], GPUs [graphics processing units], and FPGAs [field-programmable gate arrays]. In many cases, a combination of these technologies is employed within a single subsystem, with software applications and workload optimizations influencing hardware selection.
Avionics
GPU and FPGA go head-to-head - Story
November 16, 2020Today’s embedded-system designers have a great variety of processor types to select from, with FPGAs [field-programmable gate arrays] and GPUs [graphics processing units] adding their own various advantages and disadvantages for consideration in contrast to the more familiar CPUs [central processing units]. Understanding these characteristics and how FPGAs and GPUs stack up can help system integrators make the right choice when choosing and installing a processor, to be used either individually or in combination with other types of processors.
Radar/EW
Comms
MACsec encryption extends the value of copper-based Ethernet LANs - Story
February 20, 2019
There is vastly more copper-based twisted-pair Ethernet infrastructure deployed on military and aerospace platforms than there is fiber-optic cable-based wiring. For one thing, the cost of copper cabling and its related connectors keeps being driven downward by the economies of scale brought about by its widespread use, helping to make it virtually ubiquitous. But fiber-optic cabling, until fairly recently, was the only practical choice for applications that required high-speed 10 Gbit/s connectivity. Driving demand for higher-speed Ethernet is the increased use of applications such as HD video surveillance on deployed platforms, resulting in ever-larger high-resolution file sizes.
Radar/EW
Advances in switching bring rugged 1/10 GbE networking to embedded platforms - Story
September 07, 2018
As advanced network features and increasing speeds are added to next-generation rugged embedded switches, these products become even more useful for military applications by helping to reduce system size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) through a reduction of cabling and the use of Layer 3 switches for basic network routing duties.
Unmanned
The commonality of COTS solutions for UUVs and UAVs - Story
April 13, 2017
Some time ago, when designers started thinking about unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) applications, concerns were raised that the undersea environment might be so different or exotic that standard solutions would need to be significantly modified. To the surprise of many, however, it was found that there is significant commonality between unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and UUV environments. There are, to be sure, unique aspects to each type of platform, but in general, standard rugged military commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) embedded solutions are applicable to both.
Comms
Enabling Mounted Assured PNT with one COTS-based box - Story
October 27, 2016
Today's warfighter depends on GPS signals to acquire accurate position, navigation, and timing (PNT) data. There's a potential downside to dependence on traditional GPS, however: In some terrains, such as dense foliage or urban canyons, GPS signals can become degraded. GPS receivers can also come under attack from adversaries through jamming or spoofing. Given how critical GPS capabilities are for military services, next-generation PNT technologies are emerging to address vulnerabilities from emerging threats and field conditions.
Comms
M-Code brings next-gen GPS to SWaP-constrained ground vehicles - Story
November 25, 2015
VICTORY open architecture standard does define how LRUs can intercommunicate and share data and resources.
Radar/EW
JLTV: The VICTORY vanguard - Story
July 06, 2015
The next-generation JLTV is greatly anticipated, not only for the impressive size of the program, but also for the technological innovations that it will bring to the battlefield. On the technology front, JLTV will feature a number of important design enhancements over the Humvee, including improved protection, performance, and payload capability.
Unmanned
For COTS, small is the next big thing - Story
May 01, 2015
Later this year, Marvel will release “Ant-Man,” its latest film blockbuster, proving that superheroes can come in extremely small packages. Meanwhile, the aerospace and defense embedded commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) market are well ahead of the curve.
Radar/EW
Bringing enterprise-class Ethernet networking to rugged deployed systems - Story
June 12, 2014
An industry perspective from Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions
Unmanned
Case study: Ruggedizing Cisco Ethernet switches for the military - Story
December 16, 2011
To meet the military?s requirements for computing technologies that are cost sensitive yet extremely rugged, commercial products can be enhanced for harsh-use applications. The following case study describes how the Cisco IE-3000 switch was ruggedized for use in demanding military IP networking applications.
Radar/EW
Case study: EFV keeps pace with Ethernet to actualize net-centric warfare - Story
August 14, 2009
The success of net-centric warfare is dependent on fast, secure communications technology - specifically Ethernet. To meet the military's demands for Ethernet-enabled vehicles, Ethernet switches and routers need to be increasingly rugged and capable of meeting future network requirements. A case study of the USMC's Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) with its Tactical Switch Router (TSR) exemplifies this trend.
Radar/EW
Leveraging rugged SFFs to power wearable technology - Story
March 20, 2009
Mounting a full-function computer on a person takes the right blend of miniaturization and ruggedization, along with a vision for functionality and usability. This application shows the technology and thinking behind a wearable unit used in today's military programs.
Articles 1 - 14
