CSN Series: Delivering Vital Sensor Information to the Tactical Edge for Complex Defense Applications
The Converged Sensor Network(tm) Architecture from Mercury Computer Systems combines the power of information management - fusion, exploitation, and dissemination - with signal and image processing to deliver transformational access to information at the tactical edge of the battlefield. This webcast will explore CSNA and it's implications for Synthetic Aperture Radar, Signals Intelligence, Electro-Optical ISR.
CSN Series: SigmaNET: Pushing Exploitation Close to the Sensor
The lack of timely and accurate access to sensor data negatively affects the warfighter every day. SigmaNETTM, from Mercury Computer Systems, is a combined hardware/software solution that addresses the data access issues by pushing exploitation close to the sensor, helping to deliver actionale information to the warfighter. SigmaNET is Mercury's first product desgined for the Converged Sensor NetworkTM(CSNTM) Architecture initiative.
In this TechCast you will learn about:
- the challenges surrounding sensor data in defense applications
- a new paradigm in defense embedded computing that overcomes the current constraints in data exploitation on ISR platforms called Converged Sensor Network (CSN)
- Mercury’s SigmaNET solution a flexible, standards-based approach to networking
- how SigmaNET will allow for rapid migration of your laboratory application to fielded platforms
CSN Series: Net-centric warfare: How embedded tech collides with the digitized battlefield, Halo, and the Internet
If you're over 30, you might have never heard of first-person shooter, Internet-enabled, simulation games such as Doom, Quake or Halo - but rest assured our fighting men and women have heard of it.
Video games, simulation, and networked "LAN parties" (local area network connected computers) are so much a part of the modern digitized battlefield that the Army created its own online game called "America's Army". All this prevalent Internet-age desktop technology has set the bar high for net-centric warfare. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines expect connectivity from their battlefield tech, as do their officers right up the chain of command.
Increasingly, embedded technologies from small form factor (SFF) boards, VME VPX LRUs, and even rack-mount servers are pressed into service as nodes on the DoD's Global Information Grid. But how are these less-than-arcade-sexy boards and systems instrumental in net-centric warfare? From the variety of fabric options like 10 Gigabit Ethernet, RapidIO, PCIe and others, what connectivity, performance, and module standards are essential to the modern digitized battlefield? And, how can you tell which leading-edge technologies will never be ready for full-service deployment?
Tune into our E-cast and see for yourself
CSN Series: Beyond the Sensor: Accessing Vital Information at the Tactical Edge
The Converged Sensor Network Architecture from Mercury Computer Systems combines the power of information management - fusion, exploitation, and dissemination - with signal and image processing to deliver transformational access to information at the tactical edge of the battlefield. This webcast will review this novel architecture, explore its features and benefits, and show how Mercury SigmaNET solutions address sensor access, latency, and data density challenges.
CSN Series: A 10 GigE to RapidIO Gateway - The SR-110 10GE Gateway a critical component of Converged Sensor Network
Mercury has recently announced the Converged Sensor Network Architecture, a novel digital signal processing architecture that conjoins the agility of cluster computing with sensors at the tactical edge of the battlefield. The new SR-110 10GE Gateway is a critical component of Mercury's CSNA offering because it brings the flexibility and extensibility of 10 Gigabit Ethernet to embedded signal processing.
Although a highly effective backbone for sensor networks, 10 Gigabit Ethernet does not deliver the low-latency, deterministic communications required by real-time processing. A different type of protocol, such as RapidIO, must be used for real-time signal processing. To make this type of real-time processing available on a sensor network requires a gateway.
The Gateway module delivers transparent and seamless data movement between 10 GigE and RapidIO. Application software does not need to be concerned with differences in protocol packets or addressing schemes; that is all handled on the Gateway module. In combination with Mercury's MultiCore Plus software, it allows lab-based applications developed on Linux clusters to be moved easily to deployed, RapidIO VXS platforms.
Rough, REDI, and now FPGAs
By now you’ve heard of VXS – and maybe even VPX – but just what the heck do they all mean? After all, you’re still supporting systems with VME32, and “2eSST” sounds like a European supercar. Well, strap in, because serial fabric-enabled VME boards in VXS and VPX flavors are now available off-the-shelf. Additionally, the VPX-REDI standard allows for ultra high heat and liquid cooling, while the new FMC mezzanine complements XMCs by directly bolting FPGA co-processors to base cards. Alphabet soup? You bet. This E-cast sorts it all out for you so you’re “REDI” when your boss asks.
Using ATCA for Low-Latency, Control-Loop Applications
Real-time computing for sophisticated industrial equipment must deal with hard, deterministic real-time constraints. Breaking the input-to-output latency can result in machine failure, unacceptable performance, and down-time. Existing bus-based computing systems are running out of bandwidth and introducing unacceptable latency. This webcast will discuss fabric-based solutions based on the ATCA standard that are cost-effective, scalable, and well suited to meet the demanding, low-latency control-loop requirements of industrial-equipment applications.
VME VXS Systems: High-Value, Cost-Effective Solutions
This webinar will start at a high-level and examine several typical SIGINT and ELINT systems, then drill down into theoretical architectural attributes needed to keep them humming. Finally, examples of real systems will be presented, using actual-deployed Mercury PowerStream, VPA-200, and RF/FPGA production VME and mezzanine products.
RapidIO in Military System Design
The Serial RapidIO switched fabric provides military electronics designers with high-performance I/O capability for network centric-warfare, radar, sonar, and other throughput-intensive applications. Connecting box to box by working through the backplane, RapidIO is widely in use in military applications where heavy duty moving of raw data within the system is necessary. This webcast in conjunction with the RapidIO Trade Association will cover the latest RapidIO design trends, program wins, technology development, and roadmaps.
Keeping it Cool: Managing Thermals and Power
Thermal and power management is widely considered to be the crucial link in the ability to embrace high-performance computing technology in military system design. Current and future generation processors create escalating thermal demands on military designers. This webcast with industry expert James Robles, will look at the latest solutions for improving power efficiency through cooling chips and boards as well as thermal issues in aging military platforms.
Robles' presentation - "Aerospace Thermal Management Challenges and Solutions, A Boeing Perspective" will discuss how the aerospace thermal management challenge is driven by 1) the user's inexhaustible demand for greater processing capability for Image Exploitation (IE) applications, such as Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and Moving Target Engagement (MTE), and for high data rate communications both on aircraft and spacecraft; 2) the move to More Electric Vehicles to reduce weight and power consumption by eliminating hydraulic actuation systems; and 3) the need for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). This presentation will address trends in this area as well as selected potential solutions. Following Robles will be presentations from Richard Jaenicke of Mercury Computer Systems, Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, and Tracewell Systems.
Mapping Multi-function Radar Algorithms Across a VPX-REDI System
Advanced multi-function radar systems present enormous challenges, as they must simultaneously provide multi-mode search, multi-target tracking, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, and space time adaptive processing (STAP). These systems will be deployed in some of the harshest and most demanding environmental conditions inside unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manned aircraft, and ship- and ground-based radar systems.
This webcast will begin by examining the data processing functions needed to support multi-function radar applications. Then three example algorithms will be presented as efficient ways to manage that processing. Lastly, those algorithms will be mapped across three different types of processors - PowerPC, PowerQUICC, and FPGAs - in a rugged, deployable multiprocessor adhering to the new VPX-REDI (VITA 46/48) standards. The focus of the webcast is on providing practical, real-world approaches to addressing complex system issues.
RapidIO for Defense & Military Applications
A comprehensive seminar and tutorial on what the RapidIO high-speed switched serial interconnect has to offer for defense, space, and commercial aviation applications. RapidIO technology is an established, scalable, packet-switched, high-performance fabric specifically developed to address the needs of high-availability and reliable data transfer in military, aerospace, wireless infrastructure, edge networking, storage, scientific, and industrial applications.
The Performance Benefits of RapidIO enabled TI DSPs in ATCA
This webinar will discuss RapidIO based board and system level solutions that will enable OEMs to address of next generation application platforms. In addition, detailed performance data will be presented under various dataflow configurations using either RapidIO or Gigabit Ethernet as the transport mechanism.
RapidIO System Architecture: What Designers Need to Know
RapidIO technology is an established, scalable, packet-switched, high-performance fabric specifically developed to address the needs of equipment designers in the wireless infrastructure, edge networking, storage, scientific, military and industrial markets.
Moderated by Chris Ciufo, Group Editorial Director of Open Systems Publishing, this technical webcast will cover everything today's engineers need to know in the use and implementation of RapidIO technology, and includes presentations from the RapidIO Trade Association, Mercury Computer Systems, IDT, Tundra and Freescale.