The military embedded computing landscape has been transformed from where it was 20 years ago — and that has been almost entirely enabled by the ability of prime contractors, systems integrators, and OEMs to leverage the products of COTS manufacturers who take leading edge commercial technologies and apply them successfully to the world of military computing. A look at the commercial landscape today reveals cell phones that are putting vast amounts of location- aware information — and the ability to process that information — directly into the hands of consumers. The Internet of Things has become a deployable reality, with data derived from millions of connected sensors.

Embedded computing systems for Mil/Aero applications are often conduction-cooled in an ATR or nonstandard chassis. However, there are many designs that require 19" rackmount systems with forced-air cooling. As more processing performance is packed into tight spaces, enclosures that provide advanced cooling options are increasingly common.

High performance, low power consumption and small footprint requirements imposed by the embedded market on the processor industry is causing a definite move away from single-core processors to multicore processors. Multicore processors have been deemed as the future of Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constrained applications like military and avionics. They provide higher performance (MHz/W) at lower power. They also allow consolidation of multiple functions/ applications onto a single platform.

Long-range bombers may have missions halfway around the world. Fighter jets may have to stay in the air longer than their relatively small fuel tanks will allow, or may find they have exhausted their fuel unexpectedly, such as during supersonic flight or evasive maneuvers. In these situations, large tanker aircraft are deployed that carry sufficient fuel to refill several smaller aircraft in a single mission (Figure 1). The task of injecting volatile jet fuel from one aircraft to another while both are moving at high speed and altitude is fraught with risk.

RF and microwave components deployed in spaceflight applications can experience hundreds of degrees of temperature variation, massive amounts of radiation, and can be expected to operate at an elevated level, sometimes for decades. The demands of operating in a space environment bring unique challenges and unforgiving reliability requirements. Designing passive components to meet these rigorous operation criteria necessitates a high level of design expertise, qualifications/certifications, and testing capability.

Astronautics Corporation of America
Milwaukee, WI
414-449-4000
www.astronautics.com

Astronautics Corporation of America has been selected to provide an improved and upgraded electronic flight bag (EFB) system on all fielded and future production Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes. The new Block Point Five (BP5) EFB will be a form/fit replacement for Astronautics’ current Boeing EFB. The BP5 will give Boeing 787 operators additional functionality and will be compatible for use throughout all phases of airplane operations.

LORD Corporation
Cary, NC
877 ASK LORD (275 5673)
www.lord.com

LORD Corporation recently announced product qualification for their Improved Vibration Control System (IVCS) for the Boeing H-47 Chinook helicopter. Under contract with Boeing since Sept. 2013, LORD has now completed all program milestones and received final qualification approval for the state-of-the-art patented system that controls steady state and transient vibration on the twin-engine tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter.