CompactPCI Serial has proven to be a beneficial technology upgrade for a number of embedded systems designers accustomed to working with the legacy CompactPCI platform. Not only does CompactPCI Serial bring modern serial interfaces and a ruggedized connector scheme into play, but it also provides significant cost advantages while adhering to many known design principles, lessening a developer’s need to learn a new and complex technology.

The Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA® or ATCA®) is a series of open standard computing platform specifications originally ratified in 2002 to meet the needs of carrier grade communications equipment, primarily for core network telecommunications applications. In the 11 years since ATCA products first appeared on the market, there have been numerous advances in the governing standard, the products available, and the products and applications that are driving its adoption and growth.

Over the last several years, the Army has initiated and implemented a Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS). The LTAS provides modular armor protection for vehicles that vary dependent upon threat levels. The B-Kit consists of both transparent armor and opaque armor and provides a higher level of protection for the troops. They can be readily stored, applied, or removed by troops in the field per mission requirements.

L-3 Communications announced that its Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) division has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. The company will build two F-16 Block 52 Full Mission Trainers (FMTs) for the Iraqi Air Force.

The requirements for smaller size, lower weight, and reduced cost in space and defense systems are driving demands for improved power-management solutions. Integrated DCto- DC converters that are designed for hi-rel applications, such as POL buck regulators, offer considerably smaller size and lighter weight than similar multi-chip technologies. The use of a single chip improves reliability issues related to assembly and, with these single- chip POL buck regulators, system designers benefit from improved efficiency and design flexibility.

The Beam Irradiance on Target System (BITS) is a high energy laser (HEL) sensor array that directly measures the beam irradiance profile of HEL weapons. The BITS is a sensor array composed of 105 sensors arranged in a hexagonal pattern over a circular area and it is designed to withstand direct exposure to continuous wave (CW) lasers at threat irradiance levels. The sensor array spatially and temporally samples HEL beam profiles and is the only reusable and direct (on target) measurement system of its type. The BITS represents the state-of-the-art in directed energy test and evaluation HEL sensors.

You suddenly find yourself pinned down by enemy gunfire. What do you do? Whip out your smartphone and call for an airstrike? Yes, if the U.S. Marine Corps has its way.