An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly referred to as a drone is a remotely piloted aircraft. UAVs come in two varieties: some are controlled from a remote location, and others fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans using more complex dynamic automation systems. Currently, UAVs perform reconnaissance as well as attack missions.
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Committing Heresy
Since the invention of the integrated circuit—and every evolution in chip density and capability—there have been the Chicken Littles that claim this evolution means the death ofRead More...
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PCI/104-Express, PC/104 and EPIC SBCs Roundup
SBC Provides Right-Sized PC/104 Solution PC/104 has always shined in defense applications that need a modest amount of computer power. Adlink Technology has released the AmproRead More...
Multicore Processor Boards Push the Compute-Density Envelope
Processor architectures sporting multiple CPU cores on the same device have moved swiftly from the exotic and into the mainstream desktop and sever realm. Gone now are the days whenRead More...
PCI Express Breathes New Life into the PC/104 Realm
Many military system designers select PC/104 because its ultra-small, 3.55-in. x 3.775-in. form factor enables an off-the-shelf solution for applications that may previously have beenRead More...
The Customer Shall Judge
As a member of the trade press I can’t hide a little bit of glee when controversies erupt in the standards-based embedded computer industry. That stuff never fails to provide juicyRead More...
End-to-End UAV Messaging over Unreliable Data Links
In the complex software environments of both aircraft and ground station, many applications must communicate. Historically, developers built these as complex independent systems,Read More...
Stand-Alone Rugged Boxes Come into their Own
Technology developments that reduce complexity and enhance usability are always a welcome addition to military applications. That need is being fueled by the increasing availability ofRead More...
The Inside Track
Army Orders More COTM Systems for MRAP Vehicles DataPath is providing MobiLink Technologies communications on-the-move (COTM) systems to a deployed U.S. Army unit in support ofRead More...
UAVs Embrace the Benefits of Direct Spray Cooling
It goes without saying that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are playing an ever expanding role in today’s military operations. Not only are the numbers of UAVs exploding, but theRead More...
Multicore Solutions Target a Variety of Emerging Military Needs
Embedded developers in many arenas are constantly facing competitive pressure to provide more application features and improve performance capabilities. As a result, it’s becomeRead More...
COTS Products
3U cPCI Board and Rack Family Satisfies Extreme Thermal Needs CompactPCI, particularly in its 3U flavor, is no longer the new kid on the block in the military market. It’s paidRead More...
Large UAVs Ramp Up Sensor Processing Capabilities
The military’s rapid move toward IP-based, network-centric architectures is driving a number of design considerations for current and next-generation embedded COTS subsystems deployedRead More...
FPGA Boards and Systems Boost UAV Payload Compute Density
Large UAV platforms–like Global Hawk, Predator, Fire Scout, Taranis and others–have a seemingly endless appetite for greater onboard compute density. The payloads aboard those systemsRead More...
UAVs Take Front Row Seat
The start of the year is a good time to take the pulse of the industry–and with a mood of uncertainty in the air, this is no ordinary January. To kick off the year, I recently calledRead More...
New Practices Revamp Thermal and Airflow Analysis
Knowing how electronic components and enclosures respond to severe fluctuations in temperature and airflow is essential knowledge–knowledge that is critical before the system isRead More...
Small Victories
Systems including small UAVs, robotics, mission-specific handheld systems, intelligent munitions and many others have one thing in common: a desire for small form factor embeddedRead More...
The Inside Track
NASA Taps Harris’ Software for Constellation Launch Control Program NASA Kennedy Space Center has selected Harris’ OS/COMET telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) software for theRead More...
Minimizing UAV Payloads with Ultra-Compact Computing
New generations of defense imaging systems, using sophisticated sensor technologies, generate invaluable information for modern warfare. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and laser radarRead More...
Military I/O Solutions Look Beyond 1553
Tried and true I/O schemes, such as MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429, remain popular for pure control applications. But they’re bandwidth-limited by today’s standards. A slew of multipurposeRead More...
Small UAV Payloads Wrestle with SWaP Challenges
All branches of the DoD are investing heavily in UAV development and procurement. Within the Small UAV segment of that market the variety of platforms and volume of systems scheduledRead More...
Fabric-Based Strategy Doubles Up on UAV Payload Functions
In recent years, the aerospace industry, particularly in the military market, has seen the proliferation of UAV in a variety of end-use applications. The applications now includeRead More...
The Inside Track
GD C4 Systems to Equip Stryker Brigade with New Land Warrior System General Dynamics C4 Systems has been awarded a $70 million contract to equip the 5th Brigade, 2nd InfantryRead More...
Direct Spray Cooling Widens Choices in Harsh Airborne Environments
There’s no doubt that demand is on the rise for ever more computing density. Military platforms such as radar and image processing, electronic warfare, signal processing, command andRead More...
Unmanned Systems Face a Changing Market
The future of unmanned systems is here and the market is rapidly changing. The last year has seen the largest influx of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehiclesRead More...
The Inside Track
Wind River Tapped for X-47B Navy-UCAS Control/Mission System Northrop Grumman Corporation has selected Wind River VxWorks 653 as the device software platform for its X-47BRead More...
Processor Mezzanine Boards Ascend to New Levels of Performance
Because microprocessors and memory—which comprise the computing core of embedded systems—evolve at a much quicker pace than other electronics, the idea of separatingRead More...
Cots Products
20-Inch 2U Chassis for Trenton 32 Gbyte Boards The days when military system developers did everything themselves are long gone. They’d much rather find building blocks to pieceRead More...
Military I/O Solutions Blend Functions and Fabrics
While the basic challenges of military I/O haven’t changed—it’s still all about linking the analog world of sensors, actuators, motors and so on, with the digitalRead More...
The Future Revolves Around FPGAs
When people think “summer,” visions of a slower pace, time off and less stress come to mind. In many industries summer is indeed a time when business slows down. I wish it were so inRead More...
COTS Products
Controller Adds Graphics to StackableUSB USB for years went underutilized in military embedded applications. That’s starting to change as uses from the technology presentRead More...
The Inside Track
Mercury Delivers Aegis Weapon System Upgrade for Lockheed Martin Mercury Computer Systems has delivered on an initial order and received a follow-on order from Lockheed Martin for theRead More...
The Inside Track
ITT Awarded JTRS Support Contract ITT has been awarded a $22.9 million contract for Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) Software In-Service Support (SwISS)Read More...
Small Form Factor Realm Churns out Boards and Standards
Small embedded computers—in both standard and non-standard form factors—are in high demand for military applications that are extremely space- or weight-constrained or whereRead More...
Five That Push the Computing Envelope
Somehow every year I find it an absolute shock that the month of January falls immediately after December. You'd think my many years in the publishing industry would help me get wiseRead More...
Common Computing Architecture Wins for UAV Programs
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the military has skyrocketed as UAVs have proventheir military worth in Afghanistan and Iraq. UAVs are credited with saving soldiers'Read More...
Small UAV Tap the Rich Variety of Embedded Options
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) were originally developed to take the soldier out of harm's way and have come a long way since the days of "large" surveillance drones like the PredatorRead More...
Small UAVs Step up to Advanced Comms Capabilities
The brisk investment in UAV development and procurement continues across all branches of the DoD. And that situation isn't expected to change under the current Administration. InRead More...
ATCA and 10 GbE Primed for Military Service
A significant change in the military equipment market is a shift in focus for equipment development. Electronic warfare driven by C4ISR is gaining favor over big-ticket weaponsRead More...
Next-Gen Processor Technology Redefines Compute Density
The demands of today's advanced military applications require system architects to constantly push the design envelope. These demands are coming from multiple fronts. The militaryRead More...
New Solutions Attack the Defense Industry’s Most Compute-Centric Problems
There's a trend that should be obvious, but is often overlooked at higher echelons of the defense industry: More and more of system functionality is now implemented as software runningRead More...
GPU-based Processing Solves Persistent Surveillance Challenges
Persistent surveillance requires highly compute-intensive imaging capabilities because the aerial vehicle must remain (on demand) in an area to detect, locate, characterize,Read More...
Inside Track
Parvus Supplies Payload Interface Computers for MQ-5B Hunter UAV Parvus' DuraCOR 810 mission computers have been integrated into Northrop Grumman's MQ-5B Hunter Unmanned AircraftRead More...
Conduction-Cooled cPCI Lands a Secure Place in Military Systems
Now with over eighteen years of experience under its belt, CompactPCI can claim to offer all the factors that attract military decision makers. An expanding set of conduction-cooledRead More...
UAV Payloads Focus on Autonomy, ISR and Comms
As the use, design and planning of military UAVs matures, the DoD has adopted a strategy of closely pairing its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) programs with itsRead More...
