BAE Systems releases second-generation real-time operating system
Software engineers at BAE Systems in Johnson City, N.Y., are releasing the second generation of their company's real-time, life-critical operating system (RTOS) called CsLEOS. The RTOS is certifiable to DO-178B level A, has integrated fault-tolerant and hard-real-time capabilities, and is built from the ground up with a native ARINC-653 interface with no proprietary interface layers. The RTOS is for safety-critical applications in military, aerospace, telecommunications, and industrial control. The second-generation CsLEOS, an improvement on BAE's original RTOS of the same name, supports independently loadable applications, gives fast, predictable interaction between applications and the RTOS, and enables new applications to be built and installed without affecting existing applications. For more information contact BAE by phone at 800-295-3530, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.csleos.com/.
Amrel rugged notebook qualifies for explosive atmosphere use
The Rocky Patriot I rugged notebook computer from Amrel Corp in Arcadia, Calif., has passed independent laboratory tests of the machine's ability to operate in fuel-air explosive atmospheres without causing ignition, Amrel officials say. The tests at Consolidated Laboratories Inc. in Covina, Calif., tested the Rocky Patriot I computer following MIL-STTD-810F, method 511.4, procedure I. Results suggest that users could operate the Rocky Patriot I in and around special equipment that may produce fuel-air explosive atmospheres, such as military aircraft. Passing these tests enable Amrel officials to qualify the Rocky Patriot I computer for the U.S. Air Force Common Organizational Level Test program, otherwise known as COLT. For more information contact Amrel by phone at 800-882-6735, by post at 11801 Goldring Road, Arcadia Calif. 91006, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.amrel.com/home.html/.
Ballard unveils high-performance avionics databus interfaces
Officials of Ballard Technology in Everett, Wash., are introducing their OmniBus family of PCI and CompactPCI/PXI interface cards for MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-708/453, and ARINC 717/573 avionics databuses. The boards are available in single- or mixed-protocol configurations, and meet the growing demand for high channel counts of several avionics protocols, while providing abundant processing power for demanding applications, Ballard officials say. Also available is Ballard's CoPilot graphical Windows-based software to help operate several different channels and protocols. For more information contact Ballard by phone at 425-339-0281, by fax at 425-339-0915, by post at 3229A Pine St., Everett, Wash. 98201, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.ballardtech.com/.
DSCC releases standard drawings of VPT power devices
Officials of the U.S. Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) in Columbus, Ohio, are releasing standard military drawings (SMDs) for several DC-DC converter families from VPT Inc. of Bothell, Wash. With this certification, designers of military, aviation, and space systems have another resource for SMDs without long wait times or costliness of source control drawings, VPT officials say. By October company officials say VPT SMD qualified products usually will be available immediately from stock. For more information contact VTP by phone at 425-487-4850, by fax at 425-487-4802, by post at 17921 Bothell-Everett Highway, Suite 108, Bothell, Wash. 98012-6393, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.vpt-inc.com/.
Vista Controls strengthens graphics with Peritek acquisition
Leaders of Vista Controls Corp. in Santa Clarita, Calif., are bolstering their company's graphics capability with their recent acquisition of Peritek Corp. of Oakland, Calif. Vista parent company Curtiss-Wright Corp. in Roseland, N.J. "Peritek provided the best fit to the needs of our customers through its approach to controlling the graphics IP and utilizing the latest in ASIC and FPGA technologies," says Vista President Darwin Beckel. "Strengthening our graphics capability enables us to penetrate a broader range of programs, and Peritek's design philosophy of utilizing as few fast-changing PC components as possible parallels Vista Controls's philosophy of mitigating component obsolescence." For more information contact Vista by phone at 661-257-4430, by fax at 661-257-4782, by post at 28965 Avenue Penn, Santa Clarita, Calif. 91355, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.vistacontrols.com/.
BAE, Dy 4 collaborate on safety-critical embedded computers
Engineers at BAE Systems in Johnson City, N.Y., and Dy 4 Systems in Kanata, Ontario, are working together to provide the CsLEOS real-time operating system (RTOS) on applications using Dy 4 PowerPC single-board computers. The CsLEOS is a commercial off-the-shelf RTOS that uses brick-wall partitioning to implement ARINC-653 partitioning and FAA-DO-178B-level safety guidelines. The idea is to protect safety-critical functions from other processes running on the same hardware. This approach makes it possible to add, revise, and test system functions without re-certifying the entire application, which can reduce project lifecycle costs substantially, company officials say. For more information contact BAE's Larry Stone by phone at 607-770-3944, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Also contact Dy 4's Ian Stalker by phone at 613-599-9199, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Teledyne offers high-voltage relays for military and aviation uses
Engineers at Teledyne Relays in Hawthorne, Calif., are introducing their series 605-21- high-voltage DC solid-state relay, which is a half-size hockey-puck device for commercial aviation and commercial off-the-shelf military applications. The 10-amp 27-volt DC device offers high-power switching capability in a small package, short-circuit and overload protection, optical isolation, and low off-state leakage current for high off-state impedance. The relay has an aluminum base plate that serves as a heat sink, and operates in temperatures between -40 and 85 degrees Celsius. The relay also meets military standards for shock, vibration, and thermal shock, Teledyne officials say. For more information contact Teledyne Relays by phone at 800-596-3855, by fax at 323-241-1287, by post at 12525 Daphne Ave, Hawthorne, Calif. 90250, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.teledynerelays.com/.
Avnet to distribute military products from Pulse
Electronics distribution giant Avnet Inc. is set to stock and distribute catalog and custom military and aerospace components from Pulse, a Tecnitrol company in .San Diego. Avnet will carry Pulse products such as MIL-STD-1553 transformers and databus couplers, high-speed Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, and IEEE 1394B transceivers and transformers, active and passive delay lines, as well as power transformers. For more information contact Pulse by phone at 858-674-8100, by fax at 858-674-8262, by post at 12220 World Trade Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92128, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.pulseeng.com/.
