Freescale Semiconductor focuses on multicore for avionics
PARIS, 18 June 2013. Freescale Semiconductor’s executives and experts discussed innovations and the company’s strategy, solutions, and future developments for the aerospace and defense market during Paris Air Show.
The processing requirements of the aerospace and defense markets are increasing exponentially as systems demand more data and information to make intelligent decisions, says a spokesperson. Companies on those markets need fast signal processing, real-time image processing to enable autonomous decision making and provide image and data information quickly to control centers.
In addition, a major portion of defense budgets will be directed to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The number of sensors and the data they generate are increasing exponentially from first-generation UAVs to what will be seen in the future. The need for greater autonomous real-time decision making within the size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements of these platforms places greater demands on the processing capability within those systems.
Freescale collaborates closely with avionics manufacturers to facilitate certification of systems using multicore processors. “We have formed a working group with top commercial avionics manufacturers to define their requirements for advanced multicore processors being used in commercial avionics applications,” the spokesperson adds.
The Multicore for Avionics (MCFA) working group, which includes representatives from BAE Systems, BARCO, Boeing, EADS, ELBIT, GE Aviation, Hamilton Sunstrand, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, Thales, and Freescale, was established to help commercial avionics companies leverage the performance, power, and size advantages of sophisticated embedded multicore processors, such as those from Freescale.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.