Crystal Group brings rugged compute, networking systems for modern aerospace missions to WEST 2018

Feb. 5, 2018
SAN DIEGO, Calif. Crystal Group Inc., a designer/manufacturer of rugged computer and electronic hardware, in Hiawatha, Iowa, is at WEST 2018 in San Diego, California, this week demonstrating rugged servers, switches, and embedded computers – including the company’s RACE and FORCE computer systems well suited to manned and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) development and use – intended to help enhance system availability, readiness, and effectiveness in virtually all environments, including high altitudes.

SAN DIEGO, Calif.Crystal Group Inc., a designer/manufacturer of rugged computer and electronic hardware, in Hiawatha, Iowa, is at WEST 2018 in San Diego, California, this week demonstrating rugged servers, switches, and embedded computers – including the company’s RACE and FORCE computer systems well suited to manned and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) development and use – intended to help enhance system availability, readiness, and effectiveness in virtually all environments, including high altitudes.

“Current and future missions demand more reliable, capable, and rugged systems. Every solution Crystal Group is showing at WEST is intended to maximize system uptime and availability to help boost mission readiness and success in virtually all land, sea, and air environments, no matter how harsh or extreme,” says Crystal Group President Scott Kongable. “The latest additions to our growing product portfolio – including Crystal Group RACE and FORCE Rugged Servers, designed to speed development and deployment – exemplify our dedication to delivering the robust, rugged, and reliable technology warfighters need, now and for years to come.”

Crystal Group is showing the following at WEST 2018 in booth 2022:

Crystal Group RACERugged Autonomous Computer Equipment, including the new RACE0161 Rugged Serverand development kits, are designed to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of unmanned vehicles and systems. Crystal Group RACE servers combine impressive compute power, data-handling capabilities, and storage capacity in a compact, rugged system to put autonomous and unmanned projects on the fast track to the tactical edge – on land, in air, and at sea.

Crystal Group FORCE Fully Optimized Rugged Computer Equipment, including 1U, 2U, and 3U FORCE Rugged Servers, are high-bandwidth, low-latency, high-performance computing (HPC) systems optimized for size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C). Crystal Group FORCE Rugged Servers protect high-quality internal components, including Intel Xeon Scalable processors and state-of-the-art liquid cooling (able to dissipate an impressive 280W of CPU power), from harsh elements, such as shock and vibration, temperature extremes, and humidity. Crystal Group RS1.533S18G Rugged 1.5U Server is an all-new, rack-mounted, rugged 1.5U server measuring just 18 inches deep and weighing 25 to 30 pounds in an all-aluminum chassis with internal cross-braces and stabilized components to withstand high shock and vibration. An immediate, drop-in replacement for currently fielded systems, the RS1.533S18G features dual Intel processors, up to 512GB of DDR4 memory, up to nine removable SSDs, and USB 3.0, audio, and Gigabit LAN interfaces. Crystal Group RCS7150-12 and RCS7450-24 Rugged Switches combine enterprise-class functionality and MIL-SPEC environmental performance to provide reliable, high-throughput connectivity and data handling in deployed environments. Crystal Group scalable, rugged network switches bring Ruckus® ICX® enterprise-level, stackable switch technology to the tactical edge in rugged, lightweight, and compact enclosures – a choice of transit case or 19-inch rack with strain-hardened, aircraft-grade aluminum – designed to keep critical electronics connected in the face of even extreme elements, such as temperature extremes, high shock and vibration, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and humidity. Crystal Group RE1312 Rugged Embedded Computer offers reliable high compute processing ability in a compact carbon fiber chassis, weighing only 7 lbs. Intel Core-i7 Gen6 Dual or Quad Core processors, up to 32GB non ECC DDR4 of memory, six USB 3.0 ports, removable SSD storage options, and LGA 1151 socket for HDMI and DVI-I video output options. Ideal for data intensive applications including signal intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and transit case integration. The RE1312 operates over a wide temperature range from -40°C to 60°C and with 18V to 36V DC input. The unit complies with MIL-STD 461, CE102 and RE102 for EMC testing.
Crystal Group has a proven track record and reputation for providing quality products, services, and support, with its rugged hardware deployed on more than 500 military programs. Crystal Group has delivered more than 5,000 servers and critical system capabilities to the U.S. Navy via the Automated Digital Network System (ADNS), Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS), and more. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Integrated Logistics Support in Charleston, South Carolina, reports a considerably low Crystal Group hardware failure rate of approximately 1.6% and no dead-on-arrival (DOA) units to date, over a nine-year period. WEST 2018, the sea service conference and exposition co-sponsored by Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) International and the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), takes place February 6 – 8 in San Diego, California.

Crystal Group Inc., maker of rugged computer hardware, specializes in the design and manufacture of custom and commercial rugged servers, embedded computing, networking devices, displays, power supplies, and data storage for high reliability in harsh environments. An employee-owned small business founded in 1987, Crystal Group provides the defense, government and industrial markets with in-house customization, engineering, integration, configuration management, product lifecycle planning, warranty, and support services.

Crystal Group products meet or exceed IEEE, IEC, and military standards (MIL-STD-810, 167-1, 461, MIL-S-901); are backed by warranty (5+ year) with in-house support; and are manufactured in the company’s Hiawatha, Iowa, USA, facility certified to AS9100C:2009 and ISO 9001:2008 quality management standards.


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    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+.

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