As military and aerospace systems rely on increasingly sophisticated sensors, processors, and displays, choosing the right video bus can have a major impact on system performance. Is Ethernet the best choice — or do mission-critical applications demand a protocol specifically optimized for video?

In this QuickChat, Sam McGrail of Military & Aerospace Electronics speaks with Tim Keller, director of airborne and mission system strategy at Great River Technology, about the tradeoffs involved in selecting video protocols for aerospace video systems. Keller compares 4 Ethernet protocols (Best Effort, TTE, AFDX, TSN) against 4 Video protocols (ARINC 818, DVI, DisplayPort, SDI), examining critical considerations such as bandwidth, certifiability, flexibility, jitter, and end-to-end latency.

The discussion explores why low-latency video is especially important in mission-critical avionics, from head-up displays and enhanced vision systems to hypersonic platforms. Keller also explains how uncompressed, high-bandwidth video and precise timing requirements can influence system architecture and protocol selection.

Watch the full QuickChat today to learn how engineers can evaluate Ethernet, ARINC 818, and other video bus technologies — and determine which protocol best meets the demanding requirements of modern aerospace and defense applications.