RTI middleware powers General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' UAS ground-control station

WASHINGTON, 7 Aug. 2007.Real-Time Innovations' middleware is being used in the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station (GCS). A recent flight demonstration on a mission-configured MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system (UAS) validated GA-ASI's major upgrade of the Advanced Cockpit GCS using RTI's networking middleware, which was completed in 14 months.

The Advanced Cockpit GCS represents state-of-the-art hardware and software technology. It leverages STANAG 4586 architecture, providing interoperability across many UASs, including GA-ASI's Predator, Predator B, Sky Warrior Alpha, and Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft systems.

The GCS uses intuitive controls and information displays, touch-screen technology, improved synthetic video, and fused situational-awareness data. The design includes a Common Operating Picture and complete control station for a pilot operator.

RTI middleware is part of the software communications architecture that GA-ASI has implemented for its Advanced Cockpit GCS. The GCS makes use of RTI's publish-subscribe communications model, which allows any system component to subscribe to the incoming aircraft telemetry stream for such parameters as latitude and longitude, pitch, roll, and airspeed parameters.

GA-ASI chose RTI middleware because it quickly provided the needed real-time functionality. For instance, one architectural feature that attracted GA-ASI engineers was RTI's real-time reliability protocol built on the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

RTI middleware also allows GA-ASI to connect multiple workstations, enabling a pilot at one station to work closely with a sensor operator at a different station.