Accelerometer
Jewell Instruments, Manchester, N.H., has released a new series of compact accelerometers. The LSM accelerometers are approximately 1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes that can be used in radar leveling, fire control and autopilot applications. Visit www.jewellinstruments.com.
Test Software
Geotest-Marvin Test Systems Inc., Irvine, Calif., has released ATEasy 5.0, its new test executive and development studio software program. This new version of software supports development technologies, such as .NET assemblies and Source Safe integration. Visit www.geotestinc.com.
Switches
New from Dow-Key Microwave, Ventura, Calif., comes a family of multi-position switches for the automatic test equipment market. The switches come in six-, eight- or 12-pathway versions. Their operating frequency range is DC to 26.5 GHz. Visit www.dowkey.com.
GPS DVD
Sporty’s Pilot Shop has updated its GPS Techniques DVD to include the glass panel technology featured on the Garmin G1000 and Avidyne Entegra systems. The two-program DVD includes GPS Approaches and GPS En Route. Visit www.sportys.com.
Sensing Nodes
MicroStrain Inc., Williston, Vt., is offering an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4-compliant version of its Agile-Link wireless data logging transceiver. The modules can be used in test and measurement functions. Visit www.microstrain.com.
Helmet-Mounted Display
Rockwell Collins, Orlando, Fla., has introduced its Eye HUD helmet-mounted display (HMD) for cargo and utility helicopter operations. Based on research from the U.S. Army’s cancelled Comanche helicopter program, the monocular display uses Collins optics and BAE Systems symbol generation to provide situational awareness to pilots in day and nighttime conditions. The daytime configuration weighs 9.7 ounces (242 g) and the night version weighs 4 ounces (100 g). It shows the pilot head-up display (HUD) symbology, including aircraft flight, engine performance and weapons information. The unit can be expanded to include head tracking and weapons cueing capabilities. Offering full ranges of interpupillary distance and vertical adjustments, the Eye HUD HMD attaches to the standard aviator’s night vision imaging system (ANVIS) and fits on all types of military aviator helmets. Visit www.rockwellcollins.com.
Single Board Computer
New from Radstone Embedded Computing, Woodcliff Lake, N.J., is the CP1A 6U rugged CompactPCI PowerPC single board computer (SBC), developed to support the industry standards required by defense contractors. The first in Radstone’s new PowerPact6 family of products, it is based on the technology and architecture of Radstone’s latest VMEbus SBCs and builds on its PowerPact3 product family.
The CP1A features a Freescale 7448 PowerPC that runs at 1.4 GHz and the Marvell Discovery III integrated system controller, which combines a high-bandwidth memory controller, two PCI-X interfaces and communications peripherals on a single chip. The SBC also features several input/output options. The CP1A comes in air- and conduction-cooled versions and is designed for use in flight computers, engine management systems and mission computers in various aircraft, according to a company spokesman. Visit www.radstone.com.
PXI Controllers
National Instruments, Austin, Texas, has released two PXI controllers, the NI PXI-8195 and the NI PXI-8196, both of which use the Intel 915GM Express Chipset. The PXI-8195 contains a 1.5 GHz Intel Celeron M 370 processor, while the PXI-8196 contains a 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium M 760 processor. The PXI-8196’s processor boosts the controllers’ overall performance by 50 percent compared to those running a 2.5 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor. Both controllers feature dual-channel DDR2 memory with a capacity of 2 GB, and provide gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The PXI controllers are designed for applications that require analysis or system development like military and aerospace communications or automatic test equipment. Visit www.ni.com.
Cloud/Visibility Measurement
The new Ceilometer CL31 from the Vaisala Group, Vantaa, Finland, measures the base height of clouds and vertical visibility using pulse diode laser (lidar) and enhanced single lens optics technologies. The ceilometer has an effective range of 0 to 25,000 feet in all weather conditions and a minimum measurement cycle of two seconds. The CL31 fully is automatic with extensive self-diagnostics and was designed for aviation and meteorological applications. Visit www.vaisala.com.
Helmet Tracker
The Hy-BIRD from Ascension Technology, Burlington, Vt., is a new hybrid-design helmet tracker that combines optical and inertial technologies to provide 360 degrees of coverage. The fusion of the data streams enables constant, all-attitude tracking, even when the field of view is exceeded or light sources are blocked. The Hy-BIRD’s optical technology allows for six degrees-of-freedom tracking 240 times per second, while its hybrid mode tracks 70 to 75 times per second. In instances where the optical tracker loses line-of-sight contact with its light source, the inertial sensor continues to track yaw, pitch and roll angles until the optical sensor becomes operational. Visit www.ascension-tech.com.
Processor Card
A digital signal processor-based VXI card is the latest new product from North Atlantic Industries Inc., Bohemia, N.Y. The 65CS4 incorporates up to four synchro/resolver instrument measurement channels, up to four synchro/resolver instrument stimulus channels, or up to eight synchro/resolver converter grade stimulus channels and up to six programmable reference supplies. All of the unit’s functions are independent, can be programmed for either synchro or resolver formats and are formatted for single- or multi-speed applications. The C-sized VXI card can perform most synchro/resolver evaluations, calibration and test functions on avionics systems like navigation, flight control and full authority digital electronic control (FADEC). Visit www.naii.com.
Training Book
New from Avionics Communications Inc., Leesburg, Va., is a book written by Avionics Magazine founder Len Buckwalter titled Avionics Training: Systems, Installation and Troubleshooting. Written to explain avionics systems in simple terms, the book includes color photos and illustrations. It describes more than 30 different aircraft systems and their relationships with one another. It does away with acronyms and abbreviations, instead spelling them out. Avionics Training is available from the company for $64 per copy. Visit www.avionics.com.
Driver for RTOS
The new IB4X-VxWorks Infiniband driver from SBS Technologies, Albuquerque, N.M., is designed for VxWorks real-time operating systems with Internet Protocol over Infiniband and sockets direct protocol for Infiniband host channel adapters. The IB4X-VxWorks driver boasts up to 200 Mbits/s of throughput and was designed for embedded applications that require high-speed data transfers, such as radar or other image processing. Visit www.sbs.com.
Ethernet Switch
The new SwitchBox from Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, is a Gigabit Ethernet switch in a ready-to-deploy, rugged, single-slot chassis. The system measures 12 inches (30.4 cm) by 8.25 inches (21 cm) by 3 inches (7.6 cm) and can be added to any existing defense or aerospace platform to provide Gigabit Ethernet network connectivity. Built for harsh environments, the chassis is convection-cooled and rated to withstand shock and vibrations. The SwitchBox was designed for building intra-platform networks for military vehicles. Visit www.cwcembedded.com.