Jeppesen Software
A new Jeppesen product that includes JeppView electronic charts as well as flight planning applications is now available. NavSuite is the product of a Jeppesen strategy to integrate and package its services, and then price the package for less than the sum of the individual services. NavSuite is offered at three different service levels: NavSuite IFR, targeting the general aviation market, and NavSuite Continental and NavSuite Global, both targeting the business aviation market. NavSuite Global offers the full capacity of the JetPlan flight-planning engine, while NavSuite Continental offers a reduced flight planning feature set and lower cost. Visit www.jeppesen.com.
Military Aircraft Protection
Elisra Electronic Systems, Bene-Beraq, Israel, recently made available an aircraft self-protection system for military aircraft, which combines the capabilities of an advanced defensive aid suite (DAS) and electronic support measures (ESM) in a single line replaceable unit (LRU). The SPS 65V integrates three subsystems:
– A wideband digital receiver that detects pulse and continuous-wave (CW) radars within the low-band-to-18-GHz frequency range;
– A narrowband digital receiver add-on to the wideband receiver for detection CW, high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and low effective radiation power (ERP) radars; and
– Sensors that receive laser pulses aimed at aircraft.
The SPS 65V also incorporates provision for a chaff/flare controller and tie-in with missile warning and jammer systems.
Threats identified by the SPS 65V can be presented on a multifunction control/display unit or on an optional 3-inch display. It shows an alphanumeric and symbol presentation of the type of threat, as well as its angle of arrival, relative lethality, range and status. With accurate direction finding of received signals and geolocation, the SPS 65V is meant to offer significant intercept probability, swift response and a minimized sensor-to-shooter loop. Visit www.elisragroup.com.
Weather Stations
New compact weather stations from Columbia Weather Systems Inc., Hillsboro, Ore., come in three configurations: fix-mounted, vehicle-mounted and portable. The Orion weather station systems provide ultrasonic wind measurements and impact precipitation with no moving parts. They also give captive measurements for barometric pressure, temperature and humidity. Orion sensors meet FAA and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) specifications, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Cost of the Orion systems begin at $3,600. Visit www.columbiaweather.com.
Headsets
Sennheiser Electronic Corp., Old Lyme, Conn., has added two new headset models to its product line, the HME 110 and HMEC 450/BP-04. The HME 110 has closed headphones that have circumaural ear coupling to provide passive attenuation. The listening volume can be adjusted at the headset, and the ear cups can be folded to save space when carried.
The HMEC 450/BP-04 includes NoiseGard electronics and closed ear protector headphones, providing noise compensation of up to 40 decibels (dB). The headset features automatic shut-off with the BP-04 batter pack. If power to the NoiseGard is shut off, the HMEC450 works as a conventional passive headset. Visit www.sennheiserusa.com.
Air Data Module
Innovative Solutions & Support Inc. (IS&S) has introduced a new air data module, which includes all the functionality of its air data display unit but without the altimeter display. It provides reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) capability to business jet operators completing flat panel display upgrades. The module incorporates a digital air data computer with TSO C-106 and encoded altitude output, TSO C-88a. The host aircraft’s unique capabilities are contained in an installation configuration module, a separate line replaceable unit (LRU). New features are being added to the IS&S air data module to provide for multiple static source error correction (SSEC–characterizing the aircraft to correct pressure readings) curve capability.
In addition, IS&S has been awarded a series of additional technical standard orders (TSOs) for its flat panel display systems, which range in size from 8.4 to 20.1 inches. Following an initial group of seven TSOs gained in July 2004, the IS&S display system was recently awarded TSO C34e, C40c and C66c–standards covering such navigational aids as VOR, DME and ILS glideslope. Visit www.innovative-ss.com.
GPS/SBAS Receiver
Thales Navigation has unveiled its SkyNav GG12W GPS and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) receiver, designed to include "extensive anti-jam capabilities," according to a company official. The initial version of the receiver accommodates the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) and European geostationary navigation overlay system (EGNOS); subsequent versions are to operate with Russia’s global navigation satellite system (GLONASS). The GG12W meets FAA’s technical standard order (TSO) C145A/C146A certification requirements, including the RTCA DO-178B, Level B, software requirements and minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) DO-229C guidelines. It tracks up to 10 GPS and two SBAS satellites, with a "loss of lock" reacquisition time of less than three seconds. Visit www.thalesnavigation.com.
Single Board Computer Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing recently introduced a new, rugged single board computer (SBC), designed for military applications that require high-performance VME bus embedded computing in extreme environments. The board is powered by Intel’s low-power Pentium M (Dothan) and can be configured with either ultra-low voltage (1 GHz at 5 watts) or low voltage (1.4 GHz at 10 watts). It is designed to withstand up to 40 G shock and 0.15 g2/Hz vibration, per Mil-Std-810E specification, as well perform in temperatures ranging from -40 to 71 degrees C. The board, available in an air-cooled configuration, can be reconfigured as an IEEE 1101.2-compliant, conduction-cooled VME bus module. Visit www.cwcembedded.com.
Processing Engine
A baseband processing engine designed for high-speed computation, common in software-defined radios, has been introduced by Radstone Embedded Computing, Towcester, UK. The ICS-1580 includes four banks of synchronous dynamic RAM, four banks of high-speed QDRII static RAM, and two 128-Mbit flash memory devices. It features a user programmable Xilinx Virtex II Pro field programmable gate array (FPGA) surrounded with memory and high-speed input/output (I/O). A 64/66 PCI interface can be used for data I/O with legacy systems; modern applications can make use of the ICS-1580’s serial switched fabric capabilities, which provide aggregate bandwidth of 25 Gbits/s. Visit www.radstone.co.uk.
Adapter Cards
Data Device Corp. (DDC), Bohemia, N.Y., recently unveiled its second generation of FibreACCESS Fibre Channel network adapters. The new PMC modules offer the same functionality of the existing FibreACCESS network access controllers but at lower cost and reduced power consumption. Also, the rugged, low-profile transceiver option offers a footprint approximately 50 percent that of a standard small form factor, optical transceiver. This enables an increase in the cable bend radius and reduction in overall size and weight. The FibreACCESS cards offer such features as implicit login, Class 2 service, and extended link services. Visit www.ddc-web.com.
Switch Matrix
A CANbus-based Ethernet physical switch matrix with general-purpose instrument bus (GPIB) and Ethernet control interfaces has been made available by Dow-Key Microwave Corp., Ventura, Calif. The 5105 switch matrix, covering a 1-GHz bandwidth, is housed in a 3U rack-mountable chassis and can accept one to eight 1-by-4 switching modules. Installation and removal of the switching modules are from the rear panel. the 5105 was designed for Ethernet signal routing applications but also can be used as a building block for other automatic test equipment (ATE) applications. Visit www.dowkey.com.
Surface-Mount Crystal
An ultra-miniature ceramic surface-mount crystal designed for use in space-constrained devices is now offered by Fox Electronics, Fort Myers, Fla. The FX252B crystal, which measures 2.5 by 2 mm, is meant for such items as laptop computers, cell phones, PCMCIA cards, Bluetooth and portable test equipment. It offers a frequency range of 16 to 54 MHz, a frequency tolerance of +/-50 pulse position modulation (PPM), a frequency stability of +/-50 PPM, and an operating temperature range of -10 to 60 degrees C. Visit www.foxonline.com.
Data Acquisition/Recording
Heim Data Systems Inc., Belmar, N.J., has introduced its new D7000 data acquisition and recording system, featuring adaptable signal interfacing and interchangeable media cartridges. It was designed to allow direct replacement of legacy video and data recorders. The D7000 has an up to 256-Mbits/s total system data rate and can synchronize to external IRIG (interrange instrumentation group) and GPS time sources to provide sustained, accurate time tagging of recorded data. The D7000 also can be fitted with an integral GPS receiver. Visit www.heimdata.com.
Graphics/Video PMC
Aitech Defense Systems Inc., Chatsworth, Calif., has introduced it new graphics/video processing PCI mezzanine card, a commercial off-the-shelf product that provides two- and three-dimensional graphics processing. The M585 PMC includes encoding and decoding capabilities to accommodate multiple channels of video input, and it provides various high-resolution outputs. The M585 is based on the 3Dlabs Permedia3 graphics processor and supported by a 32-MB synchronous dynamic RAM frame buffer. Its double-buffered architecture features one buffer for display and another for data update.Visit www.rugged.com.
Kneeboards
Sporty’s Pilot Shop, Batavia, Ohio, offers military-spec kneeboards, a standard model and a lighted model. Constructed of injection-molded nylon, these kneeboards are used by U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots. Visit www.sportys.com.
Cable Assembly
W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., Elkton, Md., and the French firm, FCI, have joined to develop a new digital cable assembly for high-speed back-panel applications. The configuration combines Gore’s expertise in cable assemblies with FCI’s AirMax VS connection system. The two companies target such applications as large scale computing and automatic test equipment. Visit www.gore.com and www.portal.fciconnect.com.
Optical Receivers
Discovery Semiconductors Inc., Ewing, N.J., now offers 2.5-Gbit/s and 10-Gbit/s optical coherent receiver systems, which can detect multiple wave lengths and multiple modulation formats on one platform. In addition to the optical C and L bands, the systems can be used at wavelengths, such as 980 nanometers (nm), 1,064 nm, 1,310 nm and optical S band. Visit www.chipsat.com.
Operating System
LynuxWorks Inc., San Jose, Calif., has made available its BlueCat Linux embedded operating system for Applied Micro Circuits’ PowerPC 440EP processor, which offers speeds of up to 533 MHz. The operating system is based on the Linux 2.6 kernel. The 440EP features peripherals, including DDR SDRAM, and connectivity via Ethernet, USB, UARTs, IIC, SPI and PCI. Visit www.lynuxworks.com.