Passenger Map Display
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has unveiled its new Hi-Focus maps for its Airshow 4200 moving map and information system. In addition to the aircraft’s flight path, these new high-resolution maps are to show aircraft passengers such details as rivers, roads, buildings and other features on their travel route and destination. Collins claims the Hi-Focus maps offer more than 60 times the detail and resolution of previous maps. With a worldwide standard resolution of 49 feet (15 m) per pixel, they can provide map views of approximately 43 square miles (70 square km). Higher-resolution map data (up to 3.3 feet [1m] per pixel) also is available to show maps of more than 300 cities worldwide. Satellite photos were used to produce the maps. A baseline set of Hi-Focus maps has been developed and integrated with the standard Airshow 4200 worldwide map package. Visit www.rockwellcollins.com.
Freezing Rain Sensor
Sacramento, Calif.-based All-Weather Inc. recently unveiled its Model 6495 freezing rain sensor, which has been FAA-approved for use in U.S. airports. The sensor, which is part of All-Weather’s Series 900 Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), detects freezing rain from the change in the probe tip’s oscillating frequency. It senses icing conditions at temperatures from 0 degrees C (32 degrees F), then analyzes the conditions using the AWOS freezing rain algorithm. The analyzed data is transmitted for remote display to airport personnel and flight crews. Changes in conditions are detected even during accumulation of ice, frost or wet snow. The Model 6495 sensor sheds water, eliminating false signals due to refreezing at the unit’s base. Visit www.allweatherinc.com.
Access Controller
Data Device Corp. (DDC), Bohemia, N.Y., is now demonstrating its new GigEXTREME ET-71000 intelligent Gigabit Ethernet network access controller, designed to reduce host processor utilization for controlling data transfer. The host processor is therefore free to perform more critical operations. Utilization of central processor units (CPUs) is reduced to less than 1 percent with the ET-71000’s TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) off-load engine, according to DDC. This compares to 50 percent CPU utilization for the single-board computer’s native port, while maintaining identical throughput. ET-71000 conduction-cooled cards, with front and rear panel options, operate over a temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees C (-40 to 185 degrees F) and feature a dual-redundant architecture with either autonomous failover or dual independent channels, supporting 10/100/1000Base-T or 1000Base-SX physical layer options. Visit www.ddc-web.com.
Aerial Surveillance Software
Video software that supplies real-time processing, enhancement, visualization and analysis to covert aerial reconnaissance into intelligence has been developed by Pyramid Vision, a division of Sarnoff Corp., Princeton, N.J. TerraSight, designed for military use on unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), comprises the following elements: data manager, providing real-time acquisition, processing and synchronization of video; media player, allowing for viewing, playing and video enhancement; and 3D visualizer, providing the real-time display of video and intelligence data over a 3-dimensional map. With these elements, operators can find, identify, track, target and engage threats, while also allowing collaboration and decision making up and down the command chain. Visit www.pyramidvision.com.
Transfer Switches
A new 40-GHz transfer switch with 2.9-mm connectors, designed for automatic test equipment (ATE) applications, has been introduced by Dow-Key Microwave, Ventura, Calif. It is offered with a latching or fail-safe actuator. Both versions are available with actuator coils designed for 12, 15, 24 and 28 volts. The transfer switch part number is P/N 411CY-4311. Visit www.dowkey.com.
Troubleshooting Kit
Fluke Corp., Everett, Wash., recently introduced its Model 1587/ET electronic troubleshooting kit, which combines the company’s 1587 insulation multimeter, i400 current clamp, and Model 62 mini infrared thermometer in a single case. The insulation multimeter combines a digital multimeter and an insulation tester to provide insulation resistance testing up to 2 GÙ¬ with five output voltages, ranging from 50 to 1,000 volts. The i400 can be used with the insulation multimeter in order to measure current without breaking the circuit. And the Model 62 allows the user to check for hot spots with a temperature range of -30 to 500 degrees C (-20 to 932 degrees F). The Model 1587/ET kit is priced at $699. Visit www.fluke.com.
Data Manager
ICS, part of Radstone Embedded Computing, has announced an upgrade to its daqPC data acquisition, storage and network system. It previously provided a recording and playback speed of 400 Mbytes/s but now delivers 600 Mbytes/s. This rate increase "implies" that a 200-KHz-per-channel sample rate and up to 1,500 channels of data can be recorded in real time, according to ICS. The company’s new PC-based sensor processing solution can be tailored for specific user requirements and is available in rack-mount and portable versions. The daqPC is integrated for real-time applications that require acquisition, processing and archiving of analog input signals. It incorporates ICS analog input/output products, which provide high channel count and/or high bandwidth capability. Visit www.radstone.co.uk.
Radome
A new nose radome for the Bombardier Challenger and CRJ has been designed by Saint-Gobain Flight Structures, Ravenna, Ohio. The design features internal lightning diverters and composite components. It incorporates Norton Armor to protect against in-flight erosion and damage, and Stormview, designed to provide enhanced radar vision through better signal transmission. The new radome has received FAA STC-PMA approval and meets Class A and Category 1 requirements for RTCA DO-213. Visit www.radome.com.
Testing Options
San Diego-based California Instruments Corp. recently released ABD test options, which allow for the testing of electrical and electronic products used on board Airbus aircraft. The test options–which are for the company’s iX, Ls/Lx and MX series of programmable power supplies–conform to Airbus test standard ABD0100.1.8, "Electrical and Installation Requirements." One of the standards that applies to avionics and cabin electronics operated on AC or DC aircraft, ABD0100.8 verifies that a product used on an Airbus airframe can handle the voltage and frequency variations that occur during aircraft operation. The tests are based on the RTCA DO-160, Section 16, standard used in commercial aviation; however, Airbus opted to change test levels and durations. Visit www.calinst.com.
Inductors, Transformers
San Diego-based Pulse has introduced new off-the-shelf inductors and transformers for military and aerospace power applications. The SLED PL8100 series of rail-mount inductors includes a ruggedized header, designed for durable board connections. The SLIC PL8200 and PL8300 series contain self-leaded package transformers and inductors with ruggedized construction. And the POGO PL 8400 series of open-construction, pad-mounted transformers was designed for robust board mounting. The POGO and SLED transformers and inductors have pad or rail mounting configurations for both surface board mounting and electrical connections. Visit www.pulseeng.com/milaero.
Signal Generator
A 100-MHz quadrature, direct digital synthesizer (DDS) table-top signal processor with 48-bit frequency resolution has been introduced by Novatech Instruments Inc., Seattle, Wash. The Model 408A features simultaneous cosine, sine (quadrature) and ACMOS/TTL (automatic customer message outputting system/transistor-to-transistor logic) outputs up to 100 MHz. It also features RS232 serial control and external clock input. The 408A has preprogrammed frequency sweep, FSK, BPSK, Chirp and single tone modes, and it can be integrated into programmable test stations and other applications requiring multiple and frequency agile outputs. The 408A is priced at $795. Visit www.novatech-instr.com.
Video Modules
Heim Data Systems Inc., Belmar, N.J., has added to its range of signal interfaces a new compact, high channel capacity module for the acquisition of video, pulse-code modulation (PCM) and avionics bus data. The new video module can record and replay data from up to four NTSC/PAL/SECAM (National Television System Committee/phase alternation by line/sequential color and memory) sources, together with four audio channels. Each of these plug-in modules has up to eight different sensor inputs, designed to provide significant signal capacity. The Mil-Std-1553 module can record up to eight dual-redundant buses. The user can vary data bandwidth and picture quality thanks to selectable maximum data rates employed in the MPEG-2 (moving picture expert group-2) digitization and compression. Visit www.heimdata.com.
Miniature Connectors
Off-the-shelf nano-miniature connectors built to meet Mi-Dtl-32139 specifications have been introduced by Omnetics, Minneapolis, Minn. The Bi-Lobe Nanos come in various sizes, including 9, 15, 21, 25, 31, 37, 51 and 65 pin counts at 25 mil pitch. They also come in different designs and formats, ranging from wire-to-wire interconnects to surface-mount technology (SMT) and flex mounting configurations. The Bi-Lobe Nanos mimics the older, larger Micro-D connectors but at reduced sizes and weights. Custom or modified designs are available. Visit www.omnetics.com.
MPEG Encoder
A real-time, moving picture expert group (MPEG) video/audio encoder, the Model M503, has been introduced by Aitech Defense Systems Inc., Chatsworth, Calif. The new encoder was developed for military and other rugged applications, such as recording mission data in advanced target-tracking weapons systems and transmitting video/audio surveillance data to unmanned reconnaissance vehicles. It is implemented on a standard PCI mezzanine card (PMC) that encodes either National Television System Committee (NTSC) or phase alternation by line (PAL) video into an MPEG-2 transport stream. The M503 enables in-the-field video and audio compression and transmission. Visit www.rugged.com.
PCI-X Compatible Cards
AIM has introduced its fourth generation, PCI-X compatible cards for Mil-Std-1553 test, simulation and monitoring applications. The Model APX1553-2 is a dual-stream, dual-redundant card, and the APX1553-1 is a single-stream, dual-redundant card. Both are provided on a PCI-X-compatible, short-length card format. The new cards use one or two 400-MHz Xscale processors for the bus interface units and an additional 400-MHz Intel IOP80219 application support processor. The APX1553 cards are available as full function, single function and simulator-only versions. They include an onboard IRIG-B (Inter-Range Instrumentation Group, time code format B) time code generator/decoder and can monitor or stimulate up to eight discrete input/output signals. Visit www.aim-online.com.
Flight Data Log
A system that uses GPS, a Windows-specific personal digital assistant (PDA) installed in each aircraft, and special software has been combined in a package designed to produce an automatic flight data log to monitor fleet aircraft and engine use. Tech-Triebwerke, Stuttgart, Germany, has developed such a device, using its ANGEL (aircraft numeric gas turbine emulation lab) software, which collects aircraft data and then presents it in graphic form. The system also includes a GPS module, called GATE GPS (GPS additionally transfer equipment). The data log would portray a PDA-integrated software log, with automatic flight data recordings of respective positions, diverse altitudes and airspeeds, descent, total time, total miles, date, time, climb rates and hour in service. All data would be transferred to a host computer in an operations center via e-mail or general radio packet system (GRPS). With the use of an additional software module, called the "Brain Module, the host computer can calculate fuel flow, engine data and cost per hour, as well as assist in troubleshooting. Visit www.tech-triebwerke.de.
Torque Transducers
The Force/Torque Division of PCB Piezontronics Inc., Depew, N.Y., has introduced new rotating torque transducers, which utilize non-contact, rotary transformers to send excitation voltage to, and receive measurement signals from, the strain-gage instrumented rotating sensor element. The rotary transformer design eliminates the need to replace worn brushes. The transducers’ flange and splined shaft design is meant for use in torque studies on cantilevered aerospace hydraulic motors and pumps, but it also is applicable for dynamometers for combustion engines, drive shafts, transmissions, fans and electric motors. Custom designed units can be produced for alternate measurement ranges and speeds. Visit www.pcb.com.
VXI/PXI Test System
Phase Matrix Inc., San Jose, Calif., and National Instruments Corp., Austin, Texas, have joined to develop a hybrid VXI/PXI microwave test system. It allows PXI users to leverage the radio frequency/microwave capabilities of VXI technology with the attributes of PXI technology, including small size, ease of software configuration, and high-speed bus attributes. According to the two companies, the system uses a "synthetic instrument paradigm" that employs such core hardware components as up converter/synthesizer, down converter, arbitrary function generator, digitizer and high-speed input/output. The paradigm defines the measurement capability and digital signal processing of the system through LabVIEW software. Visit www.natinst.com and www.phasematrix.com.
Oscilloscopes
Agilent Technologies Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., now offers 100-MHz portable digital storage and mixed-signal oscilloscopes (DSOs/MSOs). The 6000 Series provides a real-time sample rate of 2 GSa/s on each channel and a 4+16-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope in the 100-MHz segment. The Oscilloscopes feature waveform viewing and measurement insight for 8- and 16-bit embedded system designers. To reduce debugging time, the oscilloscopes can have 16 logic-timing channels added. Visit www.agilent.com.
Design Tool
I-Logix, Andover, Mass., has incorporated new Domain Specific Language (DSL) capabilities into the Rhapsody 6.1 software development tool. This is meant to enhance the customization functionality. Now, according to I-Logix, systems engineers can develop Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF)-compliant systems "quickly and easily," as well as simulate the design and detect errors early in the design cycle. (DoDAF is the aerospace and defense industry’s modeling language.) Visit www.ilogix.com.
Board Support
LynuxWorks, San Jose, Calif., claims to be the first real-time operating system (RTOS) supplier to provide a board support package (BSP) supporting Intel’s IA-32 architecture for DO-178B certifiable solutions. With this BSP, the LynxOS-178 commercial off-the-shelf operating system incorporates such features as time and space partitioning, multiprocess/multithread, open application programming interfaces, up to 1 GByte RAM support, and C++ enhancements to the IA-32 architecture. Visit www.lynuxworks.com.
GPS DVD
A DVD titled "Flying the Garmin GPSMAP 396," narrated by Richard Collins, has been made available for $24.95 by Sporty’s. Collins explains the system’s basic operation, discusses the XM satellite weather integration, and shows how pilots who fly both visual and instrument flight rules can utilize portable data link technology. He also shows how the Garmin product provides terrain proximity warning, NEXRAD radar, lightning, text weather and temporary flight restrictions. Visit www.sportys.com.
Ethernet Switch Card
PGR8, a new unmanaged, 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch PMC card, has been introduced by Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, San Diego, Calif. The rugged, conduction-cooled module allows gigabit switched networks to be built into existing embedded systems. It provides integrated, 8-port, layer-2 switching and supports 8K unicast MAC addresses and packets up to 9,728 bytes in size. The card is compliant with IEEE 802.3 and compatible with 10, 100 and 1000BaseT networks. It supports up to 8K unicst MAC addresses. Visit www.cwembedded.com.
Test Instruments
Teradyne, North Reading, Mass., has announced its new Di-Series of C-size VXI-based digital test instruments. It builds on, and is compatible with, the company’s M9-Series. It will directly run M9-Series programs and translate digital programs from Teradyne’s L-Series testers. The Di-Series is suited for testing box-level line replaceable units (LRUs) or weapons replaceable assemblies (WRAs). It features configurable, independently programmed channels designed to address test requirements ranging from board through subassembly test. Teradyne enhanced the new instruments’ performance with the ability to directly test differential logic, including high-speed, low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS). Visit www.teradyne.com.
Precise Clock
Symmetricom, San Jose, Calif., has announced its XLi IEEE 1588 Grandmaster clock with GPS reference. The new IEEE protocol enables synchronization over Ethernet local area networks (LANs) to 100 nanoseconds accuracy with only a network connection. The previous de facto standard, using IRIG-B with dedicated coaxial cable, provided 1 to 10 microsecond time of day. Typical synchronization accuracies available previously over standard Ethernet LANs using the network time protocol were 1 to 10 milliseconds, according to Symmetricom. Boeing is the first customer to select the clock, planning to deploy it in the B787’s new network-based flight test data system. Visit www.symmttm.com.
Plug-In Support
DDC-I, Phoenix, Ariz., has announced a new plug-in for the Wind River Eclipse-based Workbench development suite. It provides multilanguage support (Ada, C and Embedded C++), targeting the VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS) on Intel 80×86 (including VxSim) and PowerPC 603 and 604 core processors. DDC-I’s SCORE development tools include compiler, linker, disassembler, library management and object dumper. These are seamlessly integrated into the Wind River Workbench suite and do not open another unique window. Through the project management view of the Workbench tools, the user can compile, link and build both downloadable kernel modules and real-time processes with mixed language code, including Ada 95, C, Embedded C++ and Assembler. Visit www.ddci.com.
Drivers
The MathWorks, Natick, Mass., has developed drivers for its xPC Target rapid prototyping product to support hardware from Condor Engineering, Santa Barbara, Calif. With the new drivers, xPC Target can support both commercial (ARINC 429) and military (Mil-Std-1553) avionics data buses. Aerospace engineers who use Condor avionics boards can use model-based design, including xPC Target real-time testing software, for the design and testing of avionics systems. The integration of xPC Target with Condor’s avionics boards is meant to enable engineers to use a high-performance, host-target prototyping and testing environment to connect Simulink and Stateflow models to physical systems, and to execute them in real-time, using Condor avionics data bus solutions. Visit www.mathworks.com and www.condoreng.com.
Signal Analysis System
A PC-based signal analysis system designed to record, analyze and play back broadband, intermediate frequency (IF) signals has been introduced by ICS, Montreal, Quebec. The SinglFy is a portable system that is housed in a rugged case measuring 3 by 7 by 15 inches (7.6 by 17.8 by 38 cm). For applications requiring removable drives it also is available in a 19-inch (48-cm) rack-mountable 1U server. Other packaging options are available, as well, and the Signlfy provides external connections for a mouse, keyboard and video display. It also provides long-term record capability and offers time domain, frequency domain and waterfall displays. Visit www.ics-ltd.com.
Transponder
Microair Avionics Pty., Bundaberg West, Australia, recently gained approval for its T2000SFL transponder. It received a technical standard order (TSO) and is compliant to software Level C and environmental standard DO-160D. Its peak power output is 178 watts minimum, 200 watts nominal and 250 watts maximum. Options with the T2000SFL are an encoder and a range of antennas and wiring harnesses. Visit www.microair.com.
Display/Mission Computer Aitech Systems Ltd., working with the LAHAV Division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), has placed in production a new display and mission computer. It was designed to run the display and mission management software developed by IAI LAHAV. The computer is DO-178B-compliant and includes a Mil-Std-704-compliant power supply. It can drive four digital multifunction displays simultaneously, displaying synthetic graphics with instrumentation, navigation and mission data, as well as multiple sources of video. The computer includes an array of communications interfaces, including Mil-Std-1553, ARINC 429, Fast Ethernet, USB (for external removable mass storage devices), high-speed RS-422/485/232 serial input/output, and ARINC 708 weather radar equipment. Aitech designed the computer using a modular approach based on the VMEbus open architecture. Visit www.rugged.com.
Satellite Weather
Continual broadcast satellite weather can now be presented on Universal Avionics Systems Corp.’s MFD-640 multifunction display thanks to a new system by DAC International Inc., Austin, Texas. The CPU640, providing the computer power to run weather applications, will host either the XMWS satellite weather product or WSI InFlight Weather product. The CPU640 also accepts GPS information on the ARINC 429 bus, to be used by the weather software. It includes a DZUS-mounted cockpit video control panel for operating the weather application software. Universal’s MFD-640 display was designed, in part, to be an upgrade product to replace older Honeywell and Rockwell Collins multifunction displays. Visit www.dacint.com and www.uasc.com.
Software Toolset
Racal Instruments Inc., Irvine, Calif., recently announced a new software toolset, newWave, designed to facilitate the implementation and use of the newly approved signal definition standard, IEEE 1641. The new standard allows signals to be fully defined in a nonprocedural manner and the same standard-based signal to be used in multiple test environments and various situations. The newWave toolset enables signal definition exports into ATML, C++ and other test programming environments, and it provides a visual development environment for defining signals based on IEEE 1641. Visit www.racalinst.com.
Telephone Dialer/Adapter
Northern Airborne Technology Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia, now offers its PTA12-100 digital telephone dialer/adapter, a DZUS-mounted interface with touchscreen keypad and light-emitting diode (LED) display. It provides telecom control and standard dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) dialing capabilities. A handset also can be used with the PTA12-100 to provide satcom system access for the aircraft cabin. The new dialer/adapter can be used with various airborne telephone services, including Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat and airborne cellular. Visit www.northernairborne.com.
Accelerometers
Accelerometers that are about the size of a 1-inch (2.54-cm) cube have been made available by Jewell Instruments, Manchester, N.H. The LSM Series of accelerometers was designed to offer a wide input range and bandwidth features suitable for use in aerospace applications, such as altitude heading and reference systems (AHRS) and autopilots. The LSM Series has an input range of +/-0.5g to +/-20g and bandwidths from 70 to 160 Hz. Visit www.jewellinstruments.com.
Protection Networks
IRC Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas, has introduced a series of Schottky diode, termination and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection networks, providing design engineers with a means of terminating high-speed memory buses. The QDN Series networks are available in three circuit configurations designed to provide termination for both controlled and uncontrolled line terminations. The networks consist of 36 Schottkey diodes integrated in a single package. Visit www.irctt.com.