Charge Converter
PCB Piezotronics, Depew, N.Y., introduced its 495B10 differential remote charge converter.
Differential sensors and signal conditioning electronics are used in flight test applications due to their common mode noise rejection. The rugged, low noise units convert a transducer’s differential high impedance charge input signal to a low impedance voltage output, supply the normal acceleration output and supply a separate integrated output for velocity. Visit www.pcb.com.
Coaxial Switch
Teledyne Relays, Hawthorne, Calif., introduced its Series CCR 33K miniature coaxial switch, designed for frequencies from DC to 33.5 GHz.
The latching single-pole, double-throw electromechanical switch offers an insertion loss repeatability of ±0.1dB across the full bandwidth.
On narrow band applications, the insertion loss repeatability can be as good as ±0.05dB with ultra low passive intermodulation, Teledyne said. Visit www.teledynerelays.com.
Air Sensor
Ametek Aerospace & Defense, Wilmington, Mass., introduced its AirProbe instrument, a device that combines multiple air sensor functions into a single unit.
The AirProbe provides measurements for static pressure (in millibars), temperature, angle of attack (in degrees) and built-in test status. Visit www.ametekaerodefense.com.
Power Controller
Data Device Corp., Bohemia, N.Y., released its Remote Power Controller for commercial off-the-shelf applications. Ruggedized for military use, the RP 26000 series has up to 16 user-programmable channels onboard and offers a reduction in weight and cost per channel over mechanical contactors and single-channel Solid-State Power Controller modules.
The maximum current-carrying capability for the card is 160A. The controller is conformal coated to provide moisture resistance and designed to withstand rugged military extremes of temperature, humidity, vibration and electromagnetic interference. Visit www.ddc-web.com.
Lithium-Ion Battery
Concorde Battery Corp., West Covina, Calif., will test its advanced prototype lithium-ion battery on the U.S. Navy’s new heavy lift CH-53K helicopter. Initial prototype batteries will be tested by the Navy for electrical performance, safety and abuse tolerance.
Concorde says its battery was chosen for the helicopter because of its high energy density, low maintenance, ease of use and low self-discharge. Visit www.concordebattery.com.
Connector Series
Trompeter, Mesa, Ariz., unveiled its 70/370, 80/380 and 150/3150 series twinax/triax connectors, which will support the emerging 40 Mbps data rate for military avionics applications. Each of these six connector series is performance-rated to 500 MHz.
Trompeter twinax connectors support computerized/multiplexed digital data distribution systems servicing command, control, communications, computers and intelligence functions. Trompeter provides twinax and triax connectors and cable for improving the transmission capabilities and interference rejection of Mil-Std-1553B data transmission systems. Visit www.trompeter.com.
I/O Card
Radstone Embedded Computing, Billerica, Mass., released its rugged CompactPCI MFIO-C6 Multi-function I/O card. The MFIO-C6, which has a MPC8270 PowerQUICC II processor, supports CompactPCI hot-swap mechanisms and provides a number of system-level functions such as an elapsed time indicator, real-time clock and temperature sensor. Visit www.radstone.com.
Aircraft Systems Book
A book released last year, "Aircraft and Rotorcraft System Identification: Engineering Methods with Flight Test Examples," focuses on system identification and its applications to flight vehicles. It includes flight-test results for a range of aircraft, from unmanned aerial vehicles to large manned aircraft.
The book was written by Mark B. Tischler, a senior scientist and flight control group leader for the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, and Robert K. Remple, a senior technical writer for the University of California – Santa Cruz.
Tischler leads the Army’s aviation R&D in handling qualities, flight dynamics and flight control applied to fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, including unmanned air vehicles. Visit www.aiaa.org.
Data Terminal
TECOM Industries, Thousand Oaks, Calif., released its ground data terminal (GDT) antenna, a follow-up system to its S/C-band GDT used for the Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS). The ground data terminal communicates directly with the TUAS, gathers data from onboard sensors over the area of interest, and transmits the data to the ground terminal for processing and dissemination. Visit www.tecom-ind.com.
Enhanced Vision
EVS II is Kollsman’s next generation Enhanced Flight Vision System, allowing flight operations in darkness, smoke, haze, rain, fog and other low visibility conditions.
The EVS II can be installed in both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, enabling a pilot to identify runway lights and ground features at night and under low visibility conditions.
EVS II operation is based on advanced infrared (IR) technology and works in conjunction with an aircraft’s head-up and head-down displays. The enhanced flight visibility is provided in accordance with FAR 91.175.
The system consists of three components: a cooled IR sensor, IR window assembly and processor assembly. Visit www.kollsman.com.
Hermetic Packages
CPS Technologies, Chartley, Mass., introduced hermetic microelectronic packages made from materials such as Kovar, aluminum and steel.
The company uses aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC) components for thermal management of electronics. CPS Technologies said AlSiC is lightweight, has high strength and stiffness and offers a high strength to weight ratio suitable for airborne, spaceborne or other weight applications. Visit www.alsic.com.
PMC Boards
VMETRO, Houston, released its Virtex-5 LX field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based PCI/PCI-X and PMC board-level products.
The first Virtex-5 board shipments from VMETRO consist of DEV-FPGA05 PCI/PCI X boards and PMC-FPGA05 PMC modules, which include a Xilinx XC5VLX110 FPGA and multiple banks of QDR SRAM (static random access memory) and DDR2 SDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory). VMETRO says the additional memory helps maximize the FPGA’s performance by storing large data sets such as frame buffers for imaging applications and look-up tables.
Other members of the series will provide an interface for real-time imaging, an L- band receiver for signal intelligence and satellite modems and analog I/O for software defined radio and radar. Visit www.vmetro.com.
Digital Sensor
Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, introduced the second generation of its Leica ADS40 airborne digital sensor.
Leica Geosystems first introduced large-format digital aerial cameras with its Leica ADS40 in 2001, and the company now developed two new sensor heads, the SH51 and SH52. Equipped with Leica beamsplitter technology, the SH51 sensor head provides co-registered color, infrared and panchromatic images.
The SH52 adds a second beamsplitter for co-registered stereo viewing of all image bands. These two new features allow users to employ the five-band co-registered imagery for all aerial surveying and airborne remote sensing applications.
The ADS40 offers simultaneous, wide-area acquisition of true high-resolution panchromatic, color and color-infrared digital images. Visit www.leica-geosystems.com.
Signal Processor
Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing released the CHAMP-AV6 VPX/VPX-REDI digital signal processor (DSP) card. Curtiss-Wright is delivering both boards and integrated VPX development systems to defense and aerospace customers.
The CHAMP-AV6 is the first DSP engine available in the new VPX (VITA 46) and VPX-REDI (VITA 48) high performance, rugged form factors, Curtiss-Wright said. The CHAMP-AV6 also is the industry’s first DSP engine built in compliance with the new VPX and VPX-REDI bus standards. Visit www.cwcembedded.com.
Autopilot Coupling
DAC International, Austin, Texas, received a supplemental type certificate for its GDC31 Roll Steering Converter for use in multiple autopilot and aircraft models. The converter provides autopilot coupling of the aircraft’s GPS unit to the aircraft autopilot’s heading error channel. Visit www.dacint.com.
Accelerometers
Jewel Instruments, Manchester, N.H., unveiled its compact LSM series accelerometers. The LSM Series Accelerometers are about the size of a 1-inch cube. They have an input range from ±0.5g to ±20.0g and bandwidths from 70 to 160 Hz. Visit www.jewellinstruments.com.
Document Viewer
ARINC Inc., Annapolis, Md., and Jeppesen, Englewood, Colo., are adding a document viewer to their electronic flight bag (EFB) services.
ARINC’s FAA-approved DocViewer will be part of the Jeppesen/ARINC EFB, which includes Airport Moving Map, Enroute Moving Map, terminal charts and the Jeppesen Data Distribution and Management system. Visit www.arinc.com.
Wire Twister
The Eraser Co., Syracuse, N.Y., released its Model G10S Bench Wire Twister.
The device can be used to twist pre-stripped stranded wires, twist strands together, twist wrapped shields on coaxial cables and tighten already twisted wire.
The G10S is supplied with one set of three twist length spacers to vary the twist length. Visit www.eraser.com.
Digital Signal Analyzer
Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., released an oscilloscope measurement system, DSA80000B digital signal analyzer (DSA), with specialized tools for designing, debugging and validating designs that include high-data-rate serial buses.
Agilent says the system offers the industry’s lowest noise floor, jitter-measurement floor and trigger jitter and the flattest frequency response, making it ideal for engineers working in the aerospace/defense industry.
The company also says the DSA80000B is the industry’s only full bandwidth probe system for all use models — up to 13 GHz bandwidth for differential solder-in, browser and connections.
Agilent’s system is built around an Infiniium DSO80000B Series oscilloscope and the InfiniiMax probing system, which provide critical capabilities for achieving accurate and repeatable measurements.
The oscilloscope and probe capabilities are augmented with high-speed serial data analysis and jitter-analysis software to give designers additional capabilities for designing, debugging and validating their serial-data-based designs. Visit www.agilent.com.