Military Embedded Systems
Op-Eds
Comms
Virtual training and simulation: trends and observations - Blog
August 18, 2014
The U.S. military has embraced virtual simulation as a way to train its soldiers effectively, but at a lower cost. With no relief from spending cuts in sight, the Army and other government organizations are increasingly looking to industry for cost-effective, more advanced virtual simulation solutions that immerse trainees in highly realistic environments that prepare them to meet the challenges they will face on the battlefield.
Radar/EW
Warfare Evolution Blog: Next generation warfare part 2 - Blog
August 13, 2014
WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG: In our first blog we looked at the history of warfare and how it can help us determine what technological capabilities the U.S. will use to fight future wars. It is critical that we understand the previous generations of warfare before we speculate about the next generation. As Winston Churchill said "the further backward you look, the further forward you can see.”
Comms
Ada Watch: Bringing Ada onto the battlefield - Blog
July 28, 2014
The growth in smartphones and tablets is radically changing the face of military technology. As in civilian life, the power of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) handheld devices is enabling fast, frontline access to systems that previously required larger, bulkier computers. For example, ruggedized phones and tablets now have the processing power to access mission-critical command and control and communication systems, while being portable enough to fit into a pocket. In these systems the original operating system (OS) and consumer-oriented applications are replaced by customized versions that include domain-specific software using proprietary and/or confidential algorithms.
Radar/EW
Warfare Evolution Blog: Moving toward next-generation warfare - Blog
June 24, 2014
Warfare Evolution Blog: For the moment, let's ignore sequestration, program terminations, funding reductions, and all the negative speculation concerning America's military budget. Let's look at where we are going, in the evolution of warfare. When we're done here, you will see that U.S. military budgets are just being refocused and the net effect will be some level of reduction, at least on the front-end. The reductions we observe today will become directed and focused spending in the near future, on advanced military systems with capabilities you never imagined.
Comms
BAM Blog: Authenticity versus reliability - Blog
June 11, 2014
Before & After Market (BAM) Blog. The military-aerospace market has seen a tremendous increase in the amount of companies with proposed solutions to determine the authenticity of a semiconductor component, including imaging and tagging solutions. There are I/O curve tracers. There is x-ray automation. There are companies with die image library examples of authenticity. That’s good news, right? Won’t this help eliminate counterfeit components from entering the supply chain? In some cases the answer is yes, but mostly the answer is no.
Unmanned
BAM Blog: Who is watching out for your repair needs? - Blog
May 21, 2014
Before & After Market (BAM) Blog: Most markets don’t realize a key product is in short supply until an OEM places an order that can’t be fulfilled. Shortages usually occur because of a spike in demand or something that interrupts production such as a natural disaster.
Comms
BAM Blog: Back to Basics: Why a legitimate Certificate of Conformance (C of C) matters - Blog
April 23, 2014
Before & AfterMarket (BAM) Blog: In simple terms, a Certificate of Conformance -- commonly referred to as the ‘”C of C” -- is a document put into place to assure that the product being procured, and ultimately used in an application, meets a specific set of standards and regulations. In the semiconductor industry, the C of C is distributed mostly with military-grade components, and allows the end user to prove that the devices are authentic. Unfortunately, there is a large gap in the acquisition process relating to the C of C, which in turn also leads to a gap in the procurement of fully-authorized components.
Comms
BAM Blog: long life applications require high-rel components - Blog
April 09, 2014
Before & After Market (BAM) Blog: Before you begin diving into this blog piece, take a moment to step out of your comfort zone and into the shoes of a warfighter on the frontlines in a battle. This specific person you have become has been using mission-critical equipment that must operate under some of the most severe conditions in their current environment, including operating in 100+ degree temperatures for eight or more hours each day. In this moment you realize just how much you rely on the proper functionality of your equipment, as you cannot afford to waste any time fixing defects because it puts your life at risk. These types of scenarios need to be considered every time the procurement of mission-critical, high-reliability (high-rel) devices takes place.
Radar/EW
Embedded Vanguard Blog: Optimizing deployed system design begins with dialogue - Blog
March 27, 2014
Today, defense and aerospace system integrators are under increasing schedule and budget pressure. While funding for new programs is harder to come by, the technical requirements for deployed systems continues to increase as platforms become more digitally connected and sensor rich. One frequently overlooked strategy that can significantly aid a system integrator’s efforts to develop an optimal system solution, especially when confronted with space, weight and power (SWaP) constraints, is to engage COTS hardware vendors early in their design process.
Comms
Reviewing DMSMS 2013: Collaboration brings new beginnings - Blog
March 25, 2014
Hurricane Isaac’s interruption of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) 2012 and subsequent rescheduling instigated the pairing of DMSMS with the Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) for the 2013 event, located in Kissimmee, FL and hosted by the Navy. Bringing together these two complementary aspects of Department of Defense (DoD) operations created a unique opportunity for raising cross-disciplinary collaborations. Looking back, the pairing of DMSMS and DMC is a natural progression. The overlap of the two conferences provided a logical platform for discussion around balancing affordability and obsolescence risk amongst active defense programs: a threat currently facing every facet of the military's manufacturing and sustainment mission.
Comms
BAM BLOG: De-mystifying semiconductor IP - Blog
March 19, 2014
Before & After Market (BAM) Blog: Nowadays, it’s called IP. Decades ago, it was just called software. By either name, it is the programming inside a chip that makes the chip unique. Software/IP is also a big factor in product lifecycle management (PLM).
Comms
BAM Blog: chip makers respond to mil-spec market pressures - Blog
February 24, 2014
Before & AfterMarket (BAM) Blog: The military market is renowned for developing and implementing the most advanced technology available. However, a device that’s central to most of this technology – the semiconductor – is lagging in the military-market design space.
Comms
BAM Blog: How packaging issues accelerate EOL - Blog
February 06, 2014
Before & AfterMarket (BAM) Blog: Nobody likes to be duped. Anyone who has ever bought a “designer” handbag on the street at a huge discount quickly figures out the deal was too good to be true. Something that looked genuine on the outside turns out to be fake.
Comms
BAM BLOG: When buying based on cost doesn?t make sense - Blog
January 15, 2014
Before & AfterMarket (BAM) Blog: Most of the public debate about onshore versus offshore manufacturing has to do with the cost of production and domestic-market competitiveness. But in many cases, the debate should not be exclusively about cost – it should be about trust.
Avionics
BAM Blog: obsoleted semiconductors and DO-254 - Blog
December 18, 2013
Before and Aftermarket (BAM) Blog: As semiconductors become more and more complex, guaranteeing that they can still function correctly in safety-critical applications is proving increasingly difficult; and in many cases, system testing to assure correct operation under all foreseeable equipment operating conditions is often impossible. The avionics industry has recognized this problem and introduced guidelines for manufacturers to follow to overcome the testing dilemma.
Avionics
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Rafale fighters to be delivered to Serbia by Dassault Aviation
August 30, 2024
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ATHENA sensor selected for U.S. Army threat detection program
August 27, 2024
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Training provider V2X secures combat readiness task order valued at as much as $3.7 billion over 5 years
August 21, 2024
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Final VH-92A presidential helicopter delivered to U.S. Marine Corps by Sikorsky
August 20, 2024
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Metron and Cellula Robotics Complete a Series of In-Water Demonstrations for Multi-National Defense and Commercial Customers
September 04, 2024
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Switchblade loitering munitions to be provided to U.S. Army by AeroVironment
August 29, 2024
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Autonomous logistics aircraft tested during U.S. Air Force exercise
August 27, 2024
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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: VersaLogic’s Swift rugged embedded computer
August 26, 2024
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U.S. Navy, Shield AI partnering on aerial target project
August 28, 2024
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AI-enabled software project kicks off between RTI and U.S. Air Force
August 27, 2024
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Multi-jet autonomy flights using AI pilot conducted by Shield AI
August 26, 2024
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Artificial intelligence, machine learning to be developed for U.S. Space Systems Command by Sierra Space
August 22, 2024
Cyber
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LVC training for Navy fleet readiness contract signed with SAIC
August 14, 2024
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Intelligence spot on large GSA contract awarded to LIS Solutions
August 09, 2024
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Cyberintelligence software contract signed between U.S. Army and CACI International
August 05, 2024
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An argument for a dynamic root of trust in mission-critical systems
August 05, 2024