NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Web Page sponsor Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
Jul 06. DRS Technologies, Inc. has introduced its next generation, high-performance embedded computing solutions. DRS’s computing system provides multi-core processing and switch fabric capability, while offering significant size, weight and power (SWaP) advantages over rival systems in the defense marketplace. As the result of a three-year engineering and development effort, DRS’s new product offers more input/output (I/O) capacity and faster performance rates than any other current market offerings. This new computing system is applicable in a wide variety of defense scenarios, where demand for complex analysis and processing to deliver rapid situational awareness and decision-making data are paramount. The system can be used in both radar and sensor systems to support surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions and for airborne, shipboard and unmanned vehicle applications, which may include real-time image processing and overlay, data fusion from multiple sources and other highly complex processing activities. The DRS computing system provides complex, raw processing capacity, fast data movement and high computing density. Its architecture provides a high-bandwidth fabric that allows data movement between processors at extremely high speeds, based on VME bus Industry Trade Association (VITA) standard VITA 41. DRS’s system leverages the non proprietary Linux operating system and open-source middleware to enable easy integration with third-party products as well as code portability. It also uses Internet backbone technology to move data between processors, allowing processors to perform more computations at higher
speeds.
17 Jul 06. Tiny wireless memory chip debuts. The chip contains memory, modem, antenna and microprocessor. A chip the size of a grain of rice that can store 100 pages of text and swaps data via wireless has been developed by Hewlett-Packard. The tiny chip was small enough to embed in almost any object, said HP. The chip could be used to ensure drugs have not been counterfeited, on patient wristbands in hospitals or to add sounds or video to postcards, said HP. But it warned that the device was at least two years away from being a finished product. The chip, developed by the Memory Spot research team at HP, is 2-4mm square and current versions can hold up to 512 kilobytes of data. HP said the amount of memory onboard the tiny chip was likely to grow in future versions. Data can be moved in and out of the chip at speeds of up to 10 megabits per second – far faster than is possible with other short-range radio systems such as Bluetooth or Radio Frequency ID tags. (Source: BBC)
18 Jul 06. Details of the new generation AgustaWestland AW149 7-8 ton multi-role battlefield helicopter have been announced today at the Farnborough International Airshow. The AW149 is AgustaWestland’s answer to growing military and government customer demand for a new generation, affordable, multi-purpose, medium class military helicopter. The AW149 will widen the AgustaWestland product range offering customers a larger helicopter than the best selling 6.4 ton AW139 helicopter. The AW149 will be optimised for military operations and will be able to carry up to 15 troops in crashworthy seats. The aircraft features a 5-blade main rotor for low vibration and noise levels and will have a cruise speed of 160 knots. The large cabin for up to 15 troops also features large sliding doors allowing easy access for troops and the loading of large bulky equipment. The aircraft will be capable of being equipped with a range of weapons on the external carriers for armed escort and armed suppression roles. A range of role equipment will allow the aircraft to be configured for roles such as search and rescue, command and control, medical evacuation and external load lifting. The fully integrated, open-system avionics architecture, will allow a wide