Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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27 Jan 22. USRA Teams with Rigetti Computing and NASA to Deliver Technology for Phase 2 of the DARPA ONISQ Program. Universities Space Research Association (USRA) today announced the start of operations for phase-2 of DARPA’s Optimization with Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) program. This award follows the ONISQ phase 1 launch in 2020, in which USRA was selected to lead the “Scheduling Applications with Advanced Mixers” (SAAM) project, in collaboration with Rigetti Computing and, through DARPA, under DARPA-NASA under Interagency agreement (IAA) 8839 Annex 114, with the NASA Quantum AI Laboratory.
The project will continue to employ Rigetti Computing quantum processors, including the company’s recently announced 80-qubit system, for the purpose of increasing the quantum computing capabilities available to program variational quantum algorithms developed by the team.
The ONISQ program challenges each team to develop quantum optimization applications that will be impacting the U.S. military capabilities in the future. Bernie Seery, Senior VP of Technology at USRA said, “We at USRA highly value our strategic partnership with our colleagues at Rigetti and NASA QuAIL and look forward to executing on our increasingly challenging Phase 2 milestones”.
Davide Venturelli, Associate Director for Quantum and Principal Investigator of the award added, “The challenge is to advance theory, hardware and benchmarking to bridge the gap between academic understanding of NISQ algorithms and their actual operational performance”.
In the next two and a half years the team will continue to test and evaluate these solvers using operational metrics, leveraging internal resources as well as the large amount of literature and products developed by the scientific and private sector community on benchmarking and detecting quantum advantage. The collaboration has currently produced more than ten scientific papers, published or presented at international conferences or currently under review. The ONISQ program also is an important part of the tight collaboration of USRA with NASA under the NASA Academics Mission Service Contract NNA16BD14C.
About USRA
Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs. It engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at https://www.usra.edu.
About the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science
USRA manages and operates the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science which focuses on interdisciplinary research and challenging applications associated with NASA’s mission to develop innovative information systems and other technologies. To implement this approach research, staff undertake collaborative projects with research groups at NASA and elsewhere, integrating computer science with other disciplines to support NASA’s mission. More information about the Quantum Computing group is available at https://riacs.usra.edu/quantum/. (Source: PR Newswire)
26 Jan 22. Getac further expands its Android ecosystem with launch of OEMConfig app for ZX10 and ZX70 rugged tablets.
News in brief:
- Announcement reinforces Getac’s growing commitment to the Android platform
- Getac OEMConfig extends Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) EMM systems functionality on Getac Android devices in real-time.
- Getac OEMConfig app now available via Managed Google Play store
Getac has today announced the launch of its new OEMConfig app, which lets customers configure and update all their Getac Android devices simultaneously, including the new ZX10 tablet and existing ZX70*, within their existing Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) systems.
OEMConfig is designed for Getac customers that already use Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) EMM systems to manage large numbers of Getac devices. The app works directly in conjunction with these systems, extending their capabilities and giving users the proprietary configurations to deploy a range of settings to all their Getac Android devices from a single, central location. Settings that can be customised via OEMConfig include device display, physical button configurations, touch screen setup and system settings. Devices can also be quickly updated with new security patches using Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) functionality.
Fast, convenient management for the new ZX10 fully rugged Android tablet
OEMConfig is ideally suited to customers using Getac’s brand new ZX10 fully rugged Android tablet. The ZX10 is a versatile 10-inch device aimed at field professionals working across a range of sectors including public safety, utilities, energy, transport & logistics, manufacturing, automotive, and defence.
Combining fully rugged design with powerful functionality and a compact form factor, the ZX10 delivers a smooth and seamless user experience, even in challenging environments and adverse weather conditions. Key features include an 8MP front camera, 16MP rear camera, dedicated GPS, dual LTE SIM card slots, and dual hot-swappable batteries, enabling users to collect/share data, communicate with colleagues and get tasks done efficiently in the field. Options of up to 6GB LPDDR4 Ram and 128GB storage help future proof the device, while MIL-STD-810H/IP66 certification, 6ft drop resistance, and an operating range of -29°C ~ 63°C (-20°F~145°F) give complete peace of mind.
Both the new ZX10 and existing 7-inch ZX70 come with Getac’s leading 3-year Bumper-to-Bumper warranty, including accidental damage as standard. This means that if accidental damage occurs, the device will be fully repaired or replaced within days, helping avoid unplanned disruption to your business*.
“As customers increasingly explore the benefits of Android-based rugged solutions, we are expanding our entire Android ecosystem to help them meet business objectives as effectively as possible,” says Rick Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation. “The launch of our new ZX10 Android tablet has given customers greater choice when picking devices that best suit their needs. Now, OEMConfig takes it one step further, offering a fast and convenient way to manage all Getac Android devices via existing EMM systems.”
* Available from the ZX70 G2
* For the detailed terms and conditions, please refer to the warranty check at https://support.getac.com/Portal/Page/810
24 Jan 22. 3U VPX FPGA modules first to market with high-bandwidth memory. SOSA aligned boards usher in the next generation of FPGA performance and integration capabilities. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced the Model 5585 and Model 5586 SOSA aligned Xilinx Virtex UltraScale+™ high-bandwidth memory (HBM) FPGA 3U VPX modules. These are the first open architecture 3U products on the market to feature HBM (memory directly integrated on the FPGA chip), offering a 20x increase in memory bandwidth over traditional DDR4 memory. This innovative design dramatically boosts signal processing speeds to support size, weight and power (SWaP)-constrained compute-intensive applications such as electronic warfare, radar, signals intelligence and big data.
Why It Matters
When applied to mission-critical applications such as electronic countermeasures, this added processing power helps transform raw data into actionable intelligence in near real-time, allowing customers to gain insights quickly and make fast decisions confidently.
“Our new Model 5585 and 5586 modules are a breakthrough in FPGA technology designed to speed information to the end user, and the first to market with HBM technology” said Ken Hermanny, general manager, Mercury Microwave and Mixed Signal Assemblies. “The HBM memory chip stacking approach shortens how far data has to travel on chip, enabling smaller form factor subsystems to achieve superior power efficiency and space savings while eliminating processing and memory bottlenecks. It’s an excellent example of Mercury’s expertise in applying the latest commercial technology to aerospace and defense applications.”
“The Virtex UltraScale+ with HBM provides a unique combination of memory, compute and I/O capability in a single high-performance FPGA,” said Manuel Uhm, director for silicon marketing at Xilinx. “This level of integration enables demanding data acquisition and signal processing applications to operate with much lower latency and reduced SWaP than was possible with previous generations of FPGAs, which needed external memory. This real-time responsiveness is key for mission-critical applications.”
Next-Generation Performance in a Compact and Standardized Form Factor
- Superior power efficiency and space savings in a single-slot, SOSA aligned 3U VPX profile
- HBM offers 3x the bandwidth per watt vs. GDDR5 memory while occupying 94% less space
- 20x increase in memory bandwidth over traditional DDR4 memory
- Dual 100 GigE interfaces offer fast, flexible backplane system connections
- Navigator Design Suite accelerates design with tools that enable complete operational control of the hardware and all IP functions in the FPGA
21 Jan 22. Microelectronics-innovating unit gains new designation from defense secretary. The classification enables the Pentagon to ensure that the “critical mission area remains relevant and viable.”
A memorandum recently issued by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III officially designates the Pentagon’s laboratory for innovating tiny chips and circuits—the Defense Microelectronics Activity—as a Center for Industrial Technical Excellence, or CITE.
“This designation allows greater utilization of small runs of [the Defense Department’s] critical microelectronics and semiconductors, both inside and outside the DOD,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday. “It also allows the use of public-private partnerships that provide opportunities to promote partnering agreements between depots and private industry.”
The field of microelectronics involves the exploration and making of extremely small electronic designs and components that computers, mobile devices and virtually every crucial technology system the government relies on.
DOD’s Defense Microelectronics Activity, or DMEA, was chartered to lead the research and fielding of those teeny parts across the department, other federal agencies and the intelligence community. The California-based lab employs specialized microelectronics engineers and support staff to produce advanced technological applications.
Joining other CITEs, DMEA is now in a better position to help enable certain deliveries of critical microelectronics and semiconductors to DOD components and others.
The designation comes as the Pentagon and nation confront severe supply chain challenges, global technology shortages and higher demands for electronics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Microelectronics, I think, as you all are aware, is a DOD critical mission area—enabling many key weapon systems—and we think this [designation] is a positive step forward to help ensure that critical mission area stays relevant and viable into the future,” Kirby said.
(Source: Defense Systems)
24 Jan 22. American Rheinmetall Systems attains significant investment in technology to support U.S. Army modernization efforts. American Rheinmetall Systems, Biddeford, ME, is pleased to announce a multi-m dollar investment in the company’s strategic plan to support U.S. Army combat vehicle modernization priorities with advanced combat vehicle mission systems technologies. The company will be growing its workforce particularly in advanced engineering segments as well as bringing new industrial capability to further develop and ultimately deliver those technologies from their facility.
American Rheinmetall Systems will bring to the market next-generation situational awareness and fire control systems by leveraging existing Rheinmetall turret technologies that are currently in production for several Allied nations. This enables them to deliver advanced, highly competitive combat vehicle mission systems solutions fully from their Maine facility—which positions them to support high priority technology needs of the U.S. Army across the Army’s combat vehicle modernization strategy.
American Rheinmetall Systems will be positioned to support fellow Rheinmetall affiliate American Rheinmetall Vehicles, Sterling Heights, MI, which is currently performing in Phase 2 of the Army’s OMFV program and is expected to compete in future phases. The OMFV program seeks to select a replacement for the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). American Rheinmetall Systems will also engage with other vehicle providers in support of additional priority Army modernization programs.
With this significant investment, American Rheinmetall Systems will add systems and software engineers to its Biddeford team, transfer base turret technology from Germany and the UK, and establish systems integration capabilities within its facility; becoming fully capable of design, production, and support of turret fire control systems for the U.S. market. Additionally, they will specialize in 360° situational awareness technologies, AI-based target detection and recognition, imaging processing, and interoperability with supporting open system architectures that enable the rapid insertion of technology in the modern era of fast-paced innovation.
”This investment in American Rheinmetall Systems’ growing U.S. electronics business is a clear indication of Rheinmetall’s overall commitment to being an exceptional partner in meeting the U.S. Army’s modernization priorities,” said Brad Hittle, American Rheinmetall Systems’ President & CEO. “We will be adding 10 to 15 high-level engineering jobs in Maine, as well as industrializing locally to offer world-class solutions for the Army’s next-generation vehicle technology requirements.”
American Rheinmetall Systems works alongside American Rheinmetall Munitions (Stafford, VA and Camden, AR) and American Rheinmetall Vehicles to deliver next-generation technologies to U.S. customers across the full breadth of Rheinmetall’s global product portfolio. “American Rheinmetall is committed to being a partner to the U.S. Army across many modernization priorities and we are putting our commitment into action,” said Stephen Hedger, Head of U.S. Business and CEO of overall U.S. corporate parent American Rheinmetall Defense (Reston, VA). “This is a historic moment for Army modernization, and American Rheinmetall is meeting the moment with advanced technology, new jobs and expanded industrial capability to ensure U.S. Soldiers have the edge for decades to come.”
About American Rheinmetall Systems
American Rheinmetall Systems, located in Biddeford, Maine, is part of Rheinmetall’s Electronic Solutions Division and brings the group’s unbeatable global product portfolio to the U.S. market. The company specializes in crew-served weapon improvements, fire control, and next generation electro-optic/infrared systems. Strengths in EO/IR system design and development, engineering and system integration make American Rheinmetall Systems a superb partner for U.S. customers in offering Electronic Solutions that are Next-Generation.
American Rheinmetall Systems is also part of the American Rheinmetall family of U.S. companies including American Rheinmetall Munitions in Stafford, VA, American Rheinmetall Vehicles in Sterling Heights, MI, and U.S. corporate parent American Rheinmetall Defense in Reston, VA.
www.arsusa.com
21 Jan 22. DARPA to launch programme for creating optical atomic clocks. The four-year programme aims to create two high-precision optical atomic clocks. The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced a programme to create optical atomic clocks to improve time synchronisation. The Robust Optical Clock Network (ROCkN) scheme aims to develop clocks with low size, weight and power that can offer better timing accuracy and holdover than global positioning system (GPS) based atomic clocks.
DARPA said that time synchronisation is ‘critical’ to achieving mission success in modern warfare.
DARPA Defence Sciences Office programme manager Tatjana Curcic said: “The goal is to transition optical atomic clocks from elaborate laboratory configurations to small and robust versions that can operate outside the lab.
“If we’re successful, these optical clocks would provide a 100-fold increase in precision, or decrease in timing error, over existing microwave atomic clocks, and demonstrate improved holdover of nanosecond timing precision from a few hours to a month.
“This programme could create many of the critical technologies, components and demonstrations leading to a potential future networked clock architecture.”
The programme will consist of two separate phases. The first phase will involve developing a robust, high-precision small portable optical clock that can fit on a fighter jet or satellite.
This clock should be capable of providing picosecond (one-trillionth of a second) accuracy for 100 seconds and must be able to withstand temperature, acceleration and vibrational noises.
The programme’s second phase will aim to build a larger clock with ‘unprecedented’ holdover performance. The clock should fit in a navy ship or a field tent and should provide GPS-equivalent, nanosecond precision for 30 days in the absence of a GPS system.
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The ROCkN scheme is due to last for four years, with each phase taking two years.
At the end of the programme, participants will need to demonstrate synchronisation between stationary, mobile and airborne clocks with enough timing precision for 100GHz distributed coherence. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
20 Jan 22. Contractors demonstrate single-user drone swarm at DARPA experiment. Raytheon Technologies and Northrop Grumman recently demonstrated the ability for a single user to control over 100 unmanned systems as part of a swarm in an urban battlefield setting.
The experiment was part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program, which envisions smaller units able to amass up to 250 small aerial and ground unmanned systems in urban areas.
During the November experiment at Fort Campbell, Raytheon’s system allowed a single operator to successfully control a swarm of 130 physical drones and 30 simulated drones while Northrop demonstrated a user controlling a swarm of 174 platforms.
“Combined air and ground behaviors, such as intel recon and area patrol, are some of the swarm tactics employed. We also were able to sustain swarm operations for up to 3.5 hours,” Erin Cherry, senior technical program manager of emerging capabilities development at Northrop, said in a statement.
She added that Northrop’s swarm was able to detect about 600 “artifacts” — intelligence, environmental information and mission scenario elements created by DARPA for the event — in roughly 20 minutes.
The Raytheon BBN-led team’s used a combination of commercial off-the-shelf and custom built hardware and software for its swarming technology, even incorporating a virtual reality head set for the user to control the systems.
“We built this custom interface that uses that off the shelf hardware to provide a single person with this flexible God’s eye view of the environment and all of the drones operating within it so that they can manage that larger swarm,” Shane Clark, Raytheon BBN principal investigator for the OFFSET program, said in an interview, adding they had multiple interfaces to include ones that integrated with Android Team Awareness Kit.
Their system also had autonomous elements. For instance, if a user tasked a swarm to investigate or map a building, the system would choose the best or closest ground or air asset to respond without further human input.
While Clark couldn’t speak directly to how this system would be used by the military specifically, he noted the government’s thematic guidance for the experiment was for expeditionary forces at the company level and smaller.
Both companies intend to take their systems to the annual Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment in March at Fort Benning. Clark said they’ll be doing a demonstration where they’ll be training active duty operators on how to use the system and getting their feedback on how well it works for them and whether the prototypes match with the tactical priorities and workflows they’re familiar with. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/C4ISR & Networks)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
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The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
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Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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