Flight Displays, Digital Map System
Barco of Kortrijk, Belgium has announced a line of flight and mission displays, the CHDD-2000 family. The company also has partnered with EuroAvionics of Hausen, Germany, to produce a digital map display system for the cockpit. Barco’s CHDD-2000 line, which accepts both digital video and analog video inputs, can be equipped with an infrared touchscreen control option. The company has launched the 5-by-4-inch CHDD-254 and the 6-by-8-inch CHDD-268, and expects to unveil 8-by-10 and 12-by-9-inch versions soon. The CHDD-268 incorporates active matrix liquid crystal display and light-emitting diode (LED) backlights, which the company says allow viewing at an angle of up to 80 degrees in all directions. According to Barco, the CHDD-2000 product line is designed to ARINC 817 and 818 digital video standards. Barco will team with EuroAvionics to offer the digital map package, which can function in a variety of cockpit navigation roles, including as a standard moving map or a complete navigation and mission management system. The map display combines both companies’ hardware equipment and software programs. Prague-based Ceská Œetecká “ervisn�CLS) is the first customer for the map display package. CLS, an avionics system integrator in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will incorporate the digital map into a W3A Sokol helicopter. Visit www.barco.com and www.euroavionics.com.
Ethernet Cable
Tyco Electronics has introduced its Quadlite cable, a quadraxial cable intended for 10 and 100BaseT Ethernet networks, such as for in-flight entertainment applications, as well as other aircraft data networks. For example, the cables can be used to allow functions such as in-flight movies, music and entertainment. Part of the Tyco’s Raychem line of cables, Quadlite also can link avionics, navigation, air traffic control and audio, or voice over Internet protocol (IP), systems. In addition, the cable could be applied to interconnects that specify a 100-ohm, two-pair configuration with electrical requirements consistent with IEEE 802.3/2000. The cable comes in 150- and 200-degree C versions. Visit www.tycoelectronics.com.
PXI Switching Module
UK-based Pickering Interfaces has unveiled its 40-581, a PCI extensions for instrumentation (PXI) switching module. The 1-amp, 2-pole matrix module can be used in any PXI chassis, including the company’s LXI modular switching chassis. Each switching module supports a configuration with up to 264 crosspoint switches organized as a 33-by-8 matrix. According to Pickering, the module uses highly reliable electromechanical relays to support more robust loads. Visit www.pickeringinterfaces.com.
Synthetic Instruments
Six LAN eXtension for Instruments (LXI) microwave synthetic instruments made by Agilent Technologies Inc. have received certification from the LXI Consortium, a group of test and measurement companies. The devices support the U.S. Department of Defense’s NxTest vision of flexible, modular and compact instruments for next-generation automatic test systems. The following instruments are included in the certification: a 26.5-GHz downconverter that provides IF output frequencies of 7.5, 21.4 and 321.4 MHz (N8201A); a 20/40-GHz analog upconverter (N8211A), a 20-GHz vector upconverter that functions as a microwave source with more than 2 GHz I/Q modulation (N8212A); a 30-MS/s IF digitizer with a 21.4-MHz IF input (N8221A); an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) that features 1/25 GS/s sampling and 15-bit resolution (N8241A); and an AWG with either 1.25-GS/s or 625 MS/s with 10-bit resolution. Visit www.agilent.com.
FPGA Processing
Glasgow, Scotland-based Nallatech has announced three new devices in its family of Xilinx Virtex-4 field programmable gate array (FPGA) products. The offerings consist of the BenNUEY PCI-104 computing processor stack, BenIO-V4 SRAM and digital input/output module, and BenADDA-V4 DIME-II module. Visit www.nallatech.com.
Single Board Computer
The recently released C102, a 6U VME single board computer (SBC) from Aitech Defense Systems of Chatsworth, Calif., incorporates dual PowerPC G4+ MPC7448 processors that operate independently and communicate over an interconnected PCI eXtended (PCI-X) data bus. The C102 is designed for harsh environments in applications such as head-up displays, radar processors and mission management computers. The SBC also features four Ethernet ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one Serial ATA II port and two Mil-Std-1553B ports. Visit www.rugged.com.
Data Acquisition
Belmar, N.J.-based Heim Data Systems has introduced its D7000, a data acquisition and recording system for rugged applications. Operators can use either a rugged hard drive or solid state media. The system is compatible with the IRIG 106, Chapter 10, standard, comes with an IRIG time code generator, and can synchronize with external IRIG and GPS time sources. The D7000’s mainframe holds up to four multichannel signal interface cards, providing options such as concurrent recording of multiple video, pulse code modulation (PCM) and Mil-Std-1553 bus sources in a single unit. Visit www.heimdata.com.
Graphics Driver
Toronto, Canada-based ALT Software has flight tested its graphics display driver for the Airbus A380. Certifiable to RTCA’s DO-178B standard, the graphics driver software serves as an interface between avionics hardware and software applications, translating commands between the two. The driver is compatible with the Green Hills Software Integrity-178B, Wind River Systems AE653 and Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. Visit www.altsoftware.com.
Weather Receiver
Honeywell has announced the KDR 610, a weather receiver that provides real-time meteorological information for general aviation aircraft using XM satellite radio. The receiver is designed to work with Bendix/King KMD 250, KMD 550 and KMD 850 multifunction displays (MFDs). The KDR 610 will receive a signal via data link and display the information on the MFDs in textual or graphical format. Available weather services will include NEXRAD radar, Airman’s and Significant Meteorological Information (AIRMETs and SIGMETs), Surface Observations Reports (METARs) and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs). Phoenix-based Honeywell expects the KDR 610 to be available by the end of 2006. Visit www.honeywell.com.
Paperless Library
Annapolis, Md.-based ARINC has introduced eFlyBook, an electronic library for storing and displaying en-route charts and other documents on a 6-by-9-inch screen. Intended for the general aviation market, the device holds all U.S. terminal procedures, en-route charts, airport facility directories and Federal Aviation Regulation/Airmen’s Information Manual information. There is also space for custom user documents. The eFlyBook uses persistent display technology to reduce power and backlighting requirements. The ARINC device incorporates chart viewing and compression software developed by MyAirplane.com and the iLiad eReader designed by iRex Technologies of the Netherlands. Visit www.arinc.com.
Mil-Std-1553 Card
Bohemia, N.Y.-based Data Device Corp. (DDC) has introduced its BU-65578C, a PC/104-Plus Mil-Std-1553 card. The ruggedized card provides up to four 1553 channels, five digital discrete input/outputs and an IRIG-B time synchronization input. A commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution, the PC/104-Plus card can be used in convection- and conduction-cooled applications. It incorporates DDC’s Extended Enhanced Mini-ACE architecture, which supports new features for each channel, including 2 Mbytes of RAM, built in self-test and 48-bit/1 microsecond time tag synchronized to the IRIG-B input. The BU-65578C also comes with High-Level C application programming interface (API) library software and driver support for VxWorks, Linux and Windows operating systems. Video and data recorder manufacturer Enertec America of Alpharetta, Ga., has chosen the DDC product for use in its flight data recorders that require a Mil-Std-1553 interface. Visit www.ddc-web.com.
Avionics Trainer
Aerosim Technologies, Burnsville, Minn., has released a software package to train pilots how to use the avionics systems in the Cirrus SR20 and SR22. The Cirrus Avionics Systems Trainer features several lessons covering cockpit systems, single-pilot resource management, and systems training for primary flight display, multifunction display, GPS, autopilot, transponder and audio functions. The program also provides training and evaluation flight scenarios. Visit www.aerosim.com.
Synthetic Vision
Mercury Computer Systems of Chelmsford, Mass., has announced Version 2.0 of its VistaNav synthetic vision system. The latest version features the company’s new 3D traffic visualization and E-Glide emergency descent guidance functions. The product displays traffic information in 2D and 3D views. Visit www.mc.com.
Radio Transceiver
Pentek Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J., has released its Model 7142 software radio transceiver module. The unit provides software radio transceiver functions for intermediate frequency (IF) or radio frequency (RF) communications systems. It offers dual Virtex-4 field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), four analog-to-digital converters and 50 percent additional memory than its predecessor, Model 7140. The Model 7142 includes a clock/sync bus that supports multimodule synchronization and supplies onboard oscillators for input and output clock rates. Visit www.pentek.com.
Data Recording
Vancouver, Canada-based AdvancedIO has teamed with VMETRO to jointly develop and produce 10-Gbit Ethernet data recording, playback and analysis systems. The units will be designed for digital signal analysis applications, including electronic, communications and signal intelligence (ELINT, COMINT and SIGINT), synthetic aperture radar, moving target indicator and software defined radio. The systems will use AdvancedIO’s PCI mezzanine card/switched fabric mezzanine card (PMC/XMC) line of processing modules and VMETRO’s Vortex open recorder platforms. Visit www.vmetro.com and www.advancedio.com.
Single Board Computer
The V469 Patriot single board computer (SBC) is now available from General Micro Systems. The SBC uses dual M-760 Pentium-M processors that offer power, cooling and input/output redundancy. Each processor operates at 2 GHz with 2 Mbytes of L2 cache. The processors are linked through a Gigabit Ethernet channel. The V469 can operate with Windows XP/2000, VxWorks Tornado II and Linux operating systems. Visit www.gms4sbc.com.
Communications Module
Miami-based Avionica now offers its satLINK, which provides real-time voice and data communications through Iridium’s satellite network. The unit, which also manages communications traffic, can be installed with a dedicated handset or incorporated into the aircraft’s audio system. SatLINK supplies connectivity between several interfaces, including ARINC 429, 618 and 619, Ethernet and 802.11 wireless. It also can provide GPS position data to the Ethernet port. Visit www.avionica.com.
Vibration Measurement
The Vibration division of Depew, N.Y.-based PCB Piezotronics has developed a new series of high-temperature, piezoelectric charge output accelerometers for vibration studies on aircraft engines. The product’s sensors are designed for stable sensitivities of 4 pC/g from -65 to 900 degrees F. Visit www.pcb.com.
RFID Antenna
Tecom Industries of Thousand Oaks, Calif., has announced its embedded antenna for radio frequency identification (RFID) readers. North American, European and Japanese versions of the antenna are available. Visit www.tecom-ind.com.
Moving Map
In-flight entertainment equipment provider, Flight Display Systems, Alpharetta, Ga., has added more than 1 million cities and points of interest to its moving map software database. Visit www.flightdisplay.com.
Debugging
Brookline Village, Mass.-based Macraigor Systems has introduced Version 2.1 of its J-SCAN boundary-scan debug and programming tool. The product supports serial peripheral interface (SPI) Flash programming for systems using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and other embedded devices. Visit www.macraigor.com.
Foil Strain Sensor
Columbia Research Laboratories, Woodlyn, Pa., now offers a smaller version of its foil strain sensor that can be bonded directly to airframe structures for measuring fatigue. Visit www.columbiaresearchlab.com.
Avionics Handbook
The second edition of the Digital Avionics Handbook includes a chapter on time-triggered protocol (TTP) technology and architecture. Written by Cary Spitzer, the handbook provides information for designing, implementing and approving an avionics system. The handbook will be available in late 2006. Visit www.tttech.com.