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ORAC
9th Jul 2011, 06:40
I wonder if they've got Angry Birds installed.....

Ares: F-15C Combines AESA and Sniper For Visual Nightime ID (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3aa5106613-7728-4495-bb6c-2b86deaf3774&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest)

.............a back-of-the-cocktail-napkin drawing has produced a low-cost, smart-phone-like app for quickly and cheaply integrating new podded sensors to combat aircraft........

The concept is similar to adding new applications (apps) to a smart phone.

“Instead of buying a whole new operating systems with Google Maps built into it, you get the new Google Maps app for your phone,” Giggy says. “We applied that model to fighter integration. It’s a shift that may have significant utility in applications to other sensor systems.”

The proprietary architecture model was designed by Calculex and Lockheed Martin – in discussion with the ANG – to come up with a smart-phone-like interface. An application driver would be designed for each hardware system along with a way to plug the system in and have it function properly with the existing aircraft.

“We didn’t want to buy another box,” Giggy says. “The aircraft has a central computer that we didn’t want to re-create. The only thing we are buying is the pod and the time for someone to code the application. Our hardware integration requires about a $10,000 piece of hardware. That’s a Calculex processor card that becomes the application driver. It goes into the digital video recorder in the F-15.”

E L Whisty
9th Jul 2011, 08:42
So, where would we be if defence customers insisted on open systems architectures?

For those of an intellectually timorous nature, you are right. It does not amount to more than a hill of beans. But what is more intriguing is why such things were not being done when IBM realised that it would be impossible to protect their open architecture design of the PC. And why the big defence equipment providers have resisted open architecture for more than 30 years. Cryptic clue - $$$$$$$$'s.

ORAC
9th Jul 2011, 08:54
Unforeseen consequences and outcomes of interfacing different software packages. I would imagine this would raise more than a few issues concerning SIL/ALARP/DEFSTAN 00-56 etc.

NJHr
9th Jul 2011, 11:24
Interesting article until it gets to the last couple of paragraphs.

There is already a proper standard for this DEF STAN 00-74 and for reference
ASSC - ASAAC Programme and Standards Review (http://assconline.co.uk/asaac.asp)