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Next Generation AdvancedTCA
Pentair, Schroff
Advanced Telecommunication Computer Architecture (AdvancedTCA) is the first cross-manufacturer and cross-user standard for very high data traffic and new communications services in the telecommunications sector. Rapidly changing technological developments result in rapidly changing customer requirements for next generation AdvancedTCA systems.
8 May 2013

New! Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems, 7th Edition
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems Handbook. Updated in April 2012, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download:
1 May 2013

New! Serial Fabrics Handbook
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded High-Speed Switched Serial Fabrics Improve System Design Handbook. Updated recently, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download:
1 May 2013

The Secret to Fast and Accurate Software Builds: Path to Building Smarter Makefiles
Electric Cloud
This whitepaper looks at solutions to the dependency problem in Make and GNU Make – the de-facto build tool of choice for many software development teams. The paper identifies the key problems in Make dependency management and explains how solving these problems helps achieve faster and accurate software build times. The author of this whitepaper, John Graham-Cumming, Co-Founder of Electric Cloud, Inc. discusses how to automate and optimize dependencies between files in a software build. Three main types of dependencies are discussed: those that exist between source and object files (that are used to regenerate objects when source changes), those that exist between objects (for example, used to drive a linker), and dependencies at the module or project level. The paper is technical in nature and aimed at someone with a general familiarity of Make. Experienced users of GNU Make should find the examples of interest.
12 April 2013

Creating an Embedded Product with Support for UEFI Secure Boot
Insyde Software
Embedded system designers want to control what software runs on their system. This enhances security of a system, and makes it much more difficult for unauthorized software to run during the boot of a system. However, to ship a system with the secure boot feature enabled, fundamental changes need to be made to the way the system is designed, manufactured, deployed, and maintained. Many companies have used signing services for operating system drivers, but supporting the secure boot infrastructure on a product line is a much more difficult proposition. This paper discusses aspects of this problem and reviews resources that can help solve it. The focus is on embedded systems, but the principles are applicable to any computer system. Remember that releasing a system with secure boot peaks hacker interest and makes the system a target, so every effort must be made to minimize security holes from design phase to field deployment.
3 January 2013

New! High-Speed, Real-Time Recording Systems Handbook
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their newly released and updated High-Speed, Real-Time Recording Systems Handbook. The handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers involved in data acquisition and recording. It's yours free, just click on the link to download
3 January 2013

New! Software Defined Radio Handbook, Updated recently
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently updated and expanded Software Radio Handbook. The handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download
3 January 2013

RTC Group Taps Industry Leader Clarence Peckham Brings His Technology/Market Expertise to Publications Team as Senior Editor
The RTC Group
SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF., December 11, 2012 – RTC Group, Inc.,—foremost supplier of marketing resources to the embedded computing industry and publisher of premier industry technology publications including RTC, MEDS and COTS Journal —announces industry leader Clarence Peckham has joined the RTC Group’s editorial team.
20 December 2012

RTC Group Taps Renowned Defense Programs Editor
The RTC Group
SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF., DECEMBER 05, 2012 – RTC Group, Inc. (RTC), foremost supplier of marketing resources to the embedded computing industry and publisher of the military electronics industry’s leading technology publication – COTS Journal – announces Johnny Keggler will be joining the COTS Journal editorial team to produce the Military Intelligent Systems Journal, a supplement to COTS Journal.
13 December 2012

High-end graphics performance for low-power small-form-factor (SFF) designs
Kontron
Kontron boards and modules with AMD's Embedded G-Series platform for graphics-intensive SFF applications make migration easy
18 October 2012

Learn how to quickly validate and troubleshoot USB 3.0 designs with confidence
Agilent
This app note explains how USB 3.0 protocol testing with active error insertion allows you to quickly and easily create error conditions that simulate today’s real world design environments. Learn how to use a jammer to accelerate the validation and debug process of your high-speed USB designs. Download now.
10 October 2012

New! Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/Ds in Real-Time Systems, 2011 Update
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently updated and expanded Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/D Converters in Real-Time Systems Handbook. The handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download: pentek.com/go/rtccrit7hb
28 August 2012

New! Software Defined Radio Handbook, Updated Recently
Pentek Inc.
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently updated and expanded Software Radio Handbook. Updated to its 9th edition, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download: pentek.com/go/rtcsdr9hb
28 August 2012

Improved Graphics Performance Changes the Cost Equation in Digital Signage
Intel Corporation
The quality and flexibility of digital signage is a function of the graphics processing capability of the media players that drive the displays. To deliver a high level of graphics performance, media players tend to incorporate discrete graphics processing units (GPUs), although some players use the graphics engine on the CPU platform. But more vendors are expected to turn to integrated graphics as performance increases, and it becomes better aligned to CPU performance...

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8 August 2012

[Video] Jennifer Zickel, Product Line Manager for Radisys explains Ruggedized Com Express
Radisys
Jennifer Zickel, Product Line Manager for COM Express, introduces Radisys' first ruggedized COM Express module with a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor covering the -40C to +85 C temperature range. This is a truly exciting opportunity for our Aerospace and Defense customers. Find out why.
27 June 2012

[Video] Opto22: Cameron Dive First Attempt in Over 50 Years
Opto22
On March 26, 2012, filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron piloted a one-man submersible almost 7 miles (11 km) to the deepest point in the world's oceans. He reached the sea floor in the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, a technologically advanced prototype submersible. At the heart of the submersible, an off-the-shelf Opto 22 SNAP PAC System controls and monitors more than 180 onboard systems-including depth sensors, batteries, thrusters, life support, 3D cameras, and lighting. The SNAP PAC System used in the sub is the same standard product used in a wide variety of applications worldwide. The system includes a SNAP-PAC-S2 programmable automation controller, a rack-mounted I/O processor, and analog, serial, and high-density digital I/O modules. The PAC Project Professional Software Suite was used for control programming and HMI development and runtime.
24 April 2012

Improving Build-to-Order Operations with Digital Signage
Nexcom
In this paper, we provide eight tips on the benefits and advantages of digital signage systems. We also offer advice on what to look for in buying such a system for use in communicating SOPs on the factory floor. In terms of hardware, we particularly focus on the benefits of the new Intel AtomTM processor D2700 and its use in one of our own digital media players, the NEXCOM NDiS 126.
17 April 2012

[Video] LGX AG150 Atom Fanless System
Logic Supply
Brief introduction to the LGX AG150 Dual Core Atom Fanless Computer. HD-capable and mountable, excellent for appliance computing, industrial control, data acquisition applications.
26 March 2012

Why Choose an Embedded System for Your Next Application
AMD
Many system integrators and end customers continue to choose standard PC platforms for certain types of embedded applications. While standard PCs of the past did have some advantages over custom designed embedded platforms, especially for applications that required "PC-like" performance and capabilities at a low off-the-shelf cost. However, the embedded solutions landscape is changing dramatically to better serve these applications. Evolutions in embedded system technology and design including the proliferation of standards-based interfaces and platforms, coupled with rapid advancements in CPU and graphics performance have closed the gap with PCs. There are hidden lifecycle management costs associated with deploying typical, commercially available PCs in embedded applications that are not always well understood.
27 February 2012

Software Defined Radio Handbook
Pentek Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Software Radio Handbook. Updated recently to its 9th edition, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers.
14 January 2012

High-Speed, Real-Time Recording Systems Handbook
Pentek Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their newly released High-Speed, Real-Time Recording Systems Handbook. Now in Its 1st edition, the handbook will prove to be a useful technical reference for engineers involved in data acquisition and recording.
14 January 2012

Simplifying M2M
Kontron
M2M is a hot new trend in the electronics industry. Machine-to-machine connected computing solutions are rolling out worldwide and across all industries. Many OEMs will want to launch M2M services, either for their own use or the use of their customers. Kontron, a Premier member of the Intel Embedded Alliance, is working with the leaders in the M2M ecosystem to break down the complexity of the M2M value chain. Kontron's purpose is to make it easier for OEMs to launch smart services that take advantage of cloud computing enabling them to better serve their customers with innovative solutions.
6 December 2011

A Comparison of OpenVPX System Bandwidth between Serial RapidIO and 10 Gigabit Ethernet
Curtiss Wright
This paper compares the bandwidth available to processors resident on the payload boards using the CEN16 switched architecture for Serial RapidIO and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE).
28 October 2011

A Comparison of MPEG4 (H.264) and JPEG2000 Video Compression and Decompression Algorithms
Curtiss Wright
This white paper has been written to examine two of the more popular of these technologies, MPEG-4 Part 10 (also known as Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and ITU-T H.264) and JPEG2000.
28 October 2011

BDTi's Analysis of Altera's Floating-point DSP Design Flow
Altera
Altera has developed a new floating-point design flow intended to streamline the process of implementing floating-point digital signal processing algorithms on Altera FPGAs, and to enable those designs to achieve higher performance and efficiency than previously possible. BDTI performed an independent analysis of Altera's floating-point DSP design flow. BDTI's objective was to assess the performance that can be obtained on Altera FPGAs for demanding floating-point DSP applications, and to evaluate the ease-of-use of Altera's floating-point DSP design flow. This paper presents BDTI's findings, along with background and methodology details.
21 October 2011

Choosing an RTOS for Remote-care Medical Devices
QNX Software Systems
Three trends are driving a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of remote-care medical devices entering the market: aging populations in industrialized countries, pressures on private and public healthcare providers and insurers to reduce health
23 September 2011

Finding Concurrency Errors with Static Analysis
GrammaTech Inc
Although decades of advances in miniaturization have yielded enormous performance gains for single processors, it now appears that this era is coming to a close. The industry has placed a big bet on future single-chip performance gains coming from increasing core counts, but this will only be a winning wager if software can be programmed to take advantage of parallel processors.
7 September 2011

Deploying Network Services: Network Appliances vs. AdvancedTCA
JumpGen
As network traffic continues to increase, the desire of organizations to deploy ever more complex services on the network increases also. These services can be anything from data collection and analysis to managing streaming applications to specialized applications such as algorithmic trading, HFT, low latency messaging, DPI, traffic shaping, filtering, lawful intercept, and beyond. While many of these services can run on "commodity" server hardware, many require specialized equipment consisting of various combinations of general-purpose CPUs, NPUs, and switch fabrics.
1 September 2011

Advantages of a Full Mesh Fabric Configuration vs Dual Star in AdvancedTCA Systems
JumpGen
test
1 September 2011

Stackable Modules Enable High-Performance, Pilot Worn Tactical Display
VersaLogic Corporation
The advanced Pilot Worn Tactical Display (PWTD) is a powerful video processing solution designed to provide a pilot with a single viewing source of flight-dynamic and ground symbology. The PWTD also provides for rapid target recognition and easy hand-off to sensors and weapons systems. The display monocle provides a color display with several-hundred stabilized points similar to that shown on a Tactical Situation Display.
25 August 2011

Secure Management for Government Networks
Ipswitch
Securing your network is an ongoing battle for network managers overseeing government and DOD networks. Maintaining the highest possible security requires constant vigilance to ensure data and network integrity. While you are paying diligent attention to configuring and maintaining access control lists (ACL) and other security mechanisms on routers/switches, IDS/IPS and firewalls, you may forget one aspect of network security policy that is equally as important, SNMP security. This whitepaper will provide additional guidance and hands-on tips and tricks designed to help you best secure your network.
18 August 2011

PowerProtector - The Solution For Sudden Powerdown in NAND Flash Modules/Drives
ATP Electronics Inc
Industrial Grade storage such as CF, embedded modules and SSD's require superior performance and reliability that surpass what is currently offered by existing SuperCap designs. ATP's patented Power Protector Technology ensures data integrity during a sudden power down in all conditions.
8 August 2011

Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/Ds in Real-Time Systems, 2011 Update
Pentek Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/Ds in Real-Time Systems Handbook. Updated in 2011, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download: http://www.pentek.com/go/rtccrit6hb
7 July 2011

Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems, 2011 Update
Pentek Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems Handbook. Updated in 2011, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download: http://www.pentek.com/go/rtcfpga5hb
7 July 2011

Understanding Power Management of Intel Processors for Mil/Aero Applications
Curtiss Wright
This white paper discusses the behavior of the Intel Core i7 processor, as implemented on the Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing multi-processor CHAMP-AV series products at elevated temperatures, and how to take advantage of board features to maximize the performance potential of the system.
7 July 2011

Avionics Appliances for Ethernet Networks
Alta Data Technologies
MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC-429 are popular avionics technologies but can be difficult to integrate in ever increasingly Ethernet oriented system designs. With the advent of real-time 1553 and ARINC network appliances, the task of integrating the various technologies has just got a lot simpler.
3 June 2011

New Technology Enables a Chip Scale Atomic Clock
Symmetricom
This paper examines the technology, product features, performance specifications and several example applications of the Symmetricom CSAC SA.45s - the world's first Chip Scale Atomic Clock.
3 June 2011

Introducing Embedded Solutions for Healthcare
Microsoft Webinar Series
Learn how the Microsoft Windows Embedded family of products directly contributes to a project's commercial success by helping developers design medical devices that address market challenge, offer compelling competitive advantages and speak to current and long term market needs
3 June 2011

UI Design Considerations for Medical Devices by Infragistics
Microsoft Webinar Series
This seminar will outline user experience best practices and layout important UI design considerations for small form factor devices. Special attention will be given to designing devices for the medical field, including medical practices and hospitals.
3 June 2011

Connecting Medical Devices in the Age of Telehealth
Microsoft Webinar Series
With the growth of the telehealth industry, embedded solutions need to provide connectivity with secure and reliable data transfer and management for both the patient and the provider. This webinar discusses how embedded system providers like Eurotech are meeting these new trends in connectivity and cloud computing in the medical industry by coupling the right hardware with software.
3 June 2011

Analysis of Total Cost of Hardware Ownership by InHand Electronics, Inc.
Microsoft Webinar Series
In a world full of specifications and buzz words, the overall cost of product over its lifetime is often glossed over during the design cycle in favor of incorporating the latest and greatest features. This can be extremely costly over the long term life of a product, especially in medical, military, and industrial markets where the typical product life cycle is easily 7+ years. This webinar discusses what todays design engineers and engineering managers need to consider when making a hardware platform decision and presents a success story for the medical sample and assay giant, Qiagen.
3 June 2011

3D Imaging for Medical Solutions using Silverlight and WPF
Microsoft Webinar Series
This session walks you through the ease with which Silverlight/WPF technologies can be used to create solutions for the medical industry. Also, includes a demo on creating 3D-imaging application.
3 June 2011

Exploiting the Power of Real-Time SMP Multicore Software for Imaging and Diagnostics: Freeing Medical Systems OEMs from Architecture Constraints
Microsoft Webinar Series
Medical Systems OEMs are no longer limited to building only the systems that pre-determined hardware configurations can accommodate. By combining Windows Embedded Standard 7 and IntervalZero's RTX SMP-enabled real-time software to exploit the power of x86/x64 multicore multiprocessors, OEMs can achieve system-development cost reductions, increased scalability, improved quality, product differentiation, and extended market reach.
3 June 2011

Attack Trends on Mobile and Embedded Devices
Mocana
With millions of new electronic devices connecting to the internet every day, hackers are increasingly focused on a new type of target: mobile and embedded systems. This paper attempts to highlight some of the latest attacks against embedded systems, including mobile phones, medical devices, and the nation's electric infrastructure.
18 May 2011

Best Practices for Testing Secure Applications for Embedded Devices
Mocana
Today's complex applications connect with each other using an enormous variety of communication protocols and require significantly more complex testing to ensure that they not only function as intended under ideal conditions, but that they also contain no vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Using these recommendations as a guide, you can ensure that your embedded application is robust and secure, reduce time to market, and promote positive brand identity.
18 May 2011

7 Questions to ask about VPX compatibility
Acromag
With support for multiple high speed serial bus protocols, the VPX standard is wrought with variations and deviations that complicate compatibility between system boards. This paper discusses various issues to review for chassis, power, and serial bus communication compatibility.
4 April 2011

Addressing the Challenges of Lead-free Technology in Mil/Aero Electronics
Curtiss Wright
RoHS and WEEE are European Union directives that ban the use of lead and five other substances in many electronics applications, effectively initiating the world-wide lead-free movement. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing is a leader in terms of its extensive lead-free knowledge, risk analysis and mitigation.
1 April 2011

USB to Synchronous Cable Enables IP Data Communications for Tactical Radios
Sealevel Systems
Sealevel Systems, Inc. has developed a high-throughput synchronous interface that works seamlessly with software developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA): Sealevel's ACC-188 USB synchronous radio adapter cable and DISA's free PDA-184 tactical data communications software application. The plug-and-play cable can be quickly connected to your computer or handheld device via USB connection and to your tactical radio, making it easy for warfighters to enhance their critical high-speed data communication on the battlefield.
31 March 2011

Building a Better Embedded Solution
Concurrent Computer Corp.
Whether you are building hard real-time embedded applications or just need an easy-to-use/cost-effective embedded platform for development and deployment, a reliable high-performance embedded operating system is just the beginning to a successful project. In this paper, you will get a full view of Concurrent Real Time's solution for the embedded industry, the RedHawk Embedded Linux platform. You will learn how RedHawk Embedded puts you in control of your embedded software and multi-core system resources with fully integrated tools to "build a better embedded solution." Improved ability to control costs, support and professional services round out the solution.
8 March 2011

High-Density Computing Systems in Surveillance Applications
Trenton Technology
When surveillance aircraft like the Boeing RC-135V/W or RIVET JOINT require advanced technology to serves as the eyes, ears and voice of personnel engaged with hostile forces, high-density computing systems answer the call.
8 March 2011

Video Walls Require Long-Life Design in Military Environments
Trenton Technology
Massive video walls are commonly deployed to serve the needs of critical applications such as monitoring military UAV video feeds, network operations centers and command & control centers. Behind the screen are video wall processors that require long-life designs when deployed in military environments.
8 March 2011

Implications of Migrating to Windows Embedded Standard 7 (WES7) in Embedded Applications
Versalogic
This paper describes some of the differences between Windows Embedded Standard 7 (WES7) and Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (WES2009). The paper provides OEM developers with a detailed understanding of the differences between the two embedded products when building and deploying a fully-functional Windows Embedded image on a target device.
18 January 2011

Serial Fabrics Handbook
Pentek, Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded High-Speed Switched Serial Fabrics Handbook. Updated in January 2011, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers.
4 January 2011

Software Defined Radio Handbook
Pentek, Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Software Radio Handbook. Updated in January 2011, the handbook has proved to be a useful technical reference for engineers.
4 January 2011

High-Speed Switched Serial Fabrics Improve System Design
Pentek, Inc
As evolutionary enhancements to the venerable VMEbus, both VXS and VPX deliver significant improvements in data, bandwidth, connectivity, power distribution, and cooling. When VME was first introduced, its shared bus backplane interboard transfer rates of 30 or 40 MBytes/sec was more than adequate for most applications. As requirements grew, VME acquired new interfaces such as VSB, RACEway, RACE++, VME64, VME320, and 2eSST, thereby ensuring a healthy community of suppliers and a new stream of products.
4 January 2011

Software Defined Radio Handbook
Pentek, Inc
SDR (Software Defined Radio) has revolutionized electronic systems for a variety of applications including communications, data acquisition and signal processing. This handbook shows how DDCs (Digital Downconverters) and DUCs (Digital Upconverters), the fundamental building blocks of SDR, can replace conventional analog receiver designs, offering significant benefits in performance, density and cost.
4 January 2011

COM Standards in Harsh Environments
MEN Micro
Discussions on COM standards are regularly heard, while comparing COM standards from a rugged application perspective is all too often not part of the discussion. Recognizing that COM is a broad concept, it's easy to see how there might be multiple approaches and different standards for its execution. We'll take a look at how a standardized platform can further increase the cost efficiencies of this technology, especially when applied to applications not traditionally associated with COMs.
29 December 2010

FUNDAMENTALS OF MULTICORE: Operating Systems for Telecom/Networking Applications
ENEA
This white paper provides a "tutorial like" overview of the fundamental issues that apply to multicore software operating systems implementation for the telecom/ networking space. It starts with consideration of the di!erent generic application processing classes in telecom/networking (e.g. control plane, data plane). It then considers the mapping of these processing requirements to the two primary software processing models for multicore (e.g. SMP, AMP, etc).
6 December 2010

Mobile & Smart Device Security Survey 2010
Mocana
PCs are no longer the dominant form of computing. By far, most "computers" and most nodes on the Internet are now non-PC smart devices-an "Internet of Things" As this trend accelerates and everyday gadgets and machines of every imaginable type connect, security threats to individuals and society at large are likely to grow. How real is this threat? And, to what extent are organizations actually preparing for it?
12 November 2010

Introduction to Security for Smart Object Networks with BONUS Free Software Trial
Mocana
Security is as important in smart object networks as it is in traditional computer networks, if not more so. In this white paper we discuss smart object applications and relevant threats, evaluate various approaches to securing against specific threats, offer some practical guidelines for building security into smart object networks, and finally tackle some common misconceptions about securing these devices.
12 November 2010

Comparing BIOS and Boot Loader Features
Insyde Software
This document helps developers quickly evaluate transition paths from an existing boot loader platform to an Intel Atom platform. Should they adapt their existing boot loader, use the Intel boot loader kit, the Insyde royalty-free do-it-yourself UEFI firmware provided by InsydeDiY, or a fully functional customized BIOS with industry-tested InsydeH2O?
10 November 2010

Bigger Jobs in the Same Space
Advanced Digital Logic
The increase in CPU power, memory and interconnect bandwidth in step with Moore's Law and implemented as PCIe/104, continues to multiply the computing power within the PC/104 form factor. And this one still has room to grow.
25 October 2010

Computing Technologies for Medical Equipment
Intel
Advanced Intel Product Technologies Boost - Reliability, Manageability and Security The healthcare industry, continually striving to improve patient care, benefits from advanced computing technology used in a range of equipment such as intelligent, networked patient monitors, handheld diagnostic devices and CT scanners.
27 September 2010

High End Medical Imaging Requires High-End Processor Technology
Kontron
Now that you don't need to buy a supercomputer to run a high end medical imaging application, hospitals, drug researchers and medical institutions are able to find affordable high performance platforms that can run CAD, X-Ray, MRI and other imaging systems. The demand for Intel-based multi core platforms continues to grow and enhance the high-end medical sector.
21 September 2010

How to Select an Industrial PC with I/O for a Wide Temperature Application
Acromag
As more embedded computing projects migrate from large rack-based VME or CompactPCI systems and into small box computers, designers need to take heat inside and outside the box into consideration. This white paper discusses various heat management techniques.
5 August 2010

Data-Oriented Architecture: A Loosely-Coupled Real-Time SOA
Real-Time Innovations
As more devices and systems get woven into the fabric of our networked world, the scale and the complexity of integration is growing at a rapid pace. Our existing methodologies and training for system software design, rooted in principles of object-oriented design, that worked superbly for small scale systems begin to break down as we discover operational limits which requires frequent and unintended redesigns in programs year over year. Fundamentally, object-oriented thinking leads us to think in terms of tightly-coupled interactions that include strong state assumptions. Large scale distributed systems are often a mix of subsystems created by independent parties, often using different middleware technologies, with misaligned interfaces. Integrating such sub-systems using object-oriented thinking poses some fundamental challenges.
6 July 2010

Conduction Cooling Techniques for Rugged Computers
Kontron
Conduction cooling for modular embedded computers has been used for many years in applications where air cooling is not appropriate. Standardization efforts have helped to maintain interoperability of COTS products. Conduction cooled design techniques are continuously improving to meet the requirements for higher power dissipation and lower price. This paper will examine why applications use conduction cooled boards, the concept of the Ruggedizer and ways to extend thermal performance.
6 July 2010

Kontron supplies multi-processor VME solution to power the world's most accurate satellite navigation system
Kontron
The world's latest and most advanced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Galileo, is now in its test and validation phase. At the heart of the system's Ground Control Center (GCC) is a multi-processor embedded computer system from Kontron consisting of around 180 high performance dualcore 6U VME CPU boards. By the time this iconic European infrastructure goes into full operation, Kontron will have delivered more than 1000 high-performance dual-core VME boards, the equivalent of 26 teraflops of peak processing power.
6 July 2010

Computer-on-Modules: Enabling Longevity and Scalability for Innovative Embedded Applications
Kontron
6 July 2010

Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems
Pentek, Inc
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Putting FPGAs to Work in Software Radio Systems Handbook. Now in its 5th edition, the handbook proves to be a useful technical reference for engineers. It's yours free, just click on the link to download: Pentek
29 June 2010

Actel SmartFusion: Intelligent, Innovative Integration White Paper
Actel
Actel's new family of SmartFusion chips takes all the traditional advantages of FPGAs and combines them with equally flexible analog circuitry and the world's most popular embedded processor. It's all rolled up in one package, and all under your control. It's a single "super chip" that could very probably be the only chip in your system. How's that for space, time, power and cost savings?
3 June 2010

Design Made Easy with Mixed-Signal FPGAs and State of the Art Software Tools
Actel
This paper examines the evolution path for FPGAs with embedded processors, and the design tools that support them, and considers whether engineers need to evolve their techniques to accommodate the integrated silicon or whether they can continue to manage their boundaries at the silicon level instead of the board level. New techniques are available in the embedded mixed signal FPGA design flow, but do they smooth the adoption of a fully integrated device?
3 June 2010

Shrinking Dies and Cooling PC/104
Advanced Digital Logic
One of the dilemmas facing mechanical engineers is the perpetually shrinking size of processor dies, which presents major thermal management challenges in PC/104 systems. Instead of relying on traditional heat sink and fan solutions, designers can use transmissive thermal interface systems to transfer heat out of small die processor boards in keeping with PC/104 height specifications.
7 May 2010

How to Automatically Ensure Military/Aerospace Software Meets Quality and Compliance Requirements
Coverity
Gain insight into how to successfully overcome strict compliance and testing requirements, and increasing demand for increasingly complex functionality with Coverity software integrity products for organizations with zero tolerance policies for software failures and security breaches. Results summarized alongside Deloitte, VDC Research, and other studies.
25 March 2010

Compliance and Regulation: Meet DO-178B Software Verification Guidelines with Coverity Integrity Center
Coverity
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes DO-178B, one of the most stringent standards in use in the software development industry, as an acceptable means of compliance for securing the FAA approval of software in airborne systems and equipment. This document will discuss how the Coverity Integrity Center can help with specific software verification guidelines as outlined in DO-178B.
25 March 2010

Minimal Boot Loader for Intel Architecture
Intel
The intent of this White paper is to describe the minimal initialization steps that are necessary in order to boot to an Intel Architecture (IA) platform. The Intel Embedded Design Center provides qualified developers with web-based access to technical resources. Access Intel Confidential design materials, step-by step guidance, application reference solutions, training, Intel's tool loaner program, and connect with an e-help desk and the embedded community. Design Fast. Design Smart. Get started today. www.intel.com/embedded/edc.
17 March 2010

Integrating Graphic Designers into the Embedded Design Cycle
Crank Software Inc
This white paper examines technical issues that graphic designers and system engineers face when designing GUIs for products in the embedded market, and looks at tools to facilitate and streamline the graphic design process.
26 February 2010

PCI Express Expansion in the Industrial Marketplace (January 2005):
One Stop Systems
Market Needs and Applications of PCI Express Expansion Products
24 February 2010

MAX Express Expansion Overview
One Stop Systems
Illustrated Overview
24 February 2010

Anatomy of MAX Express Cable Expansion (White Paper, August 2005):
One Stop Systems
How to build a high-speed PCI Express Expansion System using MAX Express products
24 February 2010

CompactPCI and AdvanceTCA Systems Magazine (August 2006):
One Stop Systems
A Guide to CompactPCI Express
24 February 2010

HSIB™ — A New Interoperable, High-Bandwidth, Low-Latency Bus based on Cabled PCI Express:
One Stop Systems
This paper introduces the HSIB bus, a new higher-bandwidth, lower-latency instrument control bus. HSIB extends cabled PCI Express to solve high-performance test problems by defining how multiple PCs and/or instruments can transfer data. This paper covers HSIB technical and business benefits, challenges of standardizing cabled PCI Express, HSIB physical and software layers, early prototype benchmarking results, and future direction.
24 February 2010

Meeting Real-Time Requirements in Integrated Defense Systems
Real-Time Innovations
This paper examines the challenges faced by defense network software, traces the evolution of real-time requirements, and examines how the required performance is possible with modern, standards-based, commercial technology.
24 February 2010

Using Embedded Linux and Flash Memory to Build Responsive and Reliable Products
Datalight
Whether you’re considering a move to embedded Linux, or you’re fully immersed in embedded Linux development, there are steps you can take to ensure a successful project and avoid some of the common pitfalls of working with flash in this environment. This whitepaper examines the current situation embedded Linux developers find themselves in based on three key trends, explores the dos and don’ts, and gives you some tips to make your embedded Linux projects successful.
24 February 2010

Increase Revenues with Digital Video Surveillance
Adaptec/Seagate/Arrow
With the migration from analog systems to digital systems, video surveillance has become a booming market whose growth is estimated
24 February 2010

Learn more about DO-254 with additional tech papers
Mentor Graphics
Find additional resources about the new government standard for commercial airline safety from the Mentor Graphics technical library. There you’ll find everything from a basic introduction that presents the new DO-254 standard in easy-to-understand terminology, to more detailed applications of how to incorporate it into your designs. Learn how to meet your DO-254 quality objectives while improving the productivity of your flows. Download a free technical paper today.
24 February 2010

High-Density, High-Performance Integrated, Multi-Chip Memory Solutions
Austin Semiconductor
In 2006, Austin Semiconductor answered the challenge with the iPEM product line. This new product family definition was based on a 32mm x 25mm, 255 ball BGA with a ball pitch of 1.27mm. This product was defined with DDR2 as the basis for the product family electro-mechanical interconnect, facilitating backward compatibility architecture wise and backward as well as forward density migration for all family architecture members.
24 February 2010

COTS Embedded Database Solving Dynamic Points-of-Interest
Birdstep Technology, Inc.
In navigation devices of today the This article looks at how commercial of the shelf (CTOS) database solutions can be utilized to solve the dynamic point of interest problem.
24 February 2010

Data Management Solution: Build vs. Buy
Birdstep Technology, Inc.
This article explores
24 February 2010

Database Management in Real-time and Embedded Systems
Birdstep Technology, Inc.
This article points out things to consider when making the decision to go with a commercial real-time embedded database or build your own. It also makes some comments around database models to utilize to get your job done.
24 February 2010

Moxa secret behind wide temperature technology
MOXA
What does it take to design wide temperature computers that generally have an operating temperature range of -40°C to 75°C? By constructing an industrial computer to be operable under extreme heat and cold, manufacturers can assure reliability and reduce the likelihood of product failure for applications in a variety of harsh environments over extended periods of time. Download this white paper to learn more about the secrets behind wide temperature computers.
24 February 2010

Debugging Techniques with an RTOS
Mentor Graphics
24 February 2010

Abstracting Device Driver Code for Efficient Porting, Testing & Code Reuse
Mentor Graphics
24 February 2010

Using C++ Efficiently in Embedded Applications Tech Paper
Mentor Graphics
24 February 2010

Power-Aware FPGA Design
Actel
24 February 2010

High-Volume nano FPGAs Going Where no FPGA Has Gone Before
Actel
24 February 2010

Incredible Shrinking Medical Devices
Actel
24 February 2010

Competitive Programmable Logic Power Comparison
Actel
24 February 2010

Computer Architectures for Embedded Safety-Critical Applications
MEN Micro
Failures of safety-critical electronic systems can result in loss of life, substantial financial damage or severely harm the environment. Such systems are used in medical equipment, airplanes, trains, weapons and nuclear power stations. The term "security" means that something is not only secure but also secured.
24 February 2010

Designing with ARM Based Systems
Mentor Graphics
The ARM architecture is the most widely used processor architecture in the world with new licensees signing up every month. Supporting this growth is the ARM Connected Community which forms a broad ecosystem to support designers using ARM cores. Mentor Graphics are at the forefront of the ARM Connected Community from both a hardware EDA perspective as well as from the embedded software side where their Nucleus OS is deployed on more ARM powered devices than any other operating system.
24 February 2010

StackableUSB Extended Power
StackableUSB
USB 2.0 provides for up to 500mA of +5 Volt power to each device. The device requests power in 2mA increments via the MaxPower field in the deviceâ€™s configuration descriptor. The field is one byte in size and the maximum allowable value is 250 for a total of 500mA requested.
24 February 2010

Streamlining DO-178B Efforts With Klocwork Source Code Analysis
Klocwork
Software development teams aiming to achieve DO-178B certification can streamline their efforts through the use of source code analysis tools. In this white paper, learn how Klocwork’s defect, architecture, and metrics analysis tools can be used to automate time consuming tasks and achieve key objectives of the DO-178B guidance.
24 February 2010

Switched Ethernet Latency Analysis
GE Fanuc
High data throughput and low cost make Ethernet attractive to users of specialized networks. However, Ethernet has a key shortcoming; the time it takes data to traverse the network cannot be predicted. Techniques in this paper enable users to analyze maximum data latency, enabling Ethernet to be used effectively in specialty networks.
24 February 2010

Is DDS for You?
RTI
Today's embedded software applications are increasingly distributed; they communicate data between many computing nodes in a networked system. Several network middleware designs have arisen to meet the resulting communications need, including client-server, message passing, and publish-subscribe architectures.
24 February 2010

Embedded Computers for Substation Automation
Moxa
Power substations play a critical role in transporting electricity from power plants to homes, businesses, and factories. However, a typical power grid can be comprised of hundreds of substations that need to monitored and controlled. Thanks to the rapid growth of computer and communication technology, power substations are becoming more automated and increasingly deploy intelligent devices to monitor and control unmanned facilities. Key factors to establishing successful substation automation systems include faster and more reliable networking solutions such as embedded computers. This white paper discusses how embedded computer systems can provide reliable automation for power substation networks.
24 February 2010

A Single-Chip 24 GHz SiGe BiCMOS Transceiver for Low Cost FMCW Airborne Radars
US Monolithics
New Economical 24 GHz FMCW Radar on a Single Chip Expands Options for Short Range Radar. The goal of this new MMIC is to provide a highly integrated FMCW transceiver with all components on a single-chip, while still achieving adequate transmit-to-receive isolation. Engineers now have a significantly higher performing, lower cost, and more reliable product.
24 February 2010

RECOM 100% DC-DC power at 100°C. No derating!
Recom Power
RECOM uses I.C.E. Technology for its highly anticipated Power line Plus series of DC/DC converters offering 100% power from -45°C up to 100°C ambient temperature without derating. It's the ideal choice for Military COTS and Aerospace applications. The converters series feature ICE Technology, a revolutionary method of extending the temperature range without increasing the dimensions over standard converters.
24 February 2010

Extending PCI-Express in MicroTCA Platforms
Magma
Magma's AMC Adapter allows telecommunication solution providers to extend MicroTCA's traditional role as a chassis for AMC modules to now include legacy hardware built around PCI and PCI Express bus architectures.
24 February 2010

Achieving Breakthrough Performance with Tree-based File Systems
Datalight
Using the right file system is a critical factor in achieving system performance, but it is often overlooked. As ever larger amounts of data bog down embedded system performance, device manufacturers compensate by adding faster processors and mroe memory, which in turn increases device cost and impacts battery life. In this paper, we will look at a more efficient way of achieving device responsiveness by improving data management performance with a highly optimized file system.
24 February 2010

Designing SONAR Systems for Harbor Surveillance
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
As the most widely-installed local area network technology, Ethernet is used as a universal network solution in office and web applications, and production facilities. But when Ethernet was developed over 30 years ago, time-critical, deterministic or safety-relevant tasks were not taken into account. Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTEthernet) expands classical Ethernet use with powerful services (SAE AS6802) to meet the new requirements of reliable, real-time data delivery in advanced integrated systems. In addition, TTEthernet switches provide ARINC 664 functionality to meet existing requirements of avionics Ethernet networks.
24 February 2010

Time Triggered Ethernet - A Powerful Time-Triggered Network Solution
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
As the most widely-installed local area network technology, Ethernet is used as a universal network solution in office and web applications, and production facilities. But when Ethernet was developed over 30 years ago, time-critical, deterministic or safety-relevant tasks were not taken into account. Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTEthernet) expands classical Ethernet use with powerful services (SAE AS6802) to meet the new requirements of reliable, real-time data delivery in advanced integrated systems. In addition, TTEthernet switches provide ARINC 664 functionality to meet existing requirements of avionics Ethernet networks.
24 February 2010

Increasing Bandwidth and Connectivity in Small Form Factor, High-Performance Embedded Applications: The I/O-Centric, High-Speed SUMIT Interconnect Standard
VersaLogic Corp.
Designers of high-performance embedded systems need to incorporate growing numbers and types of I/O in smaller and smaller off-the-shelf and semi-custom boards, while keeping their design platforms flexible enough to accommodate a variety of designs, including some that must maintain compatibility with legacy I/O.
24 February 2010

Myths and Realities of Real-Time Linux Software Systems
VersaLogic Corp.
This white paper addresses the fundamentals of real-time embedded systems, differences between soft and hard real-time systems, and the current state of the PREEMPT_RT patch in the Linux kernel. This includes an analysis of several common misconceptions including performance issues, latency, programming APIs and the software kernel. In addition, there are suggestions for implementation options to convert Linux to a real-time operating system.
24 February 2010

The Vision for Next Generation CompactPCI (R) and PICMG 2.30 Standards Featuring 3M Connectors and Men Micro SBCs
MEN Micro
This webinar reviews how the new PICMG 2.30 CompactPCI PlusIO standard adds serial functions on the J2 rear I/O connector in CompactPCI systems for added flexibility and versatility as well as easier system upgrades. Implementation examples at the system, board (SBC) and connector level are demonstrated.
24 February 2010

The CHAMP-AV6: Maximizing Performance with Minimal Porting Effort
Curtiss Wright
This paper presents information from a benchmark prepared by Gedae Inc. which compares the relative performance of the CHAMP-AV4 Freescale Power Architecture MPC7447A Digital Signal Processor and CHAMP-AV6 Freescale MPC8641D Digital Signal Processor running a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) application.
24 February 2010

Six Design and Development Considerations for Embedded Multi-Processor Systems
Aonix
Established over 40 years ago, Moore's law explains that processor capacity roughly doubles every two years. The doubling of capacity can be seen as doubling of memory sizes and processing speeds. In recent years, chip companies have found that the most effective way to profit from today's wealth of transistors is to place multiple processing cores on the same chip. This paper discusses some of the issues associated with targeting symmetric multi-processor (SMP) platforms for embedded and real-time software systems.
24 February 2010

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Data Acquisition and Embedded Control: Part One - Analog Inputs
UEI
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Data Acquisition and Embedded Control: Part One — Analog Inputs," covers popular system types, A/D conversion, input channel configuration, simultaneous sampling, accuracy specifications, sample rate, input range, and more.
24 February 2010

Design considerations in building shielded enclosures
Equipto Electronics
Designing enclosures to protect against EMI requires following standards, making careful materials selection, and most importantly, backing up theoretical knowledge with first-hand experience.
24 February 2010

The Future of CAN / CANopen and the Industrial Ethernet Challenge
ESD Electronics, Inc
Industrial Ethernet technologies are a formidable challenge to CANopen as the low-cost industrial networking technology of choice. Ethernet technologies will eventually replace the majority of CANopen applications, at least in regards to new developments
24 February 2010

Embedded Computing: The Next Generation Merging the best of PC/104 and COM-style architectures
Diamond Systems
This whitepaper examines an emerging paradigm in embedded computing, the "Embedded-Ready Subsystem", how it evolved and its benefits compared to popular stackable architectures, such as PC/104, and computer-on-module systems.
24 February 2010

FlightSafety uses UEI's RACKtangle I/O System
UEI
Learn how FlightSafety International Simulation, uses United Electronic Industries' RACKtangle Input/Output linkage to increase performance while saving time, money and space.
24 February 2010

A Modern Alternative to VME
UEI
The Ethernet I/O chassis from United Electronic Industries is a modern alternative to aging VME systems and why FlightSafety International has switched from VME to UEI's Gigabit Ethernet RACKtangle I/O chassis
24 February 2010

Software Defined Radio Handbook, 7th Edition
Pentek
The folks at Pentek are pleased to announce their recently released and expanded Software Radio Handbook. Now in its 7th Edition, the handbook proves to be a useful technical reference for engineers.
24 February 2010

OpenVPX Backplane Profiles: Making Sense of System Interoperability For VPX
Elma Bustronic
OpenVPX has opened up new definitions for VPX backplanes and systems. This includes defined Module Profiles, Slot Profiles, backplane & chassis configurations, secondary expansion fabrics and control planes, and higher speed fabric options. Elma Bustronic will provide some clarity for the new definitions and what they entail.
24 February 2010

Getting Started with Android Development for Embedded Systems (Whitepaper)
Mentor Graphics
This paper takes a look at the design of Android, how it works, and how it may be deployed to accelerate the development of a connected device. Along with basic guidelines to getting started with Android, the Android SDK, its available tools and resources are reviewed and some consideration is given to applications for Android beyond conventional mobile handsets such as medical devices, consumer electronics and military/aerospace systems.
24 February 2010

Getting Started with Android Development for Embedded Systems (Webinar)
Mentor Graphics
This webinar takes a look at the design of Android, how it works and how it may be deployed to accelerate the development of a connected device. Android is an open source platform built by Google that includes an operating system, middleware and applications for the development of devices employing cellular communications.
24 February 2010

Cobham Sensor System's latest Digital Receiver - Digital Receiver DRX-5571
Cobham Sensor Systems
The DRX-5571 is the latest addition to Cobham Sensor Systems, formerly, M/A-COM SIGINT Products Inc., line of high-performance microwave set-on receivers. The proven RF to IF performance of the SMR-5550 series receivers is combined with FPGA-based demodulation and radio demultiplexing capability. This allows the receiver to fully process microwave signals having complex modulation and encoding schemes down to underlying radio payload. Thus the DRX-5571 provides a completely integrated system solution for performing capture, analysis, survey, and collection of wideband digital radio RF signals
24 February 2010

AMD in Embedded: Proven Leadership and Solutions
AMD
A long history of high-performance low-power solutions for embedded applications
24 February 2010

DO-254 Overview: Compliance Challenges and Solutions
Mentor Graphics
Watch this presentation to learn about DO-254 principles and how to establish a requirements-based, high-quality design flow that supports the principles of DO-254 compliance. DO-254 compliance is a recent challenge that aerospace hardware vendors now face. The ability to establish compliant and highly productive design flows can make the difference between companies that are successful in this market and those that fall by the wayside.
24 February 2010