Military system designers may use much of the same basic technologies–embedded form-factors, processor architectures, fabric technologies and so on–as their commercial counterparts, but the way they look at them is very different. This section helps readers sort out which technologies offer the critical mass, market longevity and physical attributes necessary for defense designs.
Most Recent
Advances in Military Robotics
Ambitious Road Ahead for Military Robotics Technology
Jeff Child, Editor-in-Chief
April 2012
There’s no doubt military robots—or unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) as they’re more often called—have proven an incredibly valuable life-saving resource in combat operations in Iraq andRead More...
Past Articles
DoD Budget Report: Major Programs
Leaner Major Programs Budget Keeps Technology in Forefront
Jeff Child, Editor-in-Chief
March 2012
Earlier this month the President’s 2013 Budget Request for the DoD was released, kicking off the process toward the long budget cycle—one sure to be complicated by much disagreementRead More...
Power Supply Trends for Board and Box Level Systems
Power Converter Technologies Adapt to Rugged Military Needs
Jeff Child, Editor-in-Chief
February 2012
As military system developers strive to squeeze more and more computing and electronics into smaller spaces, power has direct implications on the size, cooling and mobility of a board-Read More...
ATCA and CompactPCI Take Post-Acceptance Victory Laps
ATCA Military Adoption Mirrors Telecom Success
John Long, Product Line Manager, ATCA Radisys
January 2012
Since its introduction to the telecommunications industry 10 years ago, the widely adopted AdvancedTCA (ATCA) standard continues to evolve and enable new segments. OriginallyRead More...
ATCA and CompactPCI Take Post-Acceptance Victory Laps
Embedded Computer Building Blocks Serve High-Bandwidth Military Needs
David Pursley, Product Line Manager, Kontron
January 2012
The need for advanced connectivity and bandwidth is continually evolving to support the modern battlefield. This is mainly due to the availability, and thus demands, for higherRead More...
I/O Architectures in Rugged Box-Level Systems
Rugged Box System Technologies Confront I/O Challenges
Jeff Child, Editor-in-Chief
December 2011
Stand-alone rugged box-level systems have become a fixture in the military market. These complete system boxes often support standard form factor boards inside them. The problem isRead More...
I/O Architectures in Rugged Box-Level Systems
Radar Systems Boost Appetite for Faster I/O and DSP Processing
Shaun McQuaid, Sr. Product Manager Anne E. Mascarin, Product Marketing Manager Mercury Computer Systems
December 2011
Today’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) subsystems are required to do more, faster, while ISR application developers are challenged to design sophisticated systemsRead More...
Managing and Processing the ISR Data Deluge
Mobile Ad Hoc Networking Revamps Military Communications
Chris O’Rourke, Technical Marketing Manager Cisco Systems Stephen B. Johnson, Customer Support Engineer Extreme Engineering Solutions
November 2011
Driven by technologies such as data networking, GPS, real-time video feeds from UAVs, and satellite intelligence, today’s modern military has access to a plethora of real-time data.Read More...
Managing and Processing the ISR Data Deluge
GPGPU Technology Eases Persistent Imaging Processing Challenges
Anne Mascarin, Solutions Marketing Manager Mercury Computer Systems
November 2011
Although used previously in conventional warfare applications, persistent imaging is a major new advancement in the war against terror. Radar, electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR),Read More...
Technology Trends for Navy Modernization
Form, Fit and Function Make ATCA Right for Navy Modernization
John Long, Sr. Product Line Manager, RadiSys
October 2011
A key trend in military and aerospace modernization is the push for more performance capabilities. The U.S. Department of Defense often mandates the use of open standards to lowerRead More...
Rugged Laptops and Panel PCs
Laptops and Panel PCs Muster for Rugged Military Duty
Jeff Child, Editor-in-Chief
September 2011
There’s been a major upward trend in the military toward systems that require sophisticated graphical user interfaces. Often in the form of rugged laptops and panel PCs, this isRead More...
Rugged Laptops and Panel PCs
Rugged Military Computers Bulk Up for Harsh Environments
Mark Holleran, President and COO, Xplore Technologies
September 2011
Propelled by the rigorous needs of the U.S. Defense industry, rugged computing technology has come a long way in the last ten years. MIL-STD-461F, RE102 and 810G are the prevailingRead More...
