POWERFUL ENABLER OF MODERN MILITARY SYSTEMS:

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1 f WHITE PAPER POWERFUL ENABLER OF MODERN MILITARY SYSTEMS: MODULAR SMALL FORM FACTOR PLATFORMS MEET INCREASING DEFENSE PROGRAM INTEGRATION NEEDS f BUILDING BLOCK SOLUTION IS VALUABLE DESIGN RESOURCE TO SPEED DEVELOPMENT AND CUT COSTS

2 SMALL FORM FACTOR DESIGN HAS BECOME A POWERFUL ENABLER IN THE MODERN MILITARY ALLOWING DEFENSE SYSTEM DEVELOPERS TO MEET INCREASING INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS Small form factor design has become a powerful enabler in the modern military, allowing defense system developers to meet increasing integration requirements for a growing group of unmanned and portable systems. Going a step further are today s pre-validated small form factor systems that represent the next generation in these designs, ensuring flexibility and creating a trusted COTS platform that reduces development cycles and accelerates Proof-of-Concept (PoC) development. Kontron s CO- BALT is a prime example of a rugged, pre-tested platform that leverages the inherent flexibility and advantages of Computer-on-Modules (COMs). Proven in a broad range of successful deployments, Kontron s next generation high-performance embedded COBALT computer provides a powerful and valuable standards-based design resource optimized for the rigors of mil-aero computing. // 2

3 CONTENT UNMANNED AND PORTABLE SYSTEMS // 4 ARE MODERN MILITARY ESSENTIALS CAPITALIZING ON A TRUSTED COTS PLATFORM // 4 COST-EFFECTIVE, FLEXIBLE DESIGN FEATURE-RICH, PRE-VALIDATED PLATFORMS // 5 ACCELERATE PROOF-OF-CONCEPT FORWARD THINKING WITH TYPE 6 COM EXPRESS // 5 MANAGING COSTS WHILE ADDING // 6 APPLICATION-SPECIFIC SOFTWARE PREPARING FOR INCREASED PERFORMANCE // 6 IN THE SAME SMALL SPACE // 3

4 UNMANNED AND PORTABLE SYSTEMS ARE MODERN MILITARY ESSENTIALS Rapid changes on the front line are driving demand for embedded computing solutions that deliver high performance, reduced size-weight-power in an environmentally ruggedized platform in order to meet a diverse list of portable, unmanned and robotic system requirements. According to a 2014 report issued by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in 2013 the DoD possessed nearly 11,000 unmanned aerial systems representing a wide variety of sizes and capabilities. Technical assets also included thousands of small unmanned ground vehicles, and an assortment of experimental unmanned surface vessels and underwater vehicles. The strategy for deploying these systems is to handle jobs that are considered dull, dirty and dangerous, or for lifesaving purposes countering hybrid threats such as organized militias, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or uncertainty about location, context and duration of adversarial contact. Modular plug-and-play payloads maximize safety and combat capability in these scenarios improving situational awareness that protects soldiers and empowers enhanced leadership decisions. Even with defense budget cutbacks, the OEM opportunity is significant. The DoD has stated battlefield commanders have a nearly insatiable need for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (Persistent ISR), which must be ideally suited to the spectrum of high-performance unmanned systems. For example, Air Force 1 resources have shifted to focus on MQ-9 procurement, with 600 percent more payload capability than MQ-1. Combined with the versatile and powerful Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS) sensor, MQ-9 Reaper is increasing the effectiveness of individual Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) by more than 1,200 percent initially, and will eventually reach a 6,000 percent improvement over today s MQ-1 Predator. No longer is the military concentrating on the particular platform such as a truck or other vehicle. The new focus is the integrated system itself, and includes the network and payload along with processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) capabilities. Literally hundreds of systems may be fitted onto a single aircraft or ground vehicle in order to meet these needs, and COMs are just one of the key standard technologies that respond with ideal flexibility, efficiency and value. CAPITALIZING ON A TRUSTED COTS PLATFORM COST- EFFECTIVE, FLEXIBLE DESIGN Operating as a complete computer mounted on a carrier board, the COM Express specification offers one of the smallest standards-based form factors available for military systems; I/O is customizable and the system allows a range of module sizes that optimize SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) considerations. Integrating mezzanine options adds further value, allowing developers to create new systems without significant modification to an original base design. This illustrates the building block concept that simplifies development. Packaging COM Express -based COMs in its ruggedized housing, COBALT creates an application-ready platform ideal for rugged, high-performance deployments. // COBALT COBALT is a highly scalable embedded computer system, sealed and validated IP67, available with a wide selection of processor, storage, power and interface options. Its small footprint and low power are optimized for applications requiring both performance and reduced SWAP (Size, Weight & Power). The COM processor board forms the heart of COBALT s small form factor system, and the complete system includes rugged baseboard, power module, housing and appropriate I/O connectors. The Kontron COBALT is fanless and fully enclosed; the system weighs less than six pounds and offers efficient thermal management in a small 8.5 (W) x 5.5 (D) x 3.9 (H)-inch form factor. Scalable processor options allow developers to manage computing performance as needed for specific application requirements. 1 // According to a report from the Aerospace Industries Association, UAV platforms are considered assets in providing critical capabilities to the U.S. military including Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and improved accuracy for tactical strikes. Size and capabilities vary dramatically, ranging from the micro U.S. Marine Corps Wasp, weighing just a few pounds with a one-hour flight endurance, to the Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk, weighing 7,600 pounds and capable of remaining airborne for 32 continuous hours at altitudes as high as 60,000 feet. See page 7 at: // 4

5 THE SYSTEM CAN PERFORM BASED ON VERY LOW POWER INTEL ATOM PROCESSORS OR BE DEPLOYED AS A MORE POWERFUL INTEL CORE I7-BASED SYSTEM. For instance, the system can perform based on very low power Intel Atom processors or be deployed as a more powerful Intel Core i7-based system. These modules include a range of powerful hardware-based security and performance features such as Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT), Intel Virtualization Technology (VT), and Intel Active Management Technology (AMT). Intel TXT is built into the silicon and helps close any security gaps by evaluating the launch environment and enforcing only known good code execution; Intel VT provides a hardware assist to virtualization software, reducing its size, cost, and complexity, and paying special attention to reducing virtualization overheads occurring in cache, I/O, and memory. Intel AMT adds efficiency by enabling end-users to query, restore, upgrade and protect devices remotely. For military OEMs and developers, this means that devices and systems can be diagnosed and repaired remotely providing a competitive edge and helping meet military demands for effective performance and guaranteed uptime for mission-critical systems. Strict tolerance to shock and vibration has been pre-validated based on the broad spectrum of UAV, tracked vehicle, shipboard and avionics environments. COBALT is also tested to perform reliably in temperatures ranging from -40 to +71 C, proven ready to handle the environmental and physical rigors of military applications. The result is a very robust, standards-based platform that delivers the performance, size, weight and flexibility designers need to streamline development of many different types of applications all from a single platform that enables the use and reuse of low power, reliable designs. FEATURE-RICH, PRE-VALIDATED PLATFORMS ACCEL- ERATE PROOF-OF-CONCEPT COBALT also provides a perfect-fit design approach via use of the system s carrier board and mezzanine card options. Additional design value is also achieved through COMs inherent processor upgradability. The result is a fully tested, optimized and cost-effective design path that reduces time-to-market and satisfies and extensive range of mil-aero design requirements. These benefits also help defense contractors to quickly meet today s PoC and prototype design needs by adding their own application-specific software. No extensive costs or extended development timelines are required in order to test system functionality. Design processes are streamlined and deployment is faster when developers can focus resources on the I/O customization aspects of their system, including support for both Linux and Windows operating systems. Flexible I/O can be designed in through application-specific customization on the carrier board. COBALT COMs standard features include LAN, SATA, video, audio, GPIO, configurable serial ports, and multiple USB. Other unique features enhance rugged performance, such as a special Rapid Shutdown circuit design on the system s RXT modules. Rapid Shutdown is an onboard mechanism that quickly powers off the system, preventing damage in an emergency and allowing the system to survive a high energy pulse such as a nuclear event or high energy electromagnetic pulse (EMP). FORWARD THINKING WITH TYPE 6 COM EXPRESS COBALT also leverages the COM Express Type 6 pin-out and its future design options as a means of ensuring longevity to system designs. Legacy PCI pins (previously assigned to the IDE interface in the Type 2 pin-out) are reallocated to enable the digital display interface, additional PCI Express lanes or technologies still in development. For instance, future technologies could include Super- Speed USB, with 16 free pins offering sufficient lines to implement four of the eight USB 2.0 ports as USB 3.0 ports instead. Type 6 also offers configurable Digital Display Interfaces (DDI) SDVO, DisplayPort and HDMI/DVI along with 23 PCI Express Gen 2 lanes. Type 6 gives designers more to work with than in Type 2, such as greater native display options and higher serial bandwidth. The real advantage is that some of the extra // 5

6 COBALT CAPITALIZES ON CLOSE MANUFACTURER RELATION- SHIPS WITH MAJOR SUPPLIERS SUCH AS INTEL. PCI Express lanes can be routed to serial-based mezzanine card slots such as mpcie and XMC to create expansion options. The resulting performance jump (compared to devices incorporating earlier pin-out options) increases the versatility of the system and establishes an enhanced fourth generation graphics architecture. These performance values are ideal for unmanned applications such as high-resolution surveillance for situational awareness. MANAGING COSTS WHILE ADDING APPLICATION- SPECIFIC SOFTWARE Persistent surveillance or high resolution imaging applications illustrate the potential of improved graphics performance. More powerful graphics display and processing features allow military professionals to simultaneously access and process multiple displays of information. Informational data can now be reviewed in the field or stored for review, while urgent information can be quickly distributed for immediate action. Further, the addition of native support for all the newest display interfaces simplifies carrier board designs. This is significant in reducing time-to-market and total cost of ownership for graphics-intensive military applications. The extensive PCIe support in Type 6 underscores the overall trend of moving away from legacy parallel interfaces and towards pure serial embedded system designs a perfect fit for military applications that demand higher bandwidth and reduced latency. In such a design scenario, ruggedized, thermal performance is validated at the board level and includes reliable performance in temperatures ranging from -40 to +85 C. All I/O routed from the baseboard relies on a proven rugged connector, while all external I/O employs a type MIL circular connector. COBALT ensures the system is modular and upgradable, evolving performance by swapping out modules to access processor advancements. Proven designs can be reused in smaller systems, giving OEMs a competitive advantage in meeting design requirements while avoiding additional customization costs and development resources. Developers avoid design requalification or additional PoC requirements because the system s baseboard stack provides all necessary interconnects between the COM Express board and XMC and mpcie interfaces. PREPARING FOR INCREASED PERFORMANCE IN THE SAME SMALL SPACE Portable or unmanned systems may include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), vetronics, robotics and avionics systems. Each of these computing devices or environments allows no option to expand system footprint in order to accommodate increased power or performance. The need for upgrades is inevitable, as demand for ever-increasing sensor capabilities continues. Yet, it is not practical to simply add more equipment onto an unmanned vehicle. Together these challenges increase the necessity for a compact and modular-open-standard high-performance module or system, making COBALT an ideal computing small form factor solution. Optimized as pre-validated military design platforms, the Kontron COBALT is shown to reduce development cycles, enable fast PoC and act as a versatile, standards-based building block for the range of defense system deployments. Furthermore, COBALT COMs ability to couple mezzanine modules with carrier boards enables military designers to readily use and reuse low power, reliable designs in the development of smaller, highly rugged, high performance systems. COBALT capitalizes on close manufacturer relationships with major suppliers such as Intel. In addition to the inherent flexibility to select a range of processors, these relationships assure developers that components are sourced from long-term embedded roadmaps eliminating the risk of unplanned design changes and unexpected application modification. COBALT is the epitome of the ideal building block approach defense contractors can now use to accelerate development, helping them meet today s small form factor requirements and keeping future systems poised for what s next to deliver advanced defense system capabilities. // 6

7 About Kontron Kontron is a global leader in embedded computing technology. With its employees in research and development, Kontron creates many of the standards that drive the world s embedded computing platforms. Kontron s product longevity, local engineering and support, and value-added services, help create a sustainable and viable embedded solution for OEMs and system integrators. Kontron works closely with its customers on their embedded application-ready platforms and custom solutions, enabling them to focus on their core competencies. The result is an accelerated time-to-market, reduced total-cost-of-ownership and an improved overall application with leading-edge, highly-reliable embedded technology. Kontron is a listed company. Its shares are traded in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on other exchanges under the symbol KBC. For more information, please visit: CORPORATE OFFICES EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Lise-Meitner-Str Augsburg Germany Tel.: Fax: info@kontron.com NORTH AMERICA Stowe Drive Poway, CA USA Tel.: Fax: info@us.kontron.com ASIA PACIFIC 1~2F, 10 Building, No. 8 Liangshuihe 2nd Street, Economical & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, , P.R.China Tel.: Fax: info@kontron.cn Copyright 2015 Kontron AG. All rights reserved. All data is for information purposes only and not guaranteed for legal purposes. Information has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies. Kontron and the Kontron logo and all other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are recognized. Specifications are subject to change without notice. COBALT_ WMH