Sensor Systems
Today's high performance signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems require massive processing power to detect, identify, and classify an enormous number of highly complex signals. SIGINT systems typically consist of a variety of functional elements - signal processors (themselves often consisting of multiple processing elements), snapshot memory buffers, high-speed data recorders, and bulk storage - all residing in multiple physical units, connected through high-speed data pipes. In many application dataflow, the processing elements within and between the distinct units need to be interconnected using switched fabrics.
High-end, mission-critical operations - defense, search and rescue, and offshore security - call for advanced radar systems that can detect targets in complex, high-clutter environments. Radar systems provide activity monitoring, target detection and classification, guidance, and encroachment notification. Additionally, phased array radar systems, which reinforce antenna signals in desired directions and suppress them in others, can perform search, track, and guidance functions for scores of simultaneous targets.
10GbE's ubiquity, performance, and portability make it an attractive high-speed interconnect for such real-time high-bandwidth situational awareness systems. But applications like those above have a unique set of connectivity requirements not encountered in typical commercial applications. The requirements include:
- absorbing extended duration bursts of incoming sensor data at full line-rate, without missing a packet
- synthesizing multi-dimensional models of the environment by synchronously fusing data from a variety of sensors through highly accurate or precise time-stamps
- performing intense real-time application-layer processing that surpasses the capacity of the CPUs for which the data is destined
The common theme above is that the special connectivity requirements can only be performed while the data is still in the 10GbE interface. Once incoming data has exited the interface and made its way to the CPU or internal distribution fabric, it's too late to absorb, accurately time-stamp, or perform the line-rate application layer processing.
AdvancedIO's programmable connectivity enables you to perform critical application processing in the 10GbE interface, where it needs to happen. Watch the video to learn more about the advantages of designing real-time systems using 10GbE:
Application of AdvancedIO Technology
AdvancedIO's modules can form the direct data streaming link between first-stage signal and second-stage beamforming radar processing by accepting payload data from sensors and wrapping it into Ethernet packets for transmission over 10GbE links and networks. Read more ›
AdvancedIO's modules can be integrated with high-speed data record and playback units for system testing and maintenance. The AdvancedIO module offloads UDP protocol processing so that test data can be injected into a system from a record/playback unit at the required data rates. In addition, you can apply packet, data, or signal processing functions to the data streams in order to customize format or content, which allows for flexible testing capabilities and rapid data analysis.
AdvancedIO provides the exceptional performance and flexibility you need for your different SIGINT mission profiles. AdvancedIO solves your connectivity challenges with:
- High-speed point-to-point data pipes to transfer data between distinct units or chassis
- High-speed networking of multiple units that need to share data
- Optimized bridging of 10GbE to other switched fabrics, to enable seamless socket-based API connections between processing elements (PE) located remotely across 10GbE on separate switched fabrics (see diagram below)
Learn more about AdvancedIO's expressXG Framework and plaforms ›