By Tram Chase and Traci McDonald
Our tool, HOST Hardware Integration Tool Set (HHITS), was recently showcased at two different conferences in Atlanta, GA. HHITS allows hardware system integrators to search a repository of hardware components, virtually build a chassis, apply rule sets, and identify and mitigate any incompatibilities before acquiring any hardware. Tram Chase and Traci McDonald went to the Embedded Tech Trends show, January 27-28, and Tri-Service Open Architecture Interoperability Demonstration (TSOA-ID), January 29, to share more about the development and power of the tool.
Embedded Tech Trends
Embedded Tech Trends was organized by the VITA Standards Organization. It is an “industry-wide forum where suppliers of component, board and system level solutions can meet exclusively with members of relevant industry media to discuss technologies, trends, and products” (Embedded Tech Trends). As the Embedded Tech Trends website stated, many people came such as members of the media, including editors, bloggers, and analysts covering the critical embedded computing industry; C-level executives and VPs from sponsor companies; and technology suppliers that are innovative in the industry.
Tram gave a presentation called, “OK, Try it Now,” on the challenges of system integration and the need to move from document-centric standards to more data-centric standards. This benefits the integration community by allowing an ecosystem of tools to be developed that would aid them in their integration efforts. He invited everyone to stop by our booth the next day at the TSOA-ID to see our solution.
“The goal of Embedded Tech Trends is to educate the media covering the community of embedded computing developers in target vertical markets on the application of system, board, and switch fabric technologies. The forum also provides an outstanding networking opportunity between the media and ecosystems supporting the embedded systems computing industry. The forum will help our ecosystem build brand awareness, familiarity and consideration” (Embedded Tech Trends). Tram and Traci’s biggest takeaway from this event is that there is a need to move toward data-centric information in the hardware community that will allow an ecosystem of tools to be developed.
Tri-Service Open Architecture Interoperability Demonstration (TSOA-ID)
Tri-Service Open Architecture Interoperability Demonstration (TSOA-ID) was organized by the Navy, Army, and Air Force. The event was organized to “showcase never-before-seen developments in the growing open market ecosystem. Live demonstrations were given on: Systems Acquisition and Integration, Module Specification and Development, Conformance (qualification), and Open Systems Realization” (TSOA-ID). The day was full of speakers such as Randall G. Walden, SES, Director and Program Executive Officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Colonel Nickolas Kioutas, Project Manager for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing under PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S), and Captain Christopher R. McDowell, Program Manager Air Combat Electronics (PMA-209). There were also attendees from the media, Program Managers/Acquisition Community, and industry influencers.
SimVentions had a table to present HHITS and how it fit into the Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) ecosystem. Demos of our tool were given to participants which generated interest from everyone, especially the hardware vendors.
“TSOA-ID is designed for guests to experience and witness a greater maturity and acceptance of OA development. With FACE™, as well as standards defined through HOST, SOSA™, CMOSS, several Army, Navy and Air Force representatives will demonstrate the ease of interoperability (exchange of hardware and software modules) which allows for faster incorporation of innovation and delivery of new capabilities (or replacement technology) to alleviate being forced into changing all components in an entire system. The growing market ecosystem achievement breaks decades-long barriers created by tightly integrated systems, thus allowing new capabilities to be transitioned orders of magnitude faster than the past” (TSOA-ID).
This event proved to us that the tri-services are onboard with the open architecture initiative by adopting and incorporating standards such as HOST, SOSATM, FACETM, and OpenVPXTM in their acquisition and development processes enabling capabilities to get to the warfighter faster and cheaper.
About SimVentions
SimVentions’ corporate office is located at 100 Riverside Pkwy, Suite 123, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406 and offers engineering and technology solutions to the Department of Defense, including the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. For additional information about SimVentions, please visit https://www.simventions.com/.
SimVentions is always looking for qualified candidates across all disciplines to work in the Fredericksburg, VA; Dahlgren, VA; Washington, D.C.; Charleston, SC; and Virginia Beach, VA areas. Apply online at https://www.simventions.com/careers.