SubscribeAish Technologies was a pioneer in the development of many naval control systems and designed and manufactured the Versatile Console System (VCS) for the UK Royal Navy (RN) during the 1950’s.
The VCS concept was still being successfully deployed by the UK RN and many overseas Navies in surface and submarine vessels during the 1990's.
During 1991 Aish Technologies was commissioned by the UK MoD to carry out a study on the effectiveness of the VCS concept and to suggest the way forward for the display of Platform Management and Command and Control information.
New split screen CRT technology was developing, together with the rapid miniaturisation of processor and driver board electronics. By the early 1990's the Multi - Function Console (MFC) became the reality that Aish Technologies had predicted in it's study.
During the mid 1990's Flat Panel Display technology had developed sufficiently for it to be considered for use on fighting ships. This fact, together with emerging Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology, enabled new MFC design concepts to be realised.
In recent years the world's Navies have seen significant developments in technologies employed for operator consoles. Over the last decade, Systems Engineers, Designers, Users and Maintainers have, in an effort to reduce cost, driven domestic technology into warships and submarines.
It was common place to have fifteen-year-old hardware technology and bespoke software applications to operate radar, sonar, communications and weapons control systems in warships.
A primary reason, often quoted, for this lag in development was the need to be physically robust and supportable, and this culture allowed sub-systems designers to do it their way. At this time, integration of multiple systems was just an aspiration for Platform Managers.
Common Operating Systems
Drive for cost reduction, mainly in product development, has seen a gradual implementation of data sharing and cross-systems communication. Tactical Data Highways, Data Stores and systems "interface modules" became commonplace.
Moves toward common operating systems have eased the integration of major systems and a more recent push towards an open-architecture policy has realised benefits in terms of hardware and software integration.
It has taken some time for legacy systems to be converted, although all major systems providers now offer applications compatible with common domestic operating systems. It must be acknowledged that alongside Windows XP and Vista there is an accepted use of the Microsoft Operating System, in the form of "Windows for Warships".
UK MoD is not alone in adopting this strategy. Overseas system providers are also taking advantage of the technology and the openness of these systems now allows for true MFC products to be exploited.
Type 45 Destroyer Multi-function Console
Operator stations are no longer decorated with system specific interfaces. Man-machine-input is now a standard keyboard with custom trackball or mouse combined with the latest flat panel touch-screen technology
Aish Technologies Flat Panel Displays
COTS hardware
Domestic use of Flat Panel Display technology has also driven down cost and the space and power savings in a warship environment are significant. Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware utilised within new generation MFC and system cabinets is also an enabler to quick system development and technology refresh. Technology refresh has traditionally happened every 5 - 10 years, a rate driven by development cost and funding availability and not technology.
Aish Technologies has gained significant experience over the past 15 years and has been involved in many programmes that take advantage of the integration of COTS hardware
Recently, Aish Technologies have been involved in programmes having two rounds of technology refresh during the systems development phase, long before a first-of-class or installation has completed sea trials.
Perceived inadequacies associated with 'Windows for Warships' has been considered and addressed. Many system designers are now very comfortable with the concept that COTS hardware can deliver the performance required in the harsh environments of naval platforms.
SMCS NG Multi-function Consoles
Selecting the right solutions
It must be understood that hardware solutions for warship applications involve more than a trip to the local PC supplier. The use of COTS components can significantly reduce development cost and time; however, in the terms of ruggedness they are not all of the same standard.
It is important to select the most appropriate COTS component interface. Size, mass, temperature and structural performance are all key characteristics that need consideration when selecting COTS hardware. Ignoring these can seriously limit the potential for future upgrade and supportability.
Choosing an industry standard interface, e.g. PCIe, cPCI, PICMG or AGP for computer components ATX / MiniATX for PSUs and Motherboards, allows more flexibility than taking it up a level and trying to integrate an OEM packaged PC.
PC cases are designed as domestic products and as such are fashion accessories subject to regular update. Accommodating the potential for a changing case into the design of an MFC can add significant development and production costs which more than outweigh the cost benefits of using an OEM packaged PC.
Even PC cases that allegedly conform to the 19" industry standard IEC 297-2 and BS 5954 Pt.2 can offer complications that limit future potential or result in an increased in overall cost. They are often poorly configured for cooling, mechanical strength or EMC with respect to the military UK defence standards, which differ from the domestic European EMC directive.
Future supportability
Integration of COTS into military products can impact on future supportability and through life capability management. Decisions taken at the design stage can play a major role in through life costs making the selection and appropriate use of COTS the most important factor when considering total costs.
Aish Technologies understands the real benefits and cost of introducing COTS, the pitfalls and advantages, and are able to offer a solution that meets with the needs and expectations of our customers.
Aish technologies has a solid reputation for the development and manufacture of purpose built rugged MFC, cabinets, electronic racks and flat panel displays. This reputation has been built over 60 years with products supplied to over 70 Navies worldwide.
Aish Technologies success is based on it's proven ability to be agile, flexible and innovative in meeting customers technological and programme requirements.