SUNNYVALE, Calif., 13 Sept. 2010. Ultra Electronics (Ultra) is using RTI Data Distribution Service open-standards middleware from Real-Time Innovations (RTI) in its latest-generation integrated sonar system for the Hobart-class Aegis destroyer.
Ultra engineers are developing the sonar system for the Royal Australian Navy and prime contractor Raytheon. To optimize the system, Ultra has produced an Open Architecture Systems Integration Service (OASIS) architecture strategy that leverages the open-standard Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems (DDS) from the Object Management Group (OMG). It provides the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance and the end-user community a modular integration environment for the complete system with system interoperability, says a company spokesperson.
“Our extensive testing showed that RTI Data Distribution Service is the most robust and field-proven implementation of the DDS standard available. RTI’s wholehearted adoption of an open-architecture strategy in the implementation of DDS is a perfect match for the Ultra business strategy,” says Sean Bell, chief software engineer at Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems.
Ultra’s open architecture tool set abstracts the software design from the hardware implementation, enabling hardware selection late in the implementation phase and cost savings. RTI’s implementation of the DDS standard transparently supports many processor and transport platforms, making it well suited for Ultra’s development and product strategy.
Performance has been a key requirement of the system design. The advanced sonar design required the integration of several subsystems. The design also demands a fast, real-time data fusion capability. RTI Data Distribution Service real-time messaging middleware met the performance requirements of the integrated multi-sonar subsystem.
Military sonar systems must be robust and survive in hostile environments. DDS also provides the required failover and takeover capabilities, adds the company representative.
With the broader adoption of DDS by Ultra, the AWD Alliance has the opportunity to more tightly integrate the sonar system into the broader ship-wide system of systems. By leveraging RTI Data Distribution Service, the delivered open architecture enables tighter integration of the sonar subsystems into the broader shipboard combat systems.
