EVERETT, Wash., 6 Feb. 2011. Ballard Technology Inc. in Everett, Wash., is introducing the USB 708 line of portable avionics interfaces that enable computers to communicate with ARINC 708 and similar weather radar display databuses. These USB interfaces allow engineers and technicians to test weather radar control-display units (CDUs) and transmit-receive (T-R) units using a PC. The units also are for monitoring, recording, and playing back data, as well as simulating weather radar systems. The USB 708 incorporates plug and play and hot swap.The USB 708 supports maximum data throughput and simultaneous operation on all channels. Word length and pre-sync pulses are software-selectable to support custom protocols that deviate from ARINC 708. Two-channel (1 receive, 1 transmit) and four-channel (2 receive, 2 transmit) models are available and each includes eight avionics discrete I/O, 48-bit hardware time-tag and IRIG synchronization/generation.The interface includes a 32-megabyte built-in memory and two LEDs that indicate power and bus traffic by default, or can be controlled by user software. The case comes in standard black or high-visibility flight test orange.
Users can develop their own software applications with the included BTIDriver API and run applications developed for other Ballard devices. Optional CoPilot software provides interactive tools for databus test, analysis, and simulation. CoPilot simplifies project development and provides added productivity through a virtual weather radar display, flexible monitoring and analysis tools, and a powerful scripting engine.
For more information contact Ballard Technology online at www.ballardtech.com.
