Pentek chooses rugged chassis from Themis for rugged signal recorder for aerospace and defense
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., 31 Oct. 2012. Solid-state storage experts at Pentek Inc. in Upper Saddle River, N.J., needed a rugged chassis for the company's model RTX 2786 Extreme Talon IF digital signal recorder and playback system. They found their solution from Themis Computer in Fremont, Calif.
The Pentek model RTX 2786 is a configurable, multi-channel system with a compact, conduction-cooled half-ATR chassis with as much as 1.92 terabytes of solid-state redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage for sustained recording rates to 500 megabytes per second.
The data recorder is for military and aerospace applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other uses in severe-temperature, -shock, and -vibration environments, Pentek officials say.
Pentek SystemFlow software allows turn-key operation through a graphical user interface, while the SystemFlow API helps integrate the recording software into custom applications.
Signal recordings are stored as files in the native Windows new technology file system (NTFS) format for immediate use by PCs and applications without the need for post-recording file conversion.
The RTX 2786 digitizes and records several analog input channels using 200 MHz 16-bit A/D converters. The system can capture as much as 80 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth for IF signals ranging as much as 700 MHz.
Built-in digital downconverters help translate signals to baseband. These signals can be reproduced at their original IF frequency using the optional 800 MHz 16-bit D/A converter with built-in digital upconversion. The recording system supports sustained recording rates to 500 megabytes per second from as much as four data channels.
By using conduction-cooled circuit boards, solid-state drives, and the rugged Themis chassis, the RTX 2786 resists the effects of high temperatures, shock, and vibration.
The drive array capacity can be as large as 1.92 terabytes and supports RAID levels 0 or 1. An optional data transfer unit (DTU) enables a user to add storage and provides a mechanism for replacing data drives in the field.
The recorder uses five D38999 circular connectors for 24-to-32-volt DC power and digital I/O, and SMA connectors for analog inputs and outputs. Available I/O includes audio and VGA video, RS-232/422/485 serial, several USB 2.0 and dual Gigabit Ethernet connections.
The recorder is designed to be mounted on a cold plate for conduction cooling, and has an optional shrouded heat sink for forced-air cooling.
For more information contact Pentek online at www.pentek.com, or Themis Computer at www.themis.com.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
