The versatile System 500 Model 550 makes it easy to assemble, modify, or merge multiple PCM telemetry, MIL-STD-1553, time, analog, and digital streams.  In the 550 front end, single modules, or “instruments-on-a-card,” are dedicated to acquiring and converting real-time data for distribution via the system’s high-speed data highway, the MUXbus.  The 550’s powerful data flow architecture ensures that you can easily add modules and chassis to accommodate additional data streams for increased acquisition capability.

The 550’s data flow architecture is an excellent platform for embedded real-time processing.  It provides a scalable, parallel, data-driven, and deterministic computing environment where adding processors linearly increases throughput.  And it’s flexible enough for custom processing requirements:

• Often eliminate programming by quickly choosing, linking, or chaining algorithms from a large library which includes algorithms for decommutating large complex telemetry formats.
• Program unique algorithms in C, check them out in the workstation simulation environment, and download them to the 550’s real-time processor, the Field Programmable Processor, for full processing performance.

The 550 lets you see data any way you want on the workstation or combination of workstations you choose.  Display your data in a variety of graphs and alphanumeric windows, even as a 3-D solid attitude model.  Or construct your own views from a library of real-time display objects that includes graphs and animated images.  The 550 lets you store unlimited window definitions and recall or automatically initiate them by out-of-limit data.  And, as you would expect for time-critical applications, you can change the parameters (measurands) and characteristics attached to display objects on the fly.

Our System 500 Model 550 platforms are ideal for training and simulation, systems integration, satellite command and control (where operators can integrate the 550 with third-party Expert Systems to monitor individual or groups of satellites), or test applications.  They offer the unique ability to produce dynamic data for multiple PCM, MIL-STD-1553, analog, and digital streams.  Plus, they can simulate virtually any real-time input stream.  Streams can be derived from multiple function generators or dynamically change in response to internal algorithms, external stimuli, or a high-fidelity simulation running on a host computer complex.

Any data stream format that can be acquired, can be created and distributed by the 550.  With its broadcast data flow architecture, the 550 simultaneously delivers output to all modules in the same bus cycle — eliminating overhead or time delays to transfer the same data to multiple recipients.  Data can also be distributed by a variety of replicating memory systems, buses, and LANs.

Once distributed, real-time and post-mission data can be analyzed using the 550’s own Microscope software.  With it, you can view hours of multiple parameters (millions of samples) on a single screen and then successively zoom in on selected data.  You can also view 550 data using an array of popular third-party analysis software packages.

The 550 optimizes your work environment with powerful resource management capabilities.  Virtual chassis, or what we call Logical Front Ends (LFEs), let you simultaneously process multiple independent telemetry contacts, all within the very same 550 chassis.  The secret is in the software which automatically maps unique telemetry databases to reallocate hardware and tag space within your front end. 
Our concept of Logical Front Ends extends to Logical Networks which are defined as groups of workstations and Model 550 subsystems running a complete set of System 500 software services.  The 550 can easily be reprogrammed in real time (without interrupting other LFEs) to support multiple logical networks on a single physical network, making it ideal for environments where the configuration of front-end hardware and workstations changes frequently.

Anyone who’s done it knows that preparing data for workstation display or distribution can be difficult.  The 550’s Application Programming Interface (API) simplifies that process by establishing a direct dynamic virtual link between the front-end chassis, servers, workstations, and PCs on your network.  You can adjust gathered data rates and parameters in real time to meet your needs, or send data to the front end for simulation and vehicle commanding applications.

Prefer to integrate the 550 into your own system?  Then use its well-defined API to control and monitor the 550 with your own applications.

The 550 provides data storage capabilities to match any real-time application.  The workstation disk can archive selected data to its internal disk at hundreds of Kilobytes per second or to front-end chassis disks and tape at Megabytes per second.  Meanwhile, tens of Megabytes per second of all or selected raw and/or processed data can be stored to disk, Parallel Disk Arrays (RAIDs), and very high-performance tape.  Use the 550’s seamless storage environment to retrieve archived data at regulated metered rates compatible with display or analysis requirements, or view it simultaneously with real-time data.  Archived data is immediately available to computer resources on the network for analysis via NFS.