Open Source Operating Systems
Todd Blumer, President of SDG Systems, believes that Linux in hand-held and
wearable computing devices offer key advantages to military and other users
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The Linux-based TDS Nomad is being used in Future Warrior Technology Integration (FWTI) programme. © TDS |
SDG Systems provides platforms on which others
build their applications. These applications may be
developed by a military unit itself, or, more
frequently, developed by a prime contractor who
requires a mobile platform on which to run their
application. A feature of SDG’s approach is to
provide custom Linux development and support
services to assist partners in getting their application
to deployment more quickly.
The selection of open source solutions by the military has
been a growing feature of trials of rugged computing
devices for the dismounted solider explained Todd Blumer,
President of SDG Systems, “We are finding that the choice
of Open versus Proprietary Operating System depends
greatly on the application. Sometimes a need can be met
with a COTS application running on Windows Mobile. In
many other cases, however, we find that other factors play
a key role in the selection of an open environment like
Linux. We provide a good deal more flexibility in our Linux
offering. For example, a military group may want the
device to boot with no backlight and no audio and no
wireless radios enabled.”
“With Linux, we can easily accommodate those
requests. We can also remove distractions from the
environment - like games - and even boot the device
directly into the user’s application, effectively creating a
single-purpose computer. Security is emphasized in Linux.
We understand that security is important to our customers.
We therefore install the iptables firewall mechanism by
default on all our Linux handheld computers.”
PLATFORM SELECTION
Blumer explained, “The Linux-based TDS Nomad was
released last quarter. We are now actively working on a
number of opportunities that include situational awareness
and communication. We have customers who are utilising
the GPS capability and using the Nomad to interface to
other equipment, like field radios and digital cameras. The
Linux-based TDS Nomad is being used in Future Warrior
Technology Integration (FWTI) programme.”
SDG have a strategic relationship with TDS, who
supplies rugged PDAs as hosts for SDG’s software. This
relationship allows them to influence the evolution of
hardware design. Blumer said, “We heavily requested and
TDS implemented a high resolution screen on the Nomad
with full VGA resolution, along with the Nomad’s USB
hosting capability, allowing USB devices to connect directly
to the Nomad.”
The Linux-based TDS Nomad rugged mobile hand-held
computer offers a high level of device integration including
Bluetooth, 802.11, GPS, Camera, Barcode scanning and
USB host and client ports. All Nomads also include a highresolution
screen (480x640 portrait VGA) and a 806 MHz
PXA 320 processor. The USB host port has been tested to
support mass storage, keyboard, mouse, Ethernet and RS-
232 serial adapters. Like the field-proven Linux-based TDS
Recon, the Nomad meets the MIL-STD-810F standard for
drops, vibration and temperature extremes. It also has an
IP67 rating, meaning it is dustproof and waterproof.
Battery testing yielded over 12 hours of operation with
Bluetooth and 802.11 both enabled and with the screen
backlight at 50 percent brightness. Maximum battery life is
approximately 25 hours.
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"The Nomad and Recon devices both have a one year warranty with optional extended warranties. We provide technical and developer
support. The level of support varies based on contract." © TDS |
In parallel, SDG Systems also announced software
enhancements to their Linux implementation. “With the
latest software release, we are providing a general
mechanism for users to run their own application
exclusively, effectively creating a way to build singlepurpose
devices rather than a general purpose PDA,”
explained Todd Blumer, President of SDG Systems. “This
mechanism allows our Enterprise customers to write a Qt
for Embedded Linux application, for example, with a
standard software build from us. The customer can reduce
their support burden by training users on the application
and not the PDA interface.”
The Linux-based Nomad utilizes version 2.6.21 of
the Linux kernel. The standard user interface is based on
Qtopia PDA Edition, version 2.2, which SDG Systems has
enhanced to manage the integrated devices. The
operating system utilities are based on the Ångström
Linux distribution. A GPE (X11, GTK+, Qt4) user interface option is in development and is available for beta testing.
Qtopia 4 support is planned. In addition to the hardware
products, SDG Systems provides Linux development
support and services.
“We are also open to doing Linux implementations on
other platforms,” explained Blumer. “Should we find a
customer who needs such services, our model has been
that we will do a Linux implementation for a customer and
subsequently resell the hardware. We have already done
Linux ports for other device manufacturers.”
WORKING WITH THE MILITARY
To support future developments SDG Systems have
established partnerships with customers and prime
contractors, several of which relate to soldier
modernisation efforts and programmes both within
government and industry.
“Several opportunities are in the early stages,”
explained Blumer. “We are providing hardware and
support to Lockheed Martin ATL for their DisOPS
situational awareness application. We also have
partnerships with commercial companies who have
expertise in mapping and imaging.”
Work on DisOPs has been working directly with LM
ATL. Blumer said, “Lockheed Martin is actively marketing
the application. We have created customised device
images (software installations) for them and undertaken
custom Linux kernel work specifically for them and for
their needs.
Approximately 50 TDS/SDG systems were acquired
for FFW ordered both directly to the US Army and via
industrial subcontracts over 2006-7. Participation in the
wider US soldier modernisation effort has also begun,
including Land Warrior. Blumer said, “We have been
interacting directly with the engineers at Fort Monmouth
and assisting them with their development, providing
technical support for the work that they have been doing.”
Blumer continued, “With respect to our services, we
have software and computer engineers with extensive
experience with Linux systems and interfacing to different
hardware platforms and devices. The engineers also have
expertise in computer communications. The Nomad and
Recon devices both have a one year warranty with optional
extended warranties. We provide technical and developer
support. The level of support varies based on contract.”
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SDG’s primary R&D push is with the Linux operating
system undertaking development on a basis that is
completely independent from TDS. The direction this has
taken having been heavily reliant of feedback from
customers. Blumer said, “We are heavily influenced by the
direct communication of needs from the customer. We are
agile; we are able to respond quickly and tactically to
customer needs without having to invest considerable
resources into perceived needs which may not actually be
impacting our customers. We feel that our agility,
combined with the community support of an active, open
source environment provides an excellent hybrid of
constant improvement.”
“We believe strongly in having our employees interact
with customers,” outlined Blumer. “In this way, we have a
good feel for what features are useful and what are not.
For example, through interaction with one of our
customers, we implemented a ‘zeroisation’ feature in the
Linux kernel for the Nomad. By pressing a certain
sequence of key strokes, the device will completely erase
itself, except for the boot loader - so the software can be
reloaded if the hardware is recovered.”
Blumer said, “We are targeting ease of use and ease
of access to all of the features of the device. One of the
things we have published is a document on how to interact
with the hardware that the Nomad provides. For example,
how do I interact with the GPS capability? How do I interact
with the camera? We have provided technical information to
the developers on how they can interact with each
hardware component within the device. We focus on ease
of use, usability and an openness of access to everything
that the device provides.” ■ |