Vetronics Market Experience

VETRONICS Market Applications have been some of the most demanding and interesting ones I have been involved in. Vetronics ( the combination of vehicles with embedded computing & sensors ) is a market space that has been evolving for over twenty years.

Vetronic systems now involve backend IT infrastructure being driven by the expolosion in wirless communications. I have worked in both the embedded on-board area as well as off board IT related Vetronics applications.

Remote Diagnostics

Worked on projects for Ford & GM that designed on board vehicle diagnostic capability that could be used for not only vehicle repair and logistics support but also for insurance purposes. The systems integration efforts revolved around combining internet protocols with backend IT Infrastructures to provide a value add service. These systems were sold to wireless carriers as well as the vehicle manufacturers themselves

Military Vetronics

I have been involved in various military Vetronics Programs including the ALV Program addressed in a seperate blog post. In current work I have been working on applications within the Future Combat Vehicle System that deal with UGV's and the required Vetronics to manage and navigate them. These applications require the integration of on board computing , Digital Signal Processing & Image Processing. I have identified several software packages that provide sensor management and have looked at how to integrate them into single board computing environments using PMC modules to collect and manage the data from the outside world including from the CAN bus. I have developed several proposals and submitted them to Boeing as well as other groups within the FCS food chain. I have identified the area of force protection including the identification of IED's as a high value pay off area to explore solutions for.

Vehicle Design

Managed projects that used various types of software tools and tracability packages. Sold software tools and software integration to General Motors & Delphi as well as Tier One Auto Suppliers. Software tools integrated into Math Lab Simulink Modeles or other simulation tools. Tool packages ranged in price from 20 k to 40 k
Average deal was 250 k including licensing and training . Provided an internet browser capability for GM platforms in 2000 models .

Crash Test

Provided various HWIL capability for on board and off board monitoring of vehicle crashes both in controled and un controled environments. Systems consisted of hardware and software integrated into real time motion cameras and wireless devices including sensors communicating to off site network.

Customer Case Study : NASA

I have worked with various NASA Labs on the following projects.

NASA JPL
Imaging Group

Supported multiple missions in providing image processing hardware ,software, design services and embedded computing to the MARS,JUPITER & GALILEO Missions. Systems were integrated into overall mission control and provided imagery and data used to plan and control the missions. Additional systems were provided with technical support to study samples and recreate mission activity.

Controls Group

Provided signal processing technology and support for telescope control in the HUBBLE Mission. Provided lab as well as on board support and engineering services.

NASA LBJ

Life Sciences Group

Provided image analysis workstations and consulting support to group in charge of flight crew bio studies and data collection. Mission focused on the collection and study of various biological samples using image analysis and display techniques. Much of the core work was latter productized and spun off as a seperate for profit company.

NASA LBJ & Cape Kennedy

Materials Sciences Group

Provided multiple image processing systems combined with minicomputers ,high speed storage and cameras to do analysis of film from Challenger Mission. Supported NASA subcontractors LMCO & Morton Thikol in study of o ring failure. This project was several million in hardware alone and was worked on a fast track through NASA procurement and sub contractor channels.

NASA Moffett

Engine Test Group

Provided software and signal processing hardware to support mission to do
failure analysis on rocket engines.

NASA JPL

Camera & Flight Group

Provided array processor technology in support of airborne camera missions . Platforms included the NASA U-2 as well as other high performance aircraft.

I have also supported numerous NASA related projects that involved the major tier contractors such as Rockwell , Lockheed and others who have merged through industry consolidation. The applications ranged from materials sciences ,image processing ,signal processing, embedded computing,wireless transmission of data, data compression and motion analysis. I worked in various capacities to support these efforts in the role of program manager, marketing , business development and
systems designer. Through this process I became familiar with all aspects of NASA from procurement through support of mission . I dealt with researchers ,program managers and procurement specialists .