Adds Cornerstone and Midtec as sales representatives

Map of Chassis Plans Sales Reps

We’re please to announce the appointment of two new sales representative groups.

 

Cornerstone Technical Sales will cover Florida with an office in Palm Harbor, FL.  Cornerstone is available at www.ctsrep.com.

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Midtec Associates covers Missouri, Southern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.  Midtech has offices in Lenexa, KS, and St. Louis.  Midtech can be reached at www.midtec.com.

 

Both these companies have extensive experience in industrial and military computing and will bring a local presence to these states to offer our customers on-site assistance and product expertise.

Adds Cornerstone and Midtec as sales representatives

The 2016 Federal Budget has Healthy Increases for R&D and Defense

The 2016 US budget was released in early February by the President. In this budget there are increases in R&D spending in general and the defense budget. For the past several years, since the Budget Control Act (BCA) was passed in 2011, the Defense budget has been decreasing as has the overall spending on R&D in general. The 2016 budget is the start of a turnaround in both Defense related R&D as well as general Science and Technology R&D spending. Whether the proposed budget will pass the scrutiny of congress is another matter.

 

The military budget has been teetering on the brink of disaster for the past several years. With the emphasis on overseas contingency operations (OCO) and the effects of the BCA and sequestration the military has been forced to review every program and every expense for the past five years. This review has not been necessarily bad. The top-down and bottom-up review has forced each branch of the service to focus on what is important for the future needs of the US foreign and domestic policies.

 

The following chart shows the level of defense funding for the past several years as well as the projected spending for the next five years. Although the proposed budget for 2016 of $585B is below the 2010-11 level it is a significant increase from 2015. The majority of the Defense budget is for operations, facilities and personnel but there is still a significant portion allocated for procurement and R&D. The 2016 budget provides for $177.5 billion in procurement and research spending, an increase of $20.4 billion, or 13 percent, over the 2015 budget.

 

 

The Pentagon wants to spend $107.7 billion on procurement and $69.8 billion on research and development, with $12.3 billion falling within that for science and technology spending. The biggest investments include $48.8 billion for aircraft, $25.6 billion for shipbuilding, $8.2 billion for ground systems and $11.9 billion for missiles and munitions.

 

		Procurement and R&D Funding by Branch
Army			Navy			Air Force
Total	$126.5B		Total	$161B		Total	$122.2B
R&D	$6.9B		R&D	$17.9B		R&D	$18B
%	5.40%		%	11%		%	14.70%

 

For the Army, there are significant upgrades planned for existing vehicles such as Abrahams, Bradley and Striker vehicles. There is also funding for a Humvee replacement. A lot of the upgrades are for better computer and communications systems. For procurements, the Army is targeting Blackhawk and Apache attack helicopters, Chinook helicopters, WIN-T communication systems, and the MQ-1 Gray Eagle, a dual-purpose weaponized/ISR unmanned aircraft.  Areas in RDT&E specifically identified by the Army include basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, demonstration and validation.

 

The Air Force will fund R&D in nuclear operations to reduce risks to ground-based strategic defense such as ICBM guidance and propulsion, provide for B-2 fleet defensive management system upgrades related to attack capability and investments in domestic launch systems. They will invest in future capabilities and technologies to support adaptive engine transition program testing and provide critical command and control with better ISR capabilities and maintain its commitment to recapitalize the Air Force to sustain designs and developments for the KC-46 (an aerial refueling and transport vehicle), the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the LRS-B (a next generation stealth bomber), and a combat rescue helicopter.

 

The Navy in recent years has emphasized its desire for more unmanned systems plus next-generation strike aircraft to be interchangeable between manned and unmanned.  An example is the UCLASS, or unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike program.  The Marine Corps R&D will focus on amphibious combat vehicles. The Marines have already awarded contracts to two vendors for procurement of additional vehicles.  Also, in the cyber domain, networks such as Naval Enterprise Networks (NGEN) and the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) will see more investment as will combat and controls systems for tactical platforms.

 

All of the branches of the military are also increasing the funding for cyber programs and big data programs. Included is funding for security from cyber attacks from internal and external sources.

 

Overall the 2016 budget is encouraging for technology companies. With more R&D spending there are more opportunities to sell existing products as well as get funding for innovations and product enhancements. The question is will congress fight the budget since it is well over the BCA cap or will congress realize that the investment is needed for the future of technology growth and modernization of both the military and NASA. Hopefully the later, but we will probably have to wait until at least September 30th to get an answer.

 

We at Chassis Plans are already seeing a much-increased level of quote activity and programs which have been on hold being released.  There is a general feeling in Government procurement that the worst is behind us and that much needed money is being made available.  Based on our first quarter performance, we’re expecting a banner year.  Our systems form the foundation for many military programs so an increase in our business is a leading indicator for the health of the sector.

 

The 2016 Federal Budget has Healthy Increases for R&D and Defense

Adds new sales rep group for Southern states

Map of Chassis Plans’ Sales Representatives

Chassis Plans has appointed Rep Tech, Inc. as our sales representative for Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.  Rep Tech brings a strong presence to this area strategic to Chassis Plans’ sales efforts.  Rep Tech serves a variety of markets ranging from aerospace to power plant.  Their territory includes Huntsville, an area central to the aerospace industry.

 

Rep Tech joins Integral Marketing, covering the Eastern Seaboard, and Technical Marketing, covering Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, in representing Chassis Plans to industry.

 

See Chassis Plans Representatives for additional information.

Adds new sales rep group for Southern states

Mike McCormack Joins Chassis Plans as President

Mike McCormack

Chassis Plans is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike McCormack as President. Mike brings a comprehensive understanding of the Defense and Industrial markets through his past experience in senior management positions at IntelliPower,  Johnathan Engineered Solutions and Emerson.  The organizations managed, designed and manufactured a wide range of products including power conversion systems, electronic components, mechanical components and outside plant equipment to the Defense, Aerospace, Communications and Oil and Gas Exploration. Mike also previously served in the USAF as an Airborne Command Post Communications Systems Engineer on board EC-135’s.

 

With Mike on board Chassis Plans will continue with being the leader in the design and development of world class Rugged Custom Military and Industrial grade Computers, Monitors and Keyboards through innovative designs and outstanding customer service and support.

Mike McCormack Joins Chassis Plans as President

Is there an Engineering Graduate Shortage?

At Chassis Plans we have been supporting engineering students for several years via scholarships and hiring students as interns. As we go into the future there is a strong need for technologists to support future development in all fields of science and engineering.

Courtesy of S. Harris – http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com

 

Is there a real shortage of Engineers and Scientists in the current marketplace? In 2008 the Bureau of Labor estimated there would be a shortage of 160,000 engineers and scientists by 2016. However, some of the more recent studies are showing that there is not a shortage of engineering talent but the issue is whether the math and science education in the United States requires development in both primary and secondary schools. What is being done about it and is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

 

Of all the reports, both pro and con, on the engineer shortage, the one thing that is agreed on is that students today need to develop better skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). No matter what career path is taken by today’s students, knowledge of STEM skills will be an aid to better opportunities. In a 2011 article for the Wall Street Journal, Norman Augustine, former chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin stated – “In my position as CEO of a firm employing over 80,000 engineers, I can testify that most were excellent engineers. But the factor that most distinguished those who advanced in the organization was the ability to think broadly and read and write clearly.”

 

The good news is that STEM programs are in almost all high schools and more primary schools. STEM programs are multidiscipline based incorporating the integration of disciplinary knowledge into a new whole. Technology helps us communicate; math is the language, science and engineering are the processes for thinking and all this leads to creativity and innovation.

 

Courtest of Ed Stein – http://edsteinink.com

 

In the past, there were huge government programs, such as the space program, that captured the imagination of many students and helped keep enrollment in engineering and science programs high. Today the government is sponsoring STEM programs to excite students. There are engineering-oriented competitions such as robotics competitions hosted by both the government and private companies.

 

There are resources outside of the normal school campus that can also help excite students to take an interest in science. Three of the key outside influences that can have an effect on students are:

 

• The Internet


• Transformation of public libraries


• Open source software and hardware development.

 

The information explosion created by the internet has greatly surpassed what has been available in the past. The challenge is to be able to discern what information is useful and what is not. In the past a student would have to go to the library and look up the topic of interest using the sources available in that library. If a student lived in a small town the resources were limited. The internet provides an almost unlimited number of sources on any topic. So does that make the local library an obsolete facility?

 

Computer Lab in McAllen Texas Library

 

The function of the library is changing. Libraries are moving away from just being a place where books are stored. Today’s libraries are embracing the internet culture and getting involved with STEM programs. More and more local libraries are adding Makers labs, computer labs and adding equipment such as 3D Printers that can be used by the public. One example is the new library in McAllen,Texas, where an old Wal-Mart building was turned into the largest single floor library in the United States. As part of the makeover computer labs were added as well as meeting rooms for STEM and Makers events.

 

Another driver of technology education is the concept of open source development projects which generate free or very low cost software and hardware solutions. Using open source developed products, schools, as well as individuals, can have hands on experience developing robotics, graphics applications and other technology projects.

 

The support of STEM programs by government agencies, schools and companies will go a long way to improving the skills of students in science, math and engineering and help to provide sufficient technology workers for the future.

 

Chassis Plans will continue to help with additional scholarships, equipment donations, and Intern programs.

Is there an Engineering Graduate Shortage?

Embedded Technology Trends Forum January 2015

Internet Of Things – courtesy of Cisco[/caption]

The beginning of the New Year is always time for the Embedded Technology Trends Forum. This forum, presented by the VME International Trade Association (VITA), is an assembly of the board, software, system and component manufacturers involved in the embedded computing marketplace. The purpose of the forum is to present the latest technology trends that affect the embedded computing market. In addition to the suppliers, the primary attendees are the members of the embedded media.

 

For 2015 the theme for the forum was “Kickoff to Super Technologies“. Each of the companies attending presented their vision of the future of technology as it relates to their business and products. Since the presentations did not focus on products, but on technology and what the embedded customer base is expecting from embedded technology, it was a good source of current thinking in embedded R&D. The forum was a two day event and all of the presentations from the 2015 forum and presentations from past events are available at http://embeddedtechtrends.com/index.php.

 

VITA as an organization is focused on developing standards for bus-based systems such as VME and VPX but it also develops other standards such as standards for RF data protocols and other technologies that are useful for embedded system use. Although VITA does not focus on industrial PC systems or embedded motherboards, the information presented at the forum was not specific to bus based systems and was relevant to all embedded system applications.

 

Key Takeaways From the Forum

All of the presentations are available on the website but based on comments and questions heard at the forum there are some key items that should be pointed out.

 

IoT is Everywhere

Internet of Things – Courtesy of The Connectivist

Probably the most overused buzz word in the media today is IoT – The Internet of Things. AT CES in January, IoT was also the big item with everything possible being connected to the internet. This was also reinforced at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, when Google Executive Eric Schmidt said: ”There will be so many sensors, so many devices, that you won’t even sense it, it will be all around you.” Schmidt went on to say: “The Internet will soon be so pervasive in every facet of our lives that it will effectively ‘disappear’ into the background”. Of course some are calling IoT the Internet of Trash due to the seeming useless nature of some of the network attached devices.

 

In the embedded computing space IoT is a good way of categorizing the inter-connectivity of sensors used in industrial/medical/military applications. Management of the sensor data in both real-time (control) as well as in the background (analytics) is a key requirement of embedded applications. As the amount of data available grows one of the technology challenges is processing the data locally and determining what data needs to be transferred into background storage for analysis. Key to resolving this problem is local processing and high performance data transfer.

 

Internet of Data

Data Growth
source: EMC/IDC Report 2012

As social enterprise entrepreneur Aral Balkan has said, “There is no Internet of Things. There is only the Internet of Data.” CISCO has been quoted as saying that by the end of 2011, 20 typical households generated more data than the entire internet of 2008. Sparked, a start-up that is using wireless sensors on cattle, reported that each cow transmits 200mb of data per year. During 2008, the number of things connected to the internet exceeded the population of Earth. By 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices.  That is a lot of data being generated, processed and stored.

With IPv6 protocol, we will have 2^128 or 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 possible Internet addresses which has been postulated as 100,000 times bigger than the number of grains of sand that would equal the mass of the Earth.

 

The data generated by all these devices needs to go somewhere to be analyzed, processed and stored.

 

 

The Rise of High Performance Embedded Computing (HPEC)

Embedded systems were traditionally used to control processes, provide user interface capability and process limited data. With the growth of high speed sensors and the need for local processing there is a requirement to provide super computer capability on the factory floor and on mobile platforms. This is being addressed by several companies building cluster based embedded systems that utilize multiple bus based compute boards to implement a high performance computer. These systems are also being designed to work in harsh environments including air-cooled and conduction cooled applications. A typical system may include two or three Intel Core i7 based processor boards, an FPGA based processing board as well as a general purpose graphics (GPGPU) process board. These systems are being used mostly in military applications but as the cost comes down will also be used in many more industrial applications.

 

HPEC is also a cross over point for 1-6U servers based on Intel Xeon or Core i7 based motherboards. For many applications a 1 or 2U based server with dual Xeon processors and GPGPU cards is a cost effective solution over a VPX or ATCA based system.

 

Data Transfer is Going Optical

One of the points of consensus at the forum was the need for optical connections between systems and sensors as well as between boards. For high performance systems, the use of a copper backplane to connect boards is becoming obsolete. The data performance of the cooper connections is not fast enough to meet future system requirements. VITA currently has a study group working on a standard specification for optical interconnect with bandwidth of 10Gbps or more.

 

In addition development work continues on RapidIO and Infiniband standards. Both RapidIO and Infiniband are used not only in providing data transport intersystem but also data transport between systems. Infiniband has been used extensively in super computers and data centers while the use of RapidIO is growing rapidly in the embedded computing market.

 

Changes in the Landscape

[caption id=”attachment_794″ align=”alignleft” width=”300″> M4U20 Military Grade 4U Computer System

There a lot changes in the embedded computing space. As a consequence of budget cuts and demand to do more with less, the use of traditional bus based systems is decreasing. Although it is predicted that VME/VPX systems will continue to be in demand, the market going forward is flat with VPX overtaking VME based sales in 2017. On the other hand, systems not based on traditional busses are expected to grow. Small systems based on a single motherboard with plug on modules are prolific in the marketplace. Systems based on IA architecture motherboards are also expected to grow in demand. Form factors will not only be the traditional 1-6U rack mount server format but also smaller form factors designed for specific applications.

 

Overall it looks like the embedded computer market will continue to grow in the future but the types of systems required will change as budgets change and performance expectations increase.

Embedded Technology Trends Forum January 2015

Chassis Plans Leadership in Engineering Scholarship Finalist

Krista Purser

Of the many applications we received for our Winter, 2015, Chassis Plans Leadership in Engineering Scholarship, a few stood out.  Krista Purser was one such finalist and we would like to share her outstanding essay.

 

Her essay “Down the Road: The Future of Transportation” can be found here.

 

Krista is a senior civil engineering undergraduate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In addition to transportation coursework, she serves as Vice President of the Cal Poly Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) chapter and soon begins research with transit routing data.

 

Krista’s enthusiasm stems from an appreciation for the impact of transportation and its ability to shape communities. She hopes to develop a broad understanding of transportation systems and analysis, and to implement efficient, reliable, and sustainable projects in practice. Additionally, Krista has developed her professional skills through several internships.

 

Aside from work and school, Krista enjoys hiking nearby trails and biking, for both commuting and exercise purposes. Being a Californian, rainy weather often has her resigned to the indoors, drinking tea and reading favorite authors Malcolm Gladwell and Michael Crichton.

 

Krista looks forward to furthering her education by working toward a Master’s of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and continuing to seek learning opportunities through ITE, internships, and research.

 

 

 

Chassis Plans Leadership in Engineering Scholarship Finalist