Aerospace & Defense Technology - February 2023 - 19

Rugged Computing
NEED TO SECURE YOUR BOLTED JOINTS
APPLICATIONS?
TEXENSE® MONITORING FASTENER
IS THE TURNKEY SOLUTION
Examples of General Micro Systems open architecture computing form factors
on display at a recent trade show. (Image: General Micro Systems)
LED/LED array itself), LEDs can be embedded into all kinds of
objects, not just light fixtures. The innovation offered by LEDs
can embed light sources right into the ceiling, walls, furniture,
window blinds and all manner of objects. LEDs might eventually
eliminate the concept of a separate, standalone or mounted
" lighting device " such as a lamp or ceiling fixture. By maintaining
a predefined fixture - the lamp with its Edison socket
- innovation was stifled, at least for a partial generation of
environments such as homes, offices, and other buildings.
For U.S. Army programs, it's critical to maintain the spirit
of interoperability without restricting technical evolution.
Like the lightbulb, choices must be made as to where the
interoperability interface lies within system architectures.
Like the light socket, CMFF desires that the line replaceable
unit (LRU) is the bus and board style slot card within modules
and that swapping out an OpenVPX-compatible card is
preferable to swapping out a box. Wrapping up our lighting
analogy, suppose the interoperable lighting interface isn't
the socket or fixture, it's the ability to provide light into a
defined environment? If the requirement is to provide XYZ
lumens of light, who cares what device provides it? The possibilities
are limitless when the interface is moved to higher
levels of abstraction.
The assumption here is that changing out slot cards in the
field over time is easier and more cost-effective than changing
out boxes - a dubious claim at best.
Gregory E. Saunders, former director of the Defense Standardization
Program Office, explained the trade-offs with
standardization in a 2013 Defense Standardization Program
Journal article. In the article, Saunders claims that while commonality
is the highest level of standardization,
it also
" imposes the greatest restriction on innovation. The next
level - interchangeability - allows for much greater innovation
as long as interfaces and function remain unchanged.
The least interoperable of the levels is compatibility, which
means systems can work in the same environment without
sabotaging each other, but they don't actually work together. "
Arguably, the biggest driver of innovation since the days of
the first light bulb is the collaboration of numerous disciplines
acoss the DOD, industry, and academia. Differentiating skills,
Aerospace & Defense Technology, February 2023
PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE
monitoring of the evolution
of the tension in the
assembly over time
FASTENING
a measurement of the
clamping load during the
initial fastening and an
adjustment based on your
specifications
MONITORING
a follow-up of the
fastening of each
instrumented bolt,
at a frequency defined
according to your needs
a brand of
WWW. TM-FAST. COM
mobilityengineeringtech.com
19
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Aerospace & Defense Technology - February 2023

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