Assured PNT plug-in card solution for defence applications

Concurrent Technologies has released a rugged 3U VPX Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Plug-In Card. Developed in alignment with the SOSA Technical Standard, PR A11/61d-RCR provides resilient PNT data for sensor-based solutions used in electronic defence and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications. As a key differentiator, PR A11/61d-RCR is ITAR free and is developed and built in the UK using technology licensed from Racelogic, another UK company specialising in positioning data.

In a typical operation, PR A11/61d-RCR sources highly accurate PNT data from a built-in GNSS receiver and uses this to discipline a CSAC. This, in turn, feeds radial clock signals to the signal processing plug-in cards that make up a VPX-based sensor subsystem. In periods of GNSS denial or jamming, accurate PNT data continues to be provided by using signals from a built-in IMU and sophisticated Kalman filtering techniques. The timing slot on most commercially offered backplanes supports one or two 10GBASE-KR pipes, andit is controlled using one or other of these pipes. Bussed clock signals are also supported for backwards compatibility with older VPX systems.

Dr Miles Adcock, CEO at Concurrent Technologies, commented: “The development of this new PNT plug-in card shows that Concurrent Technologies is now investing in products that provide additional differentiated capability alongside our state-of-the-art single board computers. This product will have universal appeal but was driven by the needs of several lead customers who are looking to Concurrent Technologies to bolster the scope of UK sovereign capability for assured PNT.”

Julian Thomas, managing director at Racelogic, added: “We have designed and manufactured high precision, resilient position and timing solutions for use in automotive, mining, construction and laboratory environments for over 20 years. In this case, we have provided Concurrent Technologies with a solution that enables their 3U VPX Plug-In Card to provide PNT information during long periods of GNSS denial to fit the needs of the defence community.”