High-speed imaging for aerospace and defense

The Phantom Flex4K-GS, high-speed camera has a global shutter and a 35mm, 9.4MP sensor capable of recording 1,000 frames per second (fps) at 4K resolution. The camera prevents motion artifacts with propellers and motors and ensures timing precision throughout each frame. The system’s isolated electronics and thermal design allow an operating temperature range of -20°C to 50°C.

The Flex4K-GS is available with 64GB or 128GB of storage and works with CineMag IV non-volatile memory magazines for fast data transfer. The camera can save uncompressed raw or compressed video in the Apple ProRes 422 HQ video format. Compatible with Phantom PCC software, the camera can be synchronized and used in combination with other Phantom camera models. www.phantomhighspeed.com

Rotary ball spline

The NB rotary ball spline has a nut that rolls on the ball spline shaft for linear and rotary motion to provide sub-millimeter accuracy every time. Torque transfers can be customized so cabling can run the length of the robotic arm using a hollow shaft ball spline. For greater load rating without increasing the size of the machine, users can specify a ball spline with cross rollers as opposed to balls in the rotary motion. www.nbcorporation.com

Comprehensive simulation software

HyperWorks 2017 computer-aided engineering (CAE) software from Altair offers model-based development, electromagnetism, nonlinear structural analysis, modeling and meshing, multiphysics and multi-disciplinary analysis, lightweight design, and optimization. www.altairhyperworks.com

USTAR Innovation Center construction begins at Hill AFB

Developers at Hill Air Force Base started construction on a new project to create more space for new jobs near the base. The Utah Science Technology Research Initiative (USTAR) Innovation Center located at the Falcon Hill National Aerospace Research Park features a 21,000ft2 building leased by the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative, which will operate an innovation center within the building.

The Innovation Center will provide tools and resources to support start-up companies in maturing and commercializing technology. Once complete, the facility will house approximately 8,000ft2 of office space and state-of the art labs, and 13,000ft2 of space for manufacturing and research and development projects.

In addition to Hill’s national defense mission, the base is an economic hub for Utah, providing a $3.34 billion annual impact. The base hosts the U.S. Air Force’s first operational F-35A wing and is home to maintenance on several aircraft, including the Air Force’s F-22 and the F-35. It is also home to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate, which will oversee the $62 billion replacement program for the Minuteman III missile.

The project is part of the ongoing enhanced use lease program (EUL) at Hill AFB, one of the largest projects of its kind in the Department of Defense (DOD).

“It’s exciting to see new organizations capitalize on the benefits of our EUL program. As the Falcon Hill project continues to grow we hope to see similar private and public projects that will add synergy to the Air Force mission,” says Col. Jennifer Hammerstedt, 75th Air Base Wing commander.

The program allows the Air Force to lease land to a developer to create and lease commercial space and infrastructure. The new building is expected to be complete in late 2017.

“We’re continuing to see the benefits of this program at Hill,” says David Williamsen, chief of the EUL Program Office at USTAR. “The benefit to the Air Force is affordable infrastructure and the synergy created by having contractors being able to work on the Air Force mission either on the base or in close proximity to the base.” www.ustar.org

Embedded vision camera modules

Basler AG board-level camera modules with BCON connection for low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface offer resolutions of up to 5 megapixels (MP) and S-mount, CS-mount, and bare-board mount options.

Proprietary BCON technology allows camera modules to be connected to LVDS vision technologies, a standard interface for high-speed data transmission. BCON permits reliable image data transfer between camera model and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based embedded processing platforms, allowing developers to switch between embedded vision systems without extra integration costs between various dart camera models.

The development kit contains a Basler 5MP dart camera module with the BCON for LVDS interface, lens, processing board with Xilinx Zynq-7010 system-on-chip (SoC), cables, accessories, and hardware and software reference implementations to demonstrate FPGA-based image capture by the Zynq SoC and connection to pylon camera software.www.baslerweb.com