Mercury Computer Systems Inc. is now providing a SWaP-optimized hyper-spectral image processing and storage subsystem for use in multi-INT wide area surveillance equipment on UAS.
The subsystem will locate individual adversaries and enemy tactical communications. The system’s design combines two configurations of Mercury’s PowerBlock 15 ultra-compact embedded computers with Intel Core i7 processing speed and FPGA capabilities to deliver a real-time sensor interface in an ultra-small form factor.
“Mercury’s expertise in developing ultra-compact, SWaP-optimized distributed computing platforms with exceptional processing power is an ideal match for the challenges faced by this prime contractor in delivering state-of-the-art surveillance systems for space-constrained environments,” explains Didier Thibaud, senior vice president and general manager of Mercury Computer Systems’ Advanced Computing Solutions business unit.
The hyper-spectral image processing system designed by Mercury engineers includes two configurations of its PowerBlock 15 ultra-compact embedded computers: one for storage and one for image processing. The system will perform fast, high-quality hyper-spectral imaging by collecting and processing information from across the electromagnetic spectrum.
The PowerBlock 15 units installed on board each platform communicate with each other and operate as a distributed computing system to maximize performance and minimize power consumption. The PowerBlock 15 units, having a chassis roughly the size of a disk drive, can be tucked into tight spaces as well as distributed and interconnected in multiple locations across deployed platforms, such as tactical UAS and manned ground vehicles.