(July 2010)

Completed Mainstream Research

• VSI Bridge and Standard Interface for interconnecting MilCAN to high bandwidth COTS network technologies
• Investigation of the adaptability and integration of military vehicle internal and external communication networks
• Investigation and development of middleware/abstractware platforms for external and internal vehicle communications
• Fault tolerance and task distribution for a reconfigurable MilCAN network
• Investigation of real-time operating systems for VSI distributed networks
• High Availability MilCAN
• Wireless VSI Bridge
• Verification and Validation of Complex Vetronic Systems

Other Completed Programmes

• FRES EA, Vetronics package with QinetiQ and Thales
• MilCAN Certification Facility
• VTID, Ad-Hoc strategies and demonstrator for modular IS, led by QinetiQ and Thales
• CDE, Steer-by-Wire: de-risking FPV Task-3, in cooperation with Ricardo
• Active Avionics Architectures and HUMS, EPSRC/Airbus

Current Research Programmes

• Platform Vetronics System Of Systems Enterprise Architectures
• Vetronics Integrity Monitoring and Management
• Platform Vetronics Survivability Strategies
• LSA: Platform Video Integration and Wireless Technologies

Government and Industry Activities

• Members of the MilCAN Working Group
• Members of the Vehicle Systems Integration (VSI) Steering Group
• Members of the Military Vetronics Association (MilVA)

Invited Exhibitions

• MilVA Exhibition 2005, Aachen, Germany
• VSI Briefing Day 2007, Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), Abbey Wood
• VSI Briefing Day 2010, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham (October 2010)

Vetronics Verification and Validation Testbed

The Vetronics Verification and Validation (VVV) testbed is a flexible embedded systems network that has been continuously developed and expanded by the VRC, and used as a tool to evaluate current and future vetronic networks and systems

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Mobile Integrated Demonstrator Testbed (Buggy)

The “buggy” was designed by the VRC as a validation platform for Vetronics Integration following the VSI standards and guidelines.  Applications include X-by-Wire, LSA, HUMS, Automotive Utilities, Crewstation and Vehicle Management, and Telemetry with remote Real Time Video Streaming.  Technologies inserted to support these applications include TTP, MilCAN, Ethernet, and WLAN.

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MilCAN Certification Testbed

The MilCAN Conformance Testbed has been developed by the VRC in conjunction with the MilCAN Working Group (MWG) to conduct conformance testing of MilCAN-A enabled devices. It is being supported by the MWG and the UK MOD as MilCAN is one of the prime VSI standards.

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Knowledge Transfer and Training

The VRC aims to provide academic and professional training in the field of Vetronics, including digital electronics, communications, networks, and embedded systems. Specialised short courses, workshops, seminars, and open days are available on request.

Consultancy

The VRC is available for consultancy work on military and civilian applications of its research expertise.

Members of the VRC can also partake in private consultancy following approval by the VRC.