One of the questions I'm constantly asking during interviews with companies that supply embedded processing systems to the avionics and broader aerospace industry is what end user/pilot application will your technology enable onboard the actual aircraft? I usually follow that by inquiring what aircraft type and comm, nav or surveillance computer or module will the embedded system be featured inside of?
In most situations, this information is not publicly available, because it would effectively provide guidance to potential competitors on how to design and architect the inner-most embedded computing components of an aircraft communication, navigation or surveillance system. That's why it was important for our publication to highlight the flight control computer, Perigon, and its Intel Atom x6400E processor, that is featured on the cover of this edition.
As you will discover upon reading the article contributed by Aaron Karp, the x6400E delivers some of the highest processing per watt power of any processor on the market today. Intel has equipped the processor with a set of features specifically designed for industrial avionics applications. It's rare that we get an opportunity to provide an explanation of how the embedded processing circuitry of a flight control computer will enable a next generation navigation application on a specific helicopter type, that is also provided in the article.
Elsewhere in this issue, our assistant editor Jessica Reed is back from her trip to Honeywell Aerospace's new advanced air mobility lab, where the company is developing and testing fly-by-wire flight controls and other systems for drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Vance Hilderman, CEO and founder of AFuzion, also gives an insightful perspective on how artificial intelligence is being developed and how it could become integrated into safety critical avionics applications.
I hope to see as many readers that can make to Washington DC at our 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit, and thanks for reading!
