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Militarized Avionics Test Set Is Customizable for Civilian Applications

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Geotest Unveils New PXI-based Portable Field Test Set for Military Applications Huntsville, Alabama--Geotest-Marvin Test Systems, Inc., a global supplier of electronic test equipment for aerospace, semiconductors, telecom, medical, industrial, and military applications, unveiled a new rugged and portable PXI-based Field Test Set, the MTS-206. The MTS-206 is modeled after Geotest's field-proven AN/TSM-205, which has been successfully deployed worldwide and established itself as a rugged and reliable test set for all possible operational theaters. The AN/TSM-205 is PC-based, while the MTS-206 is PXI-based, leveraging the high performance of the state-of-the-art PXI architecture. The MTS-206 includes a 14-slot PXI backplane supporting a PXI controller and 13 PXI instruments. Seven of the slots can accommodate 6U or 3U PXI or cPCI instruments, and the other seven support 3U instruments only. The design of the MTS-206 allows sufficient space for custom electronics as well as system power supplies. Geotest also offers a wide range of PXI instruments for the MTS-206 such as measurement, stimuli, digital, switching, precision DC sources, programmable resistors, frame grabbers, and more. The first application of the MTS-206 is a field test set for the Maverick Missile system that includes all versions of the AGM-65 missile, missile sections, all versions of the LAU-117 launcher, and missile-launcher clusters. The development of the MTS-206 Maverick Field Test Set is a joint effort of Geotest and Raytheon Missile Systems (Tucson, Ariz.). Availability Product shipment for the base model MTS-206 is scheduled for Q2 2003. Shipments of the Maverick Field Test Set are scheduled for Q4 2003. For More Information To receive more information on the MTS-206, the AN/TSM-205, or other Geotest PXI and PC-based test products, contact Geotest at: Telephone: 888-TEST-BY-PXI                 (888-836-8296)              or 949-263-2222 FAX: 949-263-1203 E-mail: info@geotestinc.com Web: www.geotestinc.com

With most consumer products seemingly coming from offshore these days, maybe the time is ripe for a resurgence of military products and MIL spin-off. Indeed, this morning's news spoke of high earnings at General Dynamics and Bath Iron Works. Combat and military systems are hot, eh? The MTS-206 is essentially an offshoot of Geotest's AN/TSM-205, a PC-based portable test set, but Geotest masterfully designed the -206 to accommodate both 3U and 6U plug-ins, and you can fit both PXI and CompactPCI cards. Significantly, the company realizes there are nonmilitary applications for such a product. Military History By way of a bit of history, the predecessor MTS-205 was designed for testing Hellfire missile electronics, as well as systems on helicopters such as the Longbow, Apache, Longbow Apache, Kiowa Warrior, and Seahawk. On the flight line, aviators could use the -205 to make fast parametric tests on integrated systems installed on these aircraft. For the Longbow, all system rails could be tested simultaneously, slashing test times while providing for crossfire and stray voltage analyses. An MTS-205 could test an entire fire-control system lickety-split, probing everything from cockpit switches to launch rails. A TSM-205 could also be used to make depot-level tests on weapons launchers, where it could provide troubleshooting to a faulty line-replacement unit or wiring harness. A -205 could also do Hellfire Missile simulation. Geotest even offers a laser simulator to simulate targets for a Hellfire missile. Mavericks First As Geotest's news release states, the company's latest Model MTS-206 portable—priced at about $150,000 to $200,000—will initially target military customers working with AGM-65 Maverick missile systems. In AGM-65 applications it will combine the test capabilities of the military's I-Level requirements—putting it all in a flight-line-qualified enclosure. As portrayed, the-206 will perform parametric functional tests on Maverick components, including tactical and training configurations, as well as launchers and clusters. It will operate in any environment where 400 Hz power is available (it will include automatic out-of-sequence phase-correction circuitry, and operate from 115 V lines). Solid-State Storage Under the hood, the 65 lb. (less cables) Model MTS-206 will run a Pentium III processor, and pack 256 Mbytes of DRAM. Significantly, it will also include a 512-Mbyte solid-state "disk" for archival storage. I/O includes RS-232 and RS-422, as well as Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Ethernet. Naturally there's also a parallel printer port. In use the MTS-206 is controlled through a sunlight-readable sVGA touchscreen LCD (providing 600 × 800 pixel resolution), as well as a so-called virtual joystick that can be manipulated on-screen with your finger. Onboard circuitry provides unit-under-test (UUT) and test-set power, as well as the ability to configure custom loads and power switching. Maverick-specific functions include real-time stray voltage monitoring and video testing. Blowing Hot and Cold On the hardware side, the -206's modular PXI chassis is hinged to provide ease of access for swapping plug-in cards and also for maintenance. Plug-in modules are firmly secured so that the unit meets MIL shock and vibration standards. The -206 is also MIL-rated against salt, dust, and rain intrusion. The unit's chassis is also cooled by no less than a dozen fans, six of which operate only at elevated temperatures. On the flip side of the coin, heaters permit the unit's circuitry and PXI modules to operate at very low temperatures. An MTS-206 can operate effectively from -25°C to +55°C. Got a military or industrial application crying out for a customized hardened nomadic test set? Talk to the folks at Geotest. They've been in the business since 1988, and offer an extensive array of PXI and PC-based test equipment and instrumentation controllers, including numerous off-the-shelf PXI modules that will fit in the MTS-206's 3U and 6U slots. Modules range from sequencers, relay plug-ins, and switching cards, to digitizers, A/D converters, and digital multimeters, to name just a few. For more info contact Geotest-Marvin Test Systems, Inc. 17570 Cartwright Rd. Irvine, CA 92614 Phone: (949) 263-2222         or (888) 837-8297 FAX: (949) 263-1203 E-mail: sales@geotestinc.com        or support@geotestinc.com

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