Unified Network Communications Management: The Next Step to Realizing MOSA
Published in Military Embedded Systems
Written by Dominic Perez
The vision of hardware interoperability at the tactical edge, from air platforms to ground vehicles to base stations, is now being realized. Because MOSA (Modular Open Systems Approach) is an approach and not itself a standard, solutions that support this vision can be achieved through many different means as long as interfaces and communications protocols are based on open standards. There remains a key area to address, though, to achieve seamless interoperability between heterogeneous systems.
Consider, for example, the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard: While most aspects of sensor processing system architectures are well-defined within SOSA, one area that has not been rigidly defined is the network configuration and operational environment of individual cards and modules.
The embedded system industry is at a turning point now that it can provide government customers with true modular open systems approach (MOSA)-based hardware for warfighter communications in a variety of hardware form factors, from ultra-compact line replaceable units to VITA standard-based rugged chassis and plug-in cards (PICS) aligned with standards such as SOSA (Sensor Open Systems Architecture), CMOSS (C4ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards) and OpenVPX.
Dominic Perez
CTO
Dominic Perez joined Curtiss-Wright PacStar in 2008 as part of the company’s Quality Department. He took an active role in product development and was part of the team that created PacStar’s first small form factor 1200-Series that evolved into the industry leading PacStar 400-Series product line.
In 2013 he led PacStar’s Quality Systems and Networking Engineering departments, which among other responsibilities created PacStar’s small form factor Secure Wireless Command Post. He was promoted to Vice President of Systems Engineering in 2020 and tasked to lead the development of the company’s next generation of integrated solutions. In 2021 he was promoted to Chief Technical Officer and appointed a Technical Fellow at Curtiss-Wright.
PacStar Communications Solutions
Combining tactical networking equipment and software, our PacStar tactical communications solutions enable enhanced battlefield situational awareness down to the individual warfighter.
C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS)
The U.S. Army CCDC CMOSS defines an open architecture that enables in-vehicle hardware and software resources to be shared where appropriate, greatly reducing SWaP-C, improving communications between systems, and creating a better user experience.