Cranfield Selects Lynx for High-performance Data Acquisition Systems

LynxOS to supply software platform for next-generation technology serving needs of aeronautics and automotive industries

SAN JOSÉ, Calif.—May 26, 1999—Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. today announced that its LynxOS real-time operating system (RTOS) has been selected by Cranfield Data Systems of England as the software platform for Cranfield's next generation of high-speed, high-performance data acquisition equipment for the aerospace, automotive and power generation industries.

"Lynx's broad experience in the military and aerospace industries is a natural fit for our M6000 systems," said Darrel Charles, Technology Group Leader for Cranfield. "Our new systems allow larger organizations, with multiple signal-processing requirements, to maximize use of the hardware. The features of the LynxOS memory management make it possible for us to link several workstations to monitor a single test. Its flexibility and industry standard support makes it possible for Cranfield to choose commercial off-the-shelf hardware and provide a product that meets the high-performance demands of our mutual customers at a competitive cost."

Cranfield is a leading supplier of data acquisition and analysis systems to measure noise and vibration. Software applications are available for a wide variety of tasks, including high-speed data capture and signal processing of data from wind tunnel tests, gas turbine engines, ground vibration testing of aerospace structures, modal analysis and vehicle acoustics. Individual 64-channel workstations systems retrieve time domain data from field tests at aggregate rates up to 6 M samples per second direct to disc, or up to 1200 K samples per second for spectral averaging, depending upon configuration (networked systems allow proportionately higher rates). Cranfield's systems are used by such companies as Rolls Royce, Boeing, Ford England, and General Electric.

"Cranfield's exemplary reputation in the aerospace, automotive and power generation industries indicates the quality of their product and services, and is a fitting complement to Lynx offerings," said Bill Hogan, President of Lynx. "Our new strategic relationship with Cranfield further cements our leading position in those industries." Lynx will provide its real-time operating system, LynxOS, as the foundation for Cranfield's next generation of data retrieval software, and will provide technical support to Cranfield's customers in upgrading legacy systems."

The new systems will run on PowerPC VME boards developed by CETIA, another Lynx partner. CETIA's PowerEngine family of Single-Board Computers offers single or dual processor solutions in one slot with clock speeds starting at 300 Mhz. Combined with the LynxOS hard real-time performance and ability to re-use Cranfield's legacy code facilitates system upgrades for future both hardware and software improvements.

About Cetia

Cetia, a subsidiary of Thomson CSF, develops high performance, ruggedized, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based VMEbus hardware and software solutions based on PowerPC™ microprocessors. Cetia has a rich history of providing systems integrators and OEMs with products for the development and deployment of specialized real-time systems used in standard and harsh environments. The company's PowerEngine Single Board Computer (SBC) product family is optimized for a wide variety of applications in military, aerospace, telecommunications, and industrial markets. Cetia's products are in active use by more than 1,000 customers worldwide including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Marconi Aerospace Systems, Inc., Canon, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Aerospatiale, Thomson-CSF, GTE and IBM.

About Lynx Real-Time Systems

Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. is a worldwide supplier of embedded software products including scalable real-time operating systems, development tools and support. These products provide a software foundation for high availability applications in telecommunications, data communications, avionics, automotive, office automation and process control systems. Dedicated to industry standards such as POSIX®, Java™ and CompactPCI, the company enables customers to leverage their investments in software and education. Lynx holds two patents for real-time software and has three patents pending.

Founded in 1988, Lynx is a privately held company with offices in the U.S., Europe and Japan, with worldwide headquarters in San José, California.

LynxOS is a registered trademark of Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. Other brand or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective holders.

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