Radstone Technology, Ultra Electronics Datel Join Forces To Provide Certifiable DO-178B COTS Solution

Agreement calls for joint development, joint marketing Looking to address new markets for both companies, Radstone Technology and Ultra Electronics Datel today announced the signing of an agreement which would see the two organizations jointly market a DO-178B-certifiable COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) single board computer (SBC) solution to defense and aerospace customers worldwide. Both Radstone Technology and Ultra Electronics Datel deliver solutions to international aerospace, defense and government customers. Radstone is the world’s leading independent supplier of rugged, high-performance, embedded computer products and Ultra Electronics Datel has achieved an outstanding reputation for developing high integrity software.  The agreement, signed at the Farnborough Air Show by Peter Cavill, Managing Director of Radstone Technology and Ross Parsell, Managing Director of Ultra Electronics Datel calls for the two companies to collaborate in the development of certifiable board support packages (BSPs) for Radstone’s single board computers, initially supporting Wind River’s ARINC-compliant  VxWorks AE635 operating system.  The agreement also calls for the two companies to jointly market the resulting solution to contractors whose requirements include the need for software capable of being certified in accordance with DO-178B.  Radstone will provide all the support necessary to enable Ultra Electronics Datel to engineer a BSP compliant with DO-178B Level A. “This is an exciting agreement for Radstone because it creates a position of significant competitive strength for us,” said Peter Cavill.  “It represents a natural extension of our world class expertise in the delivery of mission-critical subsystems, and the partnership with Ultra Electronics Datel gives us  a highly credible customer response in a rapidly-growing marketplace that values Radstone’s commitment to delivering state-of-the-art solutions backed by long term support.  The agreement leverages Datel’s proven track record in avionics software and will, we believe, result in a product offering that will be highly valued by our customers.” For Ultra Electronics Datel, Ross Parsell commented:  “This agreement will enable us to bring our unrivaled experience to the world’s most demanding customers. The strengths of the two companies are highly complementary, and we are very much looking forward to working with Radstone. We expect to see significant success as a result of this collaboration, enabling customers to achieve system-level DO-178B certification rapidly and reliably.” Note To Editors The DO-178B standard has assumed considerable significance in the avionics industry, and compliance with it is demanded by increasing numbers of customers as the de facto standard in certifying all new aviation software.  Concerned primarily with development processes,  DO-178B - produced by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, Inc. (RTCA) - requires vendors to produce substantial documentary evidence to support claims of compliance:  the amount of evidence required is determined by the level of certification being sought.  DO-178B certification levels specify compliance at levels A, B, C, D, or E:  these levels define the consequences of software failure, with Level A representing a catastrophic failure and Level E indicating that a failure has no effect on the overall system.  Projects calling for DO-178B conformance can only be certified at the system level, not at the subsystem or component level.  The agreement between Radstone and Ultra Electronics Datel will provide a board level solution – including the required BSP – that will support customers in rapidly achieving DO-178B certifiability for the complete system.  About Ultra Electronics Datel Ultra Electronics Datel, based in Preston , England , deliver high integrity systems and software solutions to aerospace, defense and government sectors.  With over 20 years experience, Ultra Electronics Datel deliver a broad range of capabilities, from initial design evaluation and consultancy through to complete turnkey solutions. Key areas of expertise include; integrated solutions, bespoke software development, secure collaborative working environments, engineering and consultancy services.  Ultra Electronics is a leading aerospace and defence contractor, based in the UK and North America . The Company specialises in niche technology markets and employs over 2,600 people. For more information about Ultra Electronics and its business, products and services, visit the company’s web site at: www.ultra-datel.com