Commercial Off-the-shelf Technologies Research Articles

Electron spectroscopy with a commercial 4H-SiC photodiode

A Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) 4H-SiC p-n photodiode (sold as a UV detector) was investigated as detector of electrons (β− particles) over the temperature range 100 °C to 20 °C. The photodiode had an active area of 0.06 mm2. The currents of the photodiode were measured in dark condition and under the illumination of a 63Ni radioisotope β− particle source (endpoint energy = 66 keV). The photodiode was then coupled to a custom-made low-noise charge-sensitive preamplifier to make a direct detection particle counting electron spectrometer. 63Ni β− particle spectra were accumulated with the spectrometer operating at temperatures up to 100 °C. The quantum efficiency of the photodiode as well as the spectrum expected to be detected were calculated via Monte Carlo simulations produced using the CASINO computer program. Comparisons between the simulated and detected 63Ni β− particle spectra are presented. The work was motivated by efforts to apply COTS technologies to develop low-cost space science instrumentation; a low-cost electron spectrometer of this type could be included on a university-led CubeSat mission for space plasma physics and magnetosphere experiments.

A Novel Approach to Building a Heterogeneous Emergency Response Communication System

We present a specification and a nationwide pilot implementation of a future public safety communication system. We propose a novel approach to survivable heterogeneous emergency communication systems, merging professional and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, communicating over state-of-the-art mobile and satellite links. We explain the architecture and functional outline of an Advanced Emergency Response Communications System (A-ERCS), which was developed and integrated with professional, commercial, and ad hoc networks to provide survivable communications services and sensor-based applications to support public safety agencies in their day-to-day operation and disaster relief missions. Further, we present the results of a real-world pilot implementation, customized for fire fighter services in Slovenia, and discuss the outcomes of performance tests, showing how the proposed solution can be applied in public safety practice and how COTS technologies can be efficiently and reliably reused in this specific domain.

9.5.1 Evolving risks and use of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components

AbstractAs we continue to defend our nations, the increased use of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology in military, infrastructure and other systems necessitates different approaches to address evolving risks and opportunities. COTS technologies have become far more capable over the last 10 years and that trend shows no sign of slowing. In fact, the commercial world is often on the cutting edge as companies vie to win market share. Nations and customers have recognized this trend and, with a desire to capitalize on it (cost and time), are now often specifying “maximum use of COTS” in many systems. This increasing specification and use of COTS technology will increase the challenges in protecting our nations, as well as afford us new opportunities for exploitation and defense. All views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not represent the policy or position of his employer or school.

Observations of radiation in the space radiation environment and its effect on commercial off-the-shelf electronics in low-Earth orbit

Over the past 20 years the University of Surrey has gained significant experience in the use of commercial off–the–shelf (COTS) technologies operating in low–Earth orbit through the design, manufacture and operation of its ‘UoSAT’ satellite series. The ionizing radiation environment is of particular concern when using COTS technologies in space, and thus particular emphasis has been given to monitoring the high–energy proton and heavy–ion cosmic–ray environment inside the spacecraft, and to observing and analysing its effects. This paper reports on the principal results of this work and discusses how we apply COTS technology to space.

Resource Management Middleware for Dynamic, DependableReal-Time Systems

This paper presents resource management techniques that achieve the quality of service (QoS) requirements of dynamic real-time systems using open architectures and commercial off-the-shelf technologies (COTS). Dynamic real-time systems are subject to constant changes such as a varying external environment, overload of internal systems, component failure, and evolving operational requirements. Examples of such systems include the emerging generation of computer-based, command and control systems of the U.S. Navy. To enable the engineering of such systems, we present adaptive resource management middleware techniques that achieve the QoS requirements of the system. The middleware performs QoS monitoring and failure detection, QoS diagnosis, and reallocation of resources to adapt the system to achieve acceptable levels of QoS. Experimental characterizations of the middleware using a real-time benchmark illustrate its effectiveness for adapting the system for achieving the desired real-time and survivability QoS during overload situations.

Enterprise Data Quality: A Pragmatic Approach

Enterprise data—the data that is created, used and shared by a corporation in conducting business—is a critical business resource that must be analyzed, architected and managed with data quality as a guiding principle. This paper presents results, practical insights, and lessons learned from a large scale study conducted in the telecommunications industry that synthesizes data quality issues into an architectural and management approach. We describe the real life case study and show how requirements for data quality were collected, how the data quality metrics were defined, what guidelines were established for intersystem data flows, what COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) technologies were used, and what results were obtained through a prototype effort. As a result of experience gained and lessons learned, we propose a comprehensive data quality approach that combines data quality and data architectures into a single framework with a series of steps, procedures, checklists, and tools. Our approach takes into account the technology, process, and people issues and extends the extant literature on data quality.