North Atlantic Industries (NAI) has received a contract for the delivery of custom-on-standard architecture (COSA) COTS Rugged I/O and communications subsystems for the US Navy’s ship-to-shore connector (SSC) data acquisition unit (DAU).

NAI’s sensor interface unit (SIU35), which will be integrated as part of the DAU system, aims to provide modularity and distributed interfaces over Ethernet for custom solutions.

NAI Sales and Marketing vice-president Lino Massafra claims that the company’s modular and adaptive COSA offers efficient space, weight and power-cost (SWaP-C) I/O-intensive boards and systems in less time and at a lower cost.

"The COSA architecture enables users to select 15 different functions from a broad range of low-power, high-density modules."

Massafra said: "Our ability to mix and match functions gives customers a solution without the high costs typically associated with other vendors’ custom-box designs."

The COSA architecture enables users to select 15 different functions from a broad range of low-power, high-density modules, including programmable discrete analogue I/O, including A/D, D/A and RTD, communications such as RS-232 /422 / 485 and ARINC-429, LVDT measurement, RVDT simulation and LVDT / RVDT AC excitation.

In addition, the SWaP-C design augments packaging density, saving enclosure slots and reducing down power consumption.

Automatic background built-in-testing, integrated within the SIU35, continually checks the strength of each channel.

The SSC is the successor to the US Navy’s landing craft air cushion vehicle, which is close to end its service life.