13 Years A Sarsen Technology Employee...

13 years. That's a long time in anyone's book. 2004 doesn't seem that long ago, but lots has happened since then. Britney Spears got married, divorced, married and divorced again, Marvel released 36 movies,  Roger Federer won Wimbledon 6 times and we all sat through six seasons of Lost. Was it a dream? Does anyone even care?

Here at Sarsen Technology the last 13 years have been pretty great, because we've been lucky enough to have had Lynn as part of the team.

Lynn is an integral part of the company, providing all the accounting and financial processes including invoicing and banking, but more importantly she looks after holiday administration and salaries! Lynn's input is essential to the smooth running of the office day to day.

The traditional gift for a thirteenth anniversary is lace, but we couldn't find anything suitable (or appropriate) so to celebrate this special anniversary we visited The Polly Tea Rooms for a spot of afternoon tea.

If you're ever in Marlborough we definitely recommend a visit. Their scones are some of the best we've ever had. And we eat a lot of cake...

Thank you Lynn for all your hard work and support over the last 13 years, we look forward to working with you for many more.

Best wishes,
Nigel, Angela,
Laura, Christos & Kevin.

 

ISC High Performance 2017 - Meet with BittWare and Sarsen Technology

Event: ISC 2017
Date: Sunday 18 June - Thursday 22nd June
Location: Frankfurst, Germany
Stand: A-1431

ISC High Performance is an international event for academic, industrial and commercial disciplines to come together and share ideas and knowledge across the entire high performance computing spectrum.

The 2017 conference offers 3 days of speakers and seminars based around this years focus topics:

HPC Systems	HPC Applications & Algorithms	HPC Trends & Challenges
Exascale System Developments (Architecture & Concepts)	Life Sciences	High Performance Visualization
Processor Technologies for HPC and AI	Energy Exploration	Big Data Experiments & Big Data Analysis
Memory Outlook	Turbulences & Combustion	Quantum Annealing for Combinatorial Optimization Problems
Interconnects for HPC Systems	Advanced Material Science
Programming Models (Concepts for Exascale)	Algorithms for Extreme Scale in Practice
	Large Scale Engineering & Cloud Computing

Sarsen Technology works with BittWare to provide customers with high-performance FPGA solutions based on Intel Stratix 10/Arria 10 and Xilinx UltraScale/UltraScale+ FPGAs, for data centres, network packet processing and cyber security applications.

Sarsen Technology is exhibiting at ISC 2017 alongside BittWare and EMG2, you can find us at stand A1431. BittWare’s range of Intel and Xilinx FPGA PCIe boards will be on display, along with live demos including Deep Learning with their OpenCL Board Support Package and 100 GbE packet processing with Intel’s DPDK.

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology.

New NVIDIA CUDA-based 3U VPX GPGPU Module is a Game Changer!

With the recent release of the Condor GR3 3U VPX from EIZO Rugged Solutions we are excited to be now be in a position able to offer a powerful, complete single-slot 3U VPX GPGPU solution, based on the Condor GR3 and the XPedite7501 XMC module from Extreme Engineering Solutions.

This combination offers an ideal graphics processing solution for a wide range of high performance and compute intensive project requirements. Radar, airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications where size, weight, and power (SWaP) and system flexibility are key considerations. This architecture allows for an easy and versatile upgrade path of both the graphics module and the SBC.

Both boards are rugged, MIL-STD-810 compliant, and support extended temperature operation (-40°C to +85°C) for use in extreme environments, providing performance-oriented GPGPU customers a complete solution that doesn’t compromise on reliability.

The Condor GR3 3U VPX GPGPU solution hosts NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX-950M processor with 640 CUDA cores and 1,271 TFLOPs of floating point performance, and supports multiple I/O interfaces including Ethernet, RS-232, USB, and SATA.

The XPedite7501 is a high-performance, low-power, XMC module based on the 5th generation Intel® Core™ i7 Broadwell-H processor. With up to three PCI Express Gen3-capable ports and two Gigabit Ethernet ports, the XPedite7501 is ideal for high-bandwidth data processing applications. The XPedite7501 also leverages Intel® Iris™ Pro graphics for graphics-intensive applications and serves as a general-purpose GPU for demanding data processing applications.

For more information please contact the Sarsen Technology team on +44 1672 511166 or send us an email with your requirements - info@sarsen.net

Condor GR3 3U VPX Features

XPedite7501 Features

3U VPX form factor (conduction cooled) Designed for SWaP constrained applications NVIDIA® Maxwell™ GPU  GeForce® GTX 950M XMC site for hosting an XMC form factor computer Two configurations currently available: - GR3-C3: 6th generation Intel® Core™ i3-6102E - GR3-X7: 5th generation Intel® Core™ i7-5700EQ Supports NVIDIA® CUDA® and OpenCL™ 1.2 640 CUDA cores, 1.271 TFLOPs shader performance 4GB GDDR5 graphics memory DirectX® 12, OpenGL® 4.5, Shader 5.0 8 or 4 lane PCI Express 2.0 DVI, VGA and DisplayPort outputs on VPX P1/P2 Two 1Gbps Ethernet, Two USB 2.0, Two RS-232 and Two SATA Long term product availability Ideal for rugged applications Windows or Linux drivers Contact us for the latest datasheet

Supports 5th generation (Broadwell-H) and 4th generation (Haswell) Intel® Core™ i7 processors XMC (VITA 42) module Conduction or air cooling Up to 8 GB of DDR3L-1600 ECC SDRAM in two channels Up to 32 GB of NAND flash Two x4 or one x8 PCI Express Gen3-capable P15 XMC interface One x4 PCI Express P16 XMC interface Two Gigabit Ethernet ports Four USB 2.0 ports Two SATA ports Two RS-232/422/485 serial ports HDMI/DVI-D or Dual-Mode DisplayPort interface Intel® vPro™/AMT support Linux BSP Microsoft Windows drivers Contact Sarsen for availability of Green Hills INTEGRITY, QNX Neutrino, Wind River VxWorks and LynuxWorks LynxOS BSPs  See Datasheet

ONYX-HD: High Performance Embedded Computing Platform for Video Imaging and Situation Awareness

Pre-Qualified Multi-Mission Rugged Computer

 
The ONYX family from Ecrin Systems is based on leading edge multi-core Intel® Core™ i7  processing capabilities to support a wide variety of mission requirements. Pre-Qualified MIL-STD-810/461/1275/DO-160 and in a lightweight, conduction cooled chassis the ONYX is an ideal choice for space constrained applications and harsh environmental conditions.

ONYX-HD is unique: instead of the traditional, expensive multi-slot VPX architecture, ONYX is built around a scalable and rugged multi-Core COM Express module operating between -40°C/+71°C.

It pairs cutting edge heterogeneous system architecture with an Intel multi-core i7 and Xilinx Kintex 7 FPGA capture engine. This set up combined with the latest generation AMD E8860 GPU, dedicated to parallel image computing, means the ONYX HD comfortably meets a wide variety of civilian and military requirements needing advanced Augmented Reality features, including video and data management, digital maps, tactical video overlays and mission management systems.

In a departure from the original ONYX system there is no XMC I/O module limited to PCIe 8Xlinks, but a high performance GPGPU dedicated MXC mezzanine with PCIe 16X Gen 2 links offering up to 8 GB/s bandwidth and a large choice of Digital and Analogic I/O video formats, from legacy STANAG up to new generation HD-SDI and 3G-SDI.
The added H.264 compression via Quick Sync from Core i7 means ONYX-HD is perfectly designed for UAVs or helicopter HD Video situation awareness missions.

See Datasheet

Details:

INTEL Multi-Core i7 + KINTEX 7 + AMD E8860 with up to 768 GFLOPS GPGPU engine	PMC and mini PCI Express sites for flexible I/O expansion and Wireless functions
2 x HD-SDI inputs SMPTE-292M, 1920x1080p30	Cable-free, Fanless, MIL-DTL-38999 connectors
2 x simultaneous HD-SDI outputs SMPTE-292M, 1920x1080p30	Real cold start at -40°C and up to +71°C Operating Temp (depends on configuration and cooling system)
2 x Analog NTSC/PAL inputs for legacy sensors	Standard BOM Qualified DO-160F and MIL-STD-810G/461F/1275D/704
1 x VGA + 1x DVI-D Single Link (Intel HD Graphic)	IP-67 Ingress
H.264/AVC video Encoding with streaming capabilities	ITAR free without Export Control
Linux Metadata Extraction/Insertion	Only 80 Watts Power consumption
Embedded EGNOS-capable GPS	High flexibility to Modified COST services

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology - +44 1672 511122

VersaLogic Releases Intel Skylake-based Rugged Embedded Computer in COM Express Basic Form Factor

Blackbird from VersaLogic is a very high performance embedded computer built around Intel's Skylake processor.

Blackbird is the latest member of the growing family of VersaLogic's EPU (Embedded Processing Unit) format computers. EPUs combine processor, memory, video, and system I/O into a compact fully functioning embedded computer. Supplied fully assembled and tested these computers are based on COM Express standards. Available in dual- and quad-core versions, the Blackbird provides extreme CPU processing and video performance for its compact size.

See Datasheet

At 95 x 125 x 37mm the Blackbird is a small, ultra-rugged embedded x86 computer, combining the new 6th generation Intel® Core "Skylake" processor, with system interfaces and I/O features, in a configuration designed to withstand extreme temperature, impact, and vibration.

Depending on the selected configuration the Blackbird provides up to six times the processing power of Intel's Bay Trail processors, while keeping power consumption as low as 15 Watts. The Blackbird provides compatibility with a broad range of standard x86 application development tools for reduced development time.


"The Blackbird's i5 and i7 Skylake processors deliver amazing compute and video performance, at power levels that are very manageable. The on-board power supply, which accepts 8 to 30 VDC, makes it an easy match for fixed or mobile 12 and 24-volt systems." said Len Crane, President of VersaLogic. "The on-board TPM security chip, USB 3.0 ports, analog inputs and output, and other I/O, make the Blackbird a perfect fit for higher-performance systems."

Built-In Security
The on-board Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip can be used to block unauthorised hardware and software access. Additional security support is provided through built-in AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) processor instructions.

Powerful Video Processing
Intel's HD graphics 500 system provides superior graphics performance and is capable of supporting up to two 4K UHD monitors at once. The Skylake GPU can also transcode a 4K video up to 20 percent faster than the previous generation of CPU's. It also supports other graphic technologies such as OpenCL 2.0, DirectX 12, Open GL 4.4, HEVC/H.265 encoding and decoding, and H.264 encoder.
Dual DisplayPort outputs and a single/dual-channel LVDS display output is available.

High Performance I/O Capabilities
On-board I/O includes eight channels of 12-bit programmable Analog Inputs, four channels of 12-bit Analog Output, twenty four Digital I/O lines, I2C and SPI. Also included are two Gigabit Ethernet ports with network boot capability, two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0 host ports, and four serial ports. Two SATA III interfaces support high-capacity rotating or solid-state drives.

Three Mini PCIe sockets provide easy system expansion using plug-in Wi-Fi modems, GPS receivers, MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, Firewire, and other mini PCIe cards. These sockets, one with mSATA capabilities, also provide flexible solid-state drive (SSD) options.

Designed, Manufactured and Tested for Extreme Environments
Blackbird is designed and tested for extended temperature (-40° to +85°C) operation and meets MIL-STD-202G specifications for high impact and vibration. The Blackbird is fully compatible with 12 or 24V vehicle applications, and the on-board power regulation supports inputs of 8 to 30 volts to simplify system power supply requirements. Reverse Voltage Protection, and Over Voltage Protection enhances field durability and reliability.

Long-term Availability
The Blackbird is covered by VersaLogic's 5+ year availability guarantee and a 5-year product warranty. VersaLogic's Life Extension programs typically keep products available for 10+ years.

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology.

FPGA Event: Implementing Machine Vision with FPGA and SoC Platforms

Date: May 18, 2017
Time: 9am - 4.30pm
Location: MBDA, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2DA

About
Machine Vision (MV) systems are ubiquitous, encompassing a wide range of applications from smart phones to ADAS and drones. Increasingly, these applications require intelligence at the edge or in the cloud, with FPGA and SoC based solutions forming the core of many MV systems.

Join NMI at MBDA facilities for the upcoming meeting of the FPGA Network to explore not only MV systems but also how FPGA and SoC can implement intensive applications including Machine Learning and Neural Networks.

Key themes will include:
OpenCV with FPGA / SoC, ADAS, Robotic Guided Vision / Drones, Industry 4.0, Defence, Machine Learning and much more.

**Non-member Early Bird Tickets are now on sale. Offer expires on 30th March**

Confirmed Speakers include:
MBDA Systems, Roke Manor Research, Dyson Robotics Lab (Imperial College), APTcore and Myrtle.


Register your interest here.

About NMI

Celebrating 9 Years at Sarsen Technology - Laura Biddiscombe Meets Some Feathery Friends!

Unbelievably, I've been at Sarsen for 9 years as of March 2017, so I've taken some time away from the exciting embedded news we usually feature on this blog to tell you about how this momentous anniversary has been marked.

During the last nine years I've seen people come and go, but I've had the pleasure of working with Nigel, Angela and Lynn for the entire duration.

This photo was taken not long after I started in 2008, just after we won an award from VersaLogic...

L-R: Lynn Scholefield, James Rickwood, Tim Norris, Nigel Norman, Laura Biddiscombe, Angela Boyce

...and this one was taken at our amazing Christmas Party in December 2016. We haven't aged a day, let alone 9 years.

You can see the photos here.

L-R: Christos Flouris, Nigel Norman, Kevin Beach, Lynn Scholefield, Angela Boyce, Laura Biddiscombe








I'm very grateful to have been a part of some really exciting projects in the 9 years I have been here, from applications in deep sea to products sent into space. It's never boring. And there are a lot of perks. For example, when you have worked for the same company for a long time your employers get to know what makes you tick.

Owls are one of my all time favourite animals, and when Angela suggested we spend an afternoon taking pictures of owls with a local wildlife photographer friend of hers to I wasn't about to say no. So on Monday we were whisked off to the Marlborough Downs to see the Short Eared Owls that make their homes there over the winter. (A group of owls is called a Parliament, by the way. I learnt a lot of excellent pub quiz answers during our outing. Like the word crepuscular. Google it.).

Short Eared Owls are relatively small with beautiful mottled feathers and huge wings that seem to appear from nowhere when they take flight. They generally hunt during late afternoon and evening, so after we arrived at around 4pm they became more and more active, spoiling us with some amazing flying displays that we attempted to catch on camera.

I have a personal reputation for taking awful photographs, but with the seemingly unending patience of our guide, David, (and some of his exceptional sloe gin) we all managed to catch some pretty special pictures!

Thank you Nigel, Angela and David for such a lovely experience. I'd say here's to another 9 years but I don't want to have to think about how old I'll be by then.