Time-Sensitive Networking E-BOOK
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
Avionics for the FLRAA, TSN in the digital backbone, and the impact of MOSA Q & A with Tanika Watson, executive leader for the
Time-Sensitive Networking
System integrators, prime contractors turn to TSN for determinism
John M. McHale
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
Avionics for the FLRAA, TSN in the digital backbone, and the impact of MOSA Q & A with Tanika Watson, executive leader for the GE Aerospace Future Vertical Lift business
“Time Sensitive Networking enables the architecture of modern systems, assuring real-time communication and delivering low latency, high reliability, and precise timing for all devices on the network.” – Wind River
Time-Sensitive Networking: The Time Is Now
Situational awareness, decision-making speed, and communication reliability are paramount in aerospace and defense scenarios. Think mission-critical systems, such as flight control, unmanned aerial vehicle operations, battlefield communications, and weapons systems.
These systems need connectivity between modules or devices that ensures timely and deterministic data delivery, something that traditional Ethernet does not support, especially as data loads increase .
Enter Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), an IEEE standard that addresses the challenges of providing deterministic and reliable network communication in mission-critical systems . TSN achieves deterministic networking by guaranteeing minimal network latency and jitter . It assures bounded, end-to-end delay and guaranteed message delivery time within the network TSN also allows the transmission of time-sensitive and non time-sensitive data on the same network without impacting the delivery of time-sensitive data, even when it encounters network congestion and high traffic loads. TSN enables a “digital backbone” for aerospace and defense platforms where the use cases require determinism at the network and system level .
With TSN, different types of traffic – such as control, monitoring, and multimedia data – can reliably converge onto a single Ethernet network. This simplifies network infrastructure and enhances efficiency in circumstances where space, weight, and power constraints are critical. Plus, TSN’s time synchronization, traffic shaping, and fault tolerance mechanisms enhance Ethernet networks’ robustness and reliability in harsh environments
As an open standard, TSN ensures interoperability across different vendors’ equipment That makes it easier to integrate the technology into existing systems, mission-critical or otherwise .
The TSN implementation from Wind River, a well-established provider of embedded software and operating systems, is suited to serving real-time objectives efficiently and securely. The VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS) brings TSN capabilities to embedded systems natively – that is, without the need for third-party implementation . Further, with VxWorks running as a guest operating system on Wind River Helix Virtualization Platform, organizations can add TSN capability to virtualized deployments with no performance degradation
Wind River’s TSN solutions empower aerospace and defense customers to meet stringent performance requirements, such as guaranteed latency and synchronization . By supporting TSN standards including IEEE 802 .1 AS-2020, 802 1Qbv, 802 1Qbu, and 1588v2, Wind River ensures interoperability and compliance with industry protocols, enabling defense customers to seamlessly integrate TSN into existing designs and reuse applications to future-proof their deployments .
Contact Wind River to learn how we can deliver time-sensitive networking solutions for your program. https://www.windriver.com/contact
System integrators, prime contractors turn to TSN for determinism
By John M. McHale III, Editorial Director
Engineers at prime contractors and system integrators like Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace are turning toward an open standard called time-sensitive networking (TSN), a more deterministic version of Ethernet, to solve determinism and latency challenges in military platforms .
In my Q&A with Tanika Watson of GE Aerospace on page 6, we talk about how GE Aerospace is leveraging TSN in its work on the U .S . Army’s FLRAA [Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft] program .
I also spoke previously with Kirk A Avery, Lockheed Martin Senior Fellow, Tactical Mission Systems Chief Architect, Lockheed Martin RMS, about how TSN impacts these designs and how it ties into other open standards like Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA, and Future Airborne Capability Environment, or FACE, Technical Standards . Avery currently serves as the SOSA Consortium’s Technical Working Group vice-chair .
“TSN follows a very similar conceptual approach as the FACE and SOSA technical standards,” he told me. “The TSN, FACE, and SOSA technical standards are foundationally built off existing open systems standards . Each of these standards also follows a model of evolution based upon aligning to emerging standards The quality attributes of each focus on interoperability, scalability, and flexibility, with goals aligned to MOSA objectives. TSN is a communication technology built off a set of open standards and supports Standard Ethernet . The breadth of TSN enables greater adoption based upon the broad support it provides, including support for rate-constrained and scheduled network traffic.”
Its openness is what enables TSN users to leverage it in complex military systems. “TSN provides a scalable and adaptable solution with higher bandwidth, increased endpoint connectivity, and a certification path to the highest Design Assurance Levels,” he said.
Designers have initially targeted avionics applications with TSN adoption because of the complexity and number of sensors involved .
“From an application/capability perspective, I believe TSN provides significant benefit for complex avionics sensor solutions where speed and bandwidth have become extremely important due to the need to process significant amounts of data being received from a multitude of sensors,” Avery told me. “I also believe TSN allows solution providers to reduce and remove point-to-point interfaces in favor of a unified network supporting all levels of Design Assurance Levels [DALs], allowing for weight reduction, minimizing interface type complexity, easing capability/technology introduction, and enabling many quality attributes supporting key MOSA objectives.”
There are protocols like MIL-STD-1553 and others that provide some of the functionality TSN brings, but Avery said that TSN takes it to another level and promises more growth in capability and functionality
Kirk A. Avery
“I believe the key advantages TSN provides are much wider commercial availability/support over other deterministic Ethernet technologies and also provides significant growth potential to high Gigabit and Terabit per second solutions,” Avery said. “Even though TSN is still a maturing technology, TSN still already has more support than predecessor technologies TSN solutions also facilitate transition from legacy bus interfaces such as MIL-STD-1553, and point-to-point interface solutions such as ARINC 429 and serial protocols such as RS-232/422/485.”
As with all discussions around open standards and adopting strategies like the SOSA and FACE approaches, interoperability tops the lists of advantages and requirements . TSN provides interoperability, but not with every protocol .
“TSN is interoperable with traditional Ethernet solutions,” Avery noted. “Interoperability will be based on the use of a common network time reference and the network schedule being aware of all the protocols to be used While TSN is not interoperable with many legacy interfaces (e g , MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, RS-232/422/485, CAN bus), data adaptation solutions can be used to minimize integration cost and complexity in many cases.”
“TSN is a communication technology built off a set of open standards and supports Standard Ethernet. The breadth of TSN enables greater adoption based upon the broad support it provides, including support for rate-constrained and scheduled network traffic.”
–
Kirk A. Avery
For more on how commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software suppliers are enabling real-time determinism in sensor fusion, avionics, radar, and other military applications with TSN, don’t miss the rest of the features in this e-book .
Avionics for the FLRAA, TSN in the digital backbone, and the impact of MOSA
By John McHale, Editorial Director
Tanika Watson, executive leader for the GE Aerospace Future Vertical Lift business
Recently, I spoke with Tanika Watson, executive leader for the GE Aerospace Future Vertical Lift business, about GE Aerospace’s subcontract to develop and deliver avionics systems for the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, the role of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) in the FLRAA digital backbone, and the impact of the modular open systems approach (MOSA) on military avionics systems going forward.
McHALE: Please provide a brief description of your background in the defense industry and your responsibility within GE Aerospace.
WATSON: As the executive leader for the Future Vertical Lift business, I’m responsible for program execution of all GE Aerospace – Avionics provided content on Future Vertical Lift platforms. I have more than 20 years with GE that spans [the] Healthcare, Power, and Aviation [divisions]. Prior to my current role, I was the Executive Commercial Operations Director for GE Aerospace’s Systems business
McHALE: GE Aerospace made news recently with the announcement of a subcontract to design, develop, and deliver avionics systems for the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, providing the platform’s digital backbone. Can you describe in terms of what capabilities the digital backbone will bring to the FLRAA aircraft that current platforms do not have?
WATSON: The digital backbone provides the customer with a vendor-agnostic path to make aircraft system modifications with ease when needed. They can realize the benefits of MOSA designs from the outset of Future Vertical Lift programs
Going forward, the digital backbone will change how aircraft are updated and maintained, and it ensures that our soldiers have an advantage on the battlefield. The digital backbone is comprised of the physical components and the software required to make aircraft more adaptable and able to change at the speed of need
We are delivering these items today: Ethernet switches, nodal exchange points, and the tools that enable this digital data-distribution network . We have two decades of experience in the civil market space doing exactly this type of work
Today, network updates supporting mission upgrades are a long and laborious process hamstrung by capacity . Time-Sensitive Networking, or TSN, provides a deterministic, high-speed, rapidly adaptable data transport highway to meet the current and future needs .
To make this a reality, the TSN network requires physical switches to route the data to where it is needed . As a lot of the mission systems today are based on older interfaces, nodal exchange points are needed to convert data from the legacy interface to TSN .
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
The second component, and no less important, are the tools to make this happen. Configuring the network and putting all the data onto a single data stream is complex. We provide automated, certifiable tools to enable the customer to configure the network.
McHALE: How does TSN factor into the design of the digital backbone? What problems did it solve?
WATSON: The GE Aerospace TSN digital backbone enables a modular open systems approach (MOSA) by delivering an open, scalable, high-speed data infrastructure .
The digital backbone will conform to the TSN aerospace profile by providing a low-latency data highway that meets current and future needs for moving data through the aircraft . TSN accommodates safety-critical and mission-critical applications, incorporating features that provide the deterministic and reliable behavior required to prioritize critical data
The digital backbone allows customers to make changes to the weapon system without going to the systems integrator, which optimizes the cost and speed of change .
McHALE: What other advantages does TSN bring?
WATSON: Key tenets of TSN include the networking avionics and tools, interoperability, and high bandwidth and security TSN is an open standard with no licensing requirements
How it works:
Networking avionics and tools
› The GE Aerospace TSN digital backbone houses the required framework including the end systems, switches, data concentrators, and tool chain .
Interoperability
› The tools’ ease of use and configurability enables interoperability with third-party systems for a vendoragnostic path to new systems and capabilities.
Photo courtesy GE Aerospace.
High bandwidth and security
› Increased bandwidth and security features help enable fielding of the latest mission-focused capabilities for the warfighter.
McHALE: What provided these functions previously? Ethernet? MIL-STD 1553? And does TSN work with those older interfaces, say, for a tech refresh?
WATSON: TSN accommodates various levels of traffic criticality, incorporating features that provide the deterministic and reliable behavior required to prioritize critical data .
TSN offers a much larger “pipe,” and one that can expand as more and more data throughput is required. This larger pipe enables convergence to a single redundant network eliminating multiple disparate networks; this reduces weight and improves maintainability and upgradability .
To incorporate older interfaces, we are also providing nodal exchange points to interface with 1553, ad-hoc ethernet, RS-422/232, ARINC429, CAN bus, etc. and convert the signals to and from TSN.
As you can imagine, scheduling a 1 MB/sec or 196 kbaud signal over a 10 Gbit/sec data stream is a bit of a challenge This is where the GE Aerospace hardware and software in the modal exchange points combined with our tools within Chronos are key, converting the data and then scheduling it for use on the newer TSN network.
McHALE: TSN is a collection of open standards (IEEE standard, specifically IEEE 802.1Qbv, the last I saw). How does TSN enable adoption of other open standards and MOSA strategies in the FLRAA platform and in other designs and architectures you are working on?
WATSON: In addition to the TSN network meeting the requirements of an open standard which can be accessed by anyone, GE Aerospace is also certifying the backbone to Design Assurance Level A (DAL A), the highest level of assurance so it can accommodate data for critical systems .
As a DAL A system, there are no certification issues within the digital backbone that would prevent putting various levels of data on one bus. In addition to the IEEE open standards, the DAL A certification will make the GE Aerospace digital backbone platform- and system-agnostic .
McHALE: I’ve heard DoD leaders say they need MOSA metrics to combat naysayers. How do you measure MOSA success at GE Aerospace?
WATSON: At GE Aerospace, we measure all our success through the eyes of the customer . The DoD customer has required a MOSA approach in all systems, and the Army will be the final arbiters of how TSN meets this objective
The ability to use applications from various vendors, to change mission systems without involvement from the OEM, is necessary as budgets decrease To demonstrate this capability of the GE Aerospace TSN network, there have been several Operational Service Demonstrations where we have proven to our customer that in a very short time, they can change out systems, add or change applications, and integrate within the TSN network, all without the help or assistance of GE Aerospace . We have done similar things with our commercial network systems where after 25-plus years customers have made numerous changes to the system and have never asked GE Aerospace to change or perform additional certification of our system.
McHALE: As MOSA strategies enable integrators to be vendor-agnostic, how do you work with others in the defense industry to implement MOSA architectures?
WATSON: GE Aerospace and Bell engage industry in conversations not only about specific enabling technologies such as TSN or general-purpose computing for example, but also how to measure success from a MOSA perspective We participate in industry working groups and standard bodies
I’ll use a statement from not so long ago from Army Maj . Gen . Walter Rugen to explain what Bell and GE are bringing to the modular open systems approach:
“The number one challenge we have with MOSA is … discipline and management. [What] allowed the enduring fleet of aircraft to wind up with different architectures [is] there was not a driving central body that said, ‘this is the architecture that you are going to go with.’ With MOSA, we have that.”
Regarding discipline, our experience on a host of programs that provide us with a unique perspective on what is required to make this work, and what it takes to keep all the actors on the same page, is what we bring to the MOSA conversation .
MOSA does not work if suppliers are allowed to stray from the standards Keeping everyone aligned and maintaining the enterprise vision (“One Ring to rule them all”) of a single architecture versus a different architecture for every platform is a key tenet of MOSA . Through open, honest, and frequent conversations, GE and Bell can inform the supply base of the requirements necessary to be compatible with the digital backbone This is what Bell and GE are bringing to the table
McHALE: Regarding MOSA, what other MOSA strategies are you leveraging for avionics platforms? FACE? If so, how and what advantages to they bring?
WATSON: The most important thing we are bringing to MOSA is to ensure that the digital backbone conforms to the open TSN aerospace profile. Everyone can have good intentions, but if there is no conformance to the standards, then the standards aren’t being met and the system will become unique, closed, and proprietary So, our biggest “strategy” is to make sure that all mission systems that ride on the digital backbone meet and conform to the standards .
Another important feature of the digital backbone solution is to convert content to comply with the FVL Domain Specific Data Model (DSDM) to ensure a common definition for network data.
McHALE: Predict the future. How do you see TSN and MOSA impacting defense system designs five years down the road?
WATSON: Allowing for changing mission systems, adding applications or new capabilities without recertifying the whole system, changing at the speed of need, and significantly decreasing the effort necessary for test campaigns is the advantage and change that GE Aerospace is bringing to the Army Additionally, open standards-based TSN networks will allow more and more systems to be native on the backbone, eliminating many of the nodal exchange points and reducing cabling and wiring on aircraft, thus increasing the capabilities of the weapon systems . ■
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes flight during Exercise Balikatan 25 at Clark Air Base, Philippines. U.S. Marine Corps
Precision timing: How TSN is changing military network architecture
By Dan Taylor
Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) solves a problem that has plagued military communications for decades: how to guarantee that flight-critical data gets through a network exactly when needed, without interference from less important traffic. For years, defense platforms have relied on separate networks for different functions – one for flight controls, another for mission data, yet another for diagnostics – creating complex, heavy systems that are expensive to upgrade. TSN changes that equation by creating a single, intelligent Ethernet backbone that can turn standard commercial-networking technology into a precision instrument capable of meeting the most demanding military needs.
For decades, defense systems have relied on separate networks for different functions – one for flight controls, another for mission data, yet another for diagnostics. TSN offers an alternative “converged network” – a single, intelligent backbone that can handle everything from microsecond-critical flight data to streaming video, all while guaranteeing that the most important information gets through first.
The technology emerged from commercial industries with similar challenges, such as automotive manufacturers merging entertainment systems with brake controls, and industrial automation mixing factory sensors with administrative data. What they all shared was a need for standard Ethernet’s speed and flexibility, but with ironclad timing guarantees .
Now that same technology is making its way into military platforms, promising to simplify complex systems while actually improving their performance .
photo by Sgt. Mitchell Johnson.
MIL TECH TRENDS
What is Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)?
At its core, TSN is standard Ethernet with a brain for timing The technology evolved to solve a fundamental problem: how to guarantee that critical data gets through a network exactly when it needs to, without interference from less important traffic.
“TSN in its basic form allows you to basically isolate communication streams such that you can guarantee certain communication parameters,” says Mike Hegarty, marketing manager at Data Device Corporation (DDC – Bohemia, New York). “So it’s kind of like having a dedicated communication pipe through a larger pipe.” (Figure 1 )
Multiple industries faced the same challenge: “They all had common requirements of wanting higher-speed communication using standard Ethernet capabilities to the greatest extent possible, but they needed certain real-time control,” Hegarty explains. “They needed bounded latency and jitter, because if you don’t have that, then the control systems get all wonky because they don’t like indeterminate delays through the network.”
Hegarty likens the concept to a train, whereas other networks are more like congested highways. “A train has a certain schedule,” he says. “You go to the station, you get on the train, and it’s going to bring you to your destination, and there’s no traffic. There’s no stopping it.”
For less critical data, TSN offers something like an HOV [high-occupancy vehicle] lane – reserved bandwidth that provides priority without absolute guarantees. Everything else travels in regular traffic lanes.
According to Michel Chabroux, vice president of product management at Wind River (Alameda, California), TSN can transform defense systems by unifying data and control traffic on a single deterministic Ethernet backbone; reducing system complexity and SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost); and enabling real-time performance for applications like fire control, radar timing, and fly-by-wire avionics.
The origins of TSN
The military’s interest in TSN stems from a shift away from using separate networks for different functions . Instead of having one network for vehicle management and another for mission systems, TSN enables a converged approach that handles multiple types of traffic on a single backbone.
Hegarty says his company got involved in TSN development through a standards group led by SAE International, which had been looking at ways to enhance high-speed networks on military platforms Just last year, the organization put out a paper exploring TSN for military ground vehicles
The group was tasked by officials at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to look at ways of coming up with a converged network where “they could take legacy fiber channel Ethernet and something called fiber channel over Ethernet, and kind of blend all these technologies in a way that gives you deterministic communication,” Hegarty says.
The goal was to create “communication that’s appropriate for mission-critical, safety-critical, flight-critical systems, and be able to intermix different traffic classes,” which led to an aerospace-specific profile for TSN called IEEE P802 .1DP, he adds .
TSN’s military applications
TSN’s ability to handle multiple types of traffic with different timing requirements makes it particularly well-suited for complex military platforms in which various systems must coexist and communicate reliably
FIGURE 1
DDC’s ET-71202J, a prototype implementation of a VPX-based TSN Switch card.
The aerospace context presents a perfect example .
“Let’s say you’re passing flight information, which may be primary flight display-type data, so it’s the position of the aircraft, altitude, engine speed, and air speed,” Hegarty says. “It doesn’t get transferred all that often because the pilot can only see things so fast . Then you have all kinds of sensor data running, which may be in the form of imagery or radar data or clear data or all kinds of different sensor data. And that’s very high-speed data.”
The fundamental question becomes: Can you set up a framework where you have a common digital backbone connected to high-performance computers that can do all these different functions at once – intermixing safetycritical functions, mission-critical functions, and lower-critical functions while still maintaining the integrity of the system? TSN makes that possible, Hegarty says
According to Chabroux, TSN is especially suited for avionics networks, sensor fusion systems like radar and electronic warfare (EW), weapons-control systems, autonomous vehicles, and integrated vetronics in ground vehicles
“TSN can connect radar sensors, mission computers, and displays using a deterministic Ethernet backbone,” Chabroux says. “The 802.1Qbv time-aware shaper ensures radar data arrives in precise time windows, while less-critical traffic (e.g., health/status monitoring) is scheduled in non-conflicting slots – all over one physical cable.”
Advantages over other protocols
TSN’s primary advantage lies in its ability to provide guaranteed timing over standard Ethernet infrastructure, something that wasn’t possible before without proprietary solutions or separate networks
“The scheduled transmission piece of it is one of the more powerful concepts that’s in there, because that allows us to have dedicated bandwidth,” Hegarty explains. “It’s not the most efficient for every application, but where you want to have real-time communication, real-time command and control through the network, it’s a way to guarantee that.”
However, there is a trade-off involved .
“You do pay a little bit of an overhead,” Hegarty says. “Like with the analogy of the train, the train is going to leave whether there’s somebody on it or not. You know that bandwidth is dedicated. It’s taken out of the available pool, but it’s there for dedicated functions and dedicated communication.”
Even so, this overhead comes with significant flexibility. “You can tune your network with a combination of time-aware nodes and COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] Ethernet,” Hegarty says.
Chabroux says some of the main TSN advantages he’s seen include eliminating vendor lock-in as TSN is an open standard; no requirement for special cabling, which reduces implementation costs; determinism over standard Ethernet; time synchronization for coordinated actions; scalability from embedded devices to multisystem platforms; and convergence that enables safety-critical and noncritical traffic to share the same network safely
“Compared to legacy solutions, TSN provides far greater bandwidth, flexibility, and integration potential,” Chabroux says .
Integrating with older interfaces
One of TSN’s most practical advantages is its ability to work alongside existing legacy systems, making it ideal for technology refresh programs that can’t afford to rip out and replace everything at once .
“That’s one of the beauties of it,” Hegarty says.
TSN addresses a fundamental reality of military platforms: they will always have legacy interfaces that can’t simply be replaced The solution uses TSN as the main network backbone, then connects older systems through gateways – essentially translation devices that enable different communication protocols to work together.
Chabroux notes that TSN can coexist with legacy gateways or protocol converters such as TSN-to-1553 and TSN-to-ARINC, as well as bridges that preserve legacy input/output (I/O) on the edge while moving core communications to TSN Also, systems can phase in TSN in new modules while maintaining backwards compatibility .
“This makes TSN a good fit for tech-refresh programs, allowing systems to modernize communications incrementally without full redesign,” Chabroux says.
TSN can even work with standard commercial Ethernet equipment that has no knowledge of TSN protocols .
“There is the ability to take standard COTS Ethernet and then bring it into a TSN network, and you can actually shape the traffic when it comes into the network, and be able to get a certain amount of performance out of it and improve the performance of the system without changing that piece of equipment,” Hegarty says.
For example, he notes that if a military operator has a COTS Ethernet-based video camera that provides streaming video through an Ethernet port, and that operator connects it to a TSN network, the operator does not need to know anything about that network – they just need to know what data they need to pull from the camera
TSN and open standards
TSN’s foundation on open IEEE standards makes it a natural enabler for broader open systems initiatives across the defense industry The technology’s standards-based approach directly supports the military’s push toward modular, interoperable systems
“That’s the beauty of TSN – you can get to a point where you’ve got boxes and pieces from different vendors and have a high probability of interoperability,” Hegarty says.
However, TSN isn’t a magic solution that makes everything plug-and-play Instead, the real value lies in reducing integration costs and complexity .
“What it’s really trying to do is to reduce the cost of switching things and the cost of evolving systems and making upgrades and changes to it,” Hegarty says.
Chabroux says that TSN directly supports initiatives aligned with the modular open systems approach (MOSA), such as the Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA, Technical Standard and the Future Airborne Capability Environment, or FACE, Technical Standard It does this by providing standardized, deterministic data transport that aligns with the SOSA modular communication model; backbone support for open module interfaces; real-time support required for the FACE Safety Base and Security Profiles; and vendor-neutral interoperability, which reduces integration risk and cost in multivendor systems
“In SOSA aligned hardware, TSN is often part of the backplane or data plane fabric, allowing time-sensitive sensor data, mission-critical commands, and general IP [internet protocol] traffic to share a unified transport layer,” Chabroux says. ■
Transforming military networks with Time-Sensitive Networking
By Gregg Wildes, Ph.D.
The military has an insatiable demand for sensor data, with sensors being added in every application from ground and air to sea and space. More and more data is being collected every day, making it difficult for systems and decision-makers to keep up especially in airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
Airborne ISR collection relies on sensor fusion on manned and unmanned aircraft, satellites, and other platforms . Fusing those sensor systems together to ensure data gets to decision-makers in real time is critical and relies on efficient and secure data-transmission systems. To meet these challenges, system designers are turning toward Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for networking on multi-sensor platforms – including ground vehicle, aircraft, satellite .
TSN can adeptly manage the critical issues of data prioritization and reliability in military networks, as its deterministic approach guarantees the transmission of mission-critical and safety-critical data within a specified time frame . The U .S . Army, for example is looking to leverage TSN to enable an aviation digital backbone to connect data from vision systems, RF systems, GPS sources, and more . TSN would be able to integrate the GPS, sensor, radar, and other data much more effectively into a single cohesive digital backbone than is currently done with different protocols running at different speeds The resultant real-time data processing and sensor fusion is essential in military scenarios like threat detection and navigation .
The protocol will also impact the next generation of Army ground-vehicle applications . These systems leverage Ethernet technology for its remarkable scalability and high bandwidth along with its capacity to process voluminous sensor data with minimal latency There is, however, an important drawback to using Ethernet in these situations: Ethernet’s inherent lack of determinism means that a feature indispensable for ensuring bounded message latency, particularly for the seamless operation of ground vehicle weapon and crew station functions,
An AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter assigned to 1st Attack Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, takes off for a routine mission at Erbil Air Base, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Joseph Kumzak.
is missing . In short: The conventional Ethernet paradigm simply does not meet the stringent safety and functional requisites demanded by Army vehicle systems due to this inherent determinism gap
Data congestion and collection
The challenges that require TSN start with the data congestion faced by real-time data processing and sensor fusion systems, which must not only collect vast amounts of sensor data across all domains, but also effectively fuse this data to ensure it reaches decision-makers promptly and securely Data-congestion problems require better and faster real-time processing, and the reality is that traditional data-transmission systems, like the MIL-STD 1553 databus and Ethernet, are becoming inadequate due to their limited bandwidth and lack of determinism .
Military leaders today want high-resolution, 360-degree views and complex navigation systems, which means a dramatic increase in the volume of data being collected by sensors . This surge in data, coupled with the need for rapid, reliable transmission, creates a bottleneck in existing networks . The need for a transformative solution is evident .
Bottlenecked data typically does not result in timely and reliable transmissions These networks can be likened to a congested highway, as they struggle to efficiently process and prioritize the influx of data, notably from advanced sensors detecting time-sensitive threats . This congestion compromises both the speed and reliability of data transfer, elements vital in high-stakes military operations .
The bottleneck stems from traditional network systems that lack the capability to effectively prioritize and expedite the transfer of mission-critical data . This shortfall is exacerbated by the diversity of sensors and systems, each operating on different protocols and speeds, complicating the task of seamless data fusion . A deterministic system, which can assure the on-time delivery of essential data, is conspicuously absent, posing a risk to mission success and safety
In real-time operational scenarios, such as threat detection and response where every second is consequential, these issues can lead to dire outcomes. A notable example where the benefits of a deterministic solution are paramount is the Army’s aviation digital backbone: This system requires the real-time integration of various data types, including inputs from infrared sensors and GPS, to operate effectively .
TSN breaks the bottleneck
TSN is a technology for breaking through those bottlenecks It is an advancement in Ethernet networking designed to meet the unique requirements of modern military vehicles such as aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships TSN stands out from traditional networking protocols with its ability to efficiently manage and prioritize data; this capacity ensures that mission-critical information, crucial for military operations, is transmitted both reliably and promptly .
A key feature of TSN is its ability to create what can be likened to a guaranteed HOV lane on the network for critical data packets . This aspect guarantees that these packets are not hindered by noncritical data traffic, a feature vital in scenarios demanding rapid response to sensor data for mission success and safety (Figure 1 )
TSN achieves this advanced level of data management and prioritization through its high bandwidth capability and Ethernet-based architecture . This framework enables the synchronization and deterministic messaging of data across various network points By coordinating a multitude of endpoints and switches within the network, TSN ensures that all messages – including those from critical sensors, such as those from threat detection and fire control – are transmitted in a synchronized and timely manner.
FIGURE 1
TSN can create a guaranteed “HOV lane” for critical data packets on the network.
This synchronization is particularly vital in military applications, where data from diverse sources like video feeds, radar frames, or infrared sensors must be aligned and processed in real time. By streamlining data flow in this manner, TSN creates a network environment where critical data packets are expedited – similar to that dedicated HOV lane on a highway – ensuring they reach their destination without delay or interference from less-urgent data traffic.
Building on current protocols
TSN can build and on technology that has already been in use for decades . After nearly 40 years of use, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol; RFC 793, 1981) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol; RFC 768, 1980) over IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4; RFC 760, 1980) are still the most common protocols for sending data over Ethernet.
Unfortunately, TCP and UDP are widely considered unpredictable and/or unreliable. UDP is a connectionless protocol that provides no guarantee that the transmitted data ever made it to its intended recipient TCP – a connection-based protocol – has the opposite problem: It will retransmit a message several times until it receives a response and schedules retransmissions randomly to ensure that multiple endpoints do not retransmit at the same interval . With TCP, large messages are broken apart and transmitted as multiple fragments and can be received in any order and it falls to the recipient to reorder the fragments and reassemble the packet Therefore, both protocols are poorly suited for high-assurance communications
Rather than changing the underlying protocols over the past four decades, DornerWorks enabled determinism by scheduling UDP packets on top of TSN and other IEEE standards .
As the demand for deterministic communications with low overhead has risen, new ways of scheduling traffic throughout a network operating at Layer 2 have been developed. Audio-Video Bridging (AVB) and TSN are examples of these methods.
AVB is a collection of standards originally designed for transmitting high-bandwidth and time-sensitive multimedia streams, as the name implies . A typical use case is to imagine two speakers on opposite ends of a stadium connected by Ethernet via multiple switches . The goal of AVB in such a situation is to allow those two speakers to play sound at exactly the same time with no audible delay even on a network saturated with traffic of lesser importance
TSN can schedule traffic independently of AVB, plus it leverages traffic prioritization and time synchronization. Aside from improving performance and provided performance guarantees, TSN enables time-scheduled traffic.
Customized FPGA and software approaches
Determinism in networks via TSN is enabled through a combination of customized field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and software solutions These FPGAs, particularly those from AMD (formerly Xilinx) that use the company’s Zynq Ultrascale+ platform, are pivotal in providing the flexibility and performance necessary for the diverse requirements of military applications . The programmable nature of these silicon chips enables them to be tailored specifically for networking solutions that conform to TSN standards, ensuring seamless and efficient data processing.
Customized software is tasked with managing and prioritizing data traffic, focusing on ensuring low latency and high reliability in data transmission . High-bandwidth connections through Ethernet in these systems enable synchronized delivery of various data types, such as video frames or radar signals, ensuring that all critical information is received and processed concurrently
For applications in sensitive areas such as avionics, the software integrated within these FPGAs also needs to meet stringent safety-certification standards, which adds to the complexity and robustness of the development process. Safety certification may be required for safety-critical aviation platforms but is not frequently a requirement for ground or space
In such systems, reducing certification cost is critical, as the cost of recertifying a network stack every time you change software is notable . DornerWorks is moving all that network stack into the module and to the FPGA, which means that certification only has to happen once. The argument in favor of FPGAs is that they can be upgraded after they are fielded. This would entail a partial recertification, but decoupling the network stack from the rest of the software enables either one to be updated without having to recertify everything .
For these applications, DornerWorks offers its TSN Endpoint IP for FPGAs from AMD, designed to ensure guaranteed and predictable end-to-end latency, bandwidth, and quality of service (QoS) for time-sensitive applications over Ethernet .
By consolidating multiple communication protocols into a unified TSN standard, these solutions enable the use of a wider range of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and library frameworks, which is good news for both designers and integrators .
MOSA and TSN
Modular open system approach (MOSA) initiatives – epitomized by the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat System Common Infrastructure Architecture (GCIA) – harness the potency of open standards such as TSN to achieve real-time, deterministic communication across Ethernet networks . TSN augments regular Ethernet by enabling the logical segmentation of deterministic and traditional best-effort network traffic, harmoniously transmitted over the same physical medium
For ground vehicles, TSN ensures ultra-low latency and precise timing for sensor data, which is paramount for detecting and responding to imminent threats The ability to synchronize data across different sensors and platforms in real-time enhances the situational awareness and reaction capabilities of military personnel in these vehicles
DornerWorks TSN FPGA IP is 100% U .S .-developed, has been successfully integrated with embedded hypervisors and real-time operating systems (Wind River VxWorks, DDC-I Deos, seL4 Hypervisor, and Linux), and is available on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware (North Atlantic Industries, AMD Kria SoM and Enclustra) to invigorate system safety and security . Aspects of this technology have already found a home across multiple U .S . Army DEVCOM-GVSC [Ground Vehicle Systems Center] and AvMC [Aviation and Missile Center] programs . ■
Dr. Gregg Wildes is Innovation Director at DornerWorks, a Michigan-based high tech small business. Gregg earned a bachelors degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Texas. His career has included work at Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), W.L. Gore, GE Aerospace, and DornerWorks. Gregg is on the board of directors for the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) Michigan chapter, on the board of directors of the Computing Center of Excellence (TCCoE), and a member of the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) College of Computing board of advisors.
DornerWorks • https://www.dornerworks.com/
To learn more, click here to read the DornerWorks extensive white paper on TSN technology in defense systems.
Technical solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), time-sensitive networking (TSN), and sensor fusion are being integrated into unmanned systems throughout the larger defense communication infrastructure –including in the CJADC2 initiative – to help the warfighter achieve decision superiority. Aitech image.
Facilitating autonomous and semi-autonomous defense operations
By Timothy Stewart
Unmanned systems are now cheaper, more capable, and more accessible to state and non-state actors, which creates an asymmetric threat that traditional defense systems struggle to counter. Understanding the vehicle dynamics in these applications means evaluating the complex behaviors exhibited by autonomous or semi-autonomous entities, which require significant coordination alongside other equipment and infrastructure, moving everything toward a common objective.
Technical solutions, such as artificial intelligence (AI), time-sensitive networking (TSN), and sensor fusion are being integrated into unmanned systems throughout the larger defense communication infrastructure to help the warfighter achieve decision superiority.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
These technologies are instrumental to the U S Department of Defense (DoD) Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) initiative, which aims to strengthen interoperability and collaboration among U .S . forces and their international allies by fostering cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and integration of capabilities across multiple domains for unified command and control in joint operations.
Autonomous systems in strategic military engagement
To establish an effective defense that utilize autonomous or semi-autonomous systems, three core problems must be addressed: real-time decision synchronization, trust and explainability of AI-driven countermeasures, and interoperability across diverse defense systems Synchronizing human and machine decision-making ensures swift and coordinated responses to dynamic threats . AI-driven countermeasures must be understandable and trusted so operators can confidently act on machine-generated insights.
Multiple autonomous systems must also function as a cohesive force Future integrations will include unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), aerial drones, robotic support assets, and AI-enhanced fire-control systems, all operating alongside human forces . AI-driven mission orchestration platforms dynamically synchronize sensor feeds, threat assessments, and engagement plans across all assets in the formation .
AI, TSN, and sensor fusion help create an interoperable defense network with seamless integration of diverse detection and mitigation assets, strengthening layered defense strategies . Transitioning from the conceptual understanding of collaborative defense operations within CJADC2 to actual implementation means examining the pivotal role of these specific technologies to enable effective cross domain solutions.
AI for actionable intelligence
A well-integrated defense network functions as a single, adaptive entity, enabling commanders to deploy cohesive, multilayered countermeasures at machine speed AI is an essential component of unmanned defense operations, providing automated threat assessments, engagement recommendations, and autonomous countermeasures
A clear, explainable AI framework – which includes an extensive simulation-based training element using missionrelevant data – ensures that operators can quickly validate AI-driven recommendations. Although not a standalone decision-maker, AI is critical as an intelligent assistant that enhances human warfighters’ speed, precision, and effectiveness in countering threats to improve engagement response while maintaining accountability and oversight .
By leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning (ML) techniques, military forces can enhance their ability to detect, analyze, and respond to threats in real time, thereby enabling autonomous systems to coordinate the actions of multiple agents and optimize actions for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. AI algorithms can also assist in predictive analytics, forecasting adversaries’ behavior and trends based on historical data and current observations .
For example, by integrating AI technologies into C5ISR [command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] systems, military commanders can gain real-time insights into swarm dynamics . These AI-powered swarm-management systems facilitate rapid decision-making and response coordination, enhancing situational awareness across all domains for both deployment and engagement (Figure 1 )
TSN for real-time coordination
TSN is particularly important for enabling real-time coordination in CJADC2 operations . TSN protocols prioritize data transmission, ensuring the low-latency communication that is crucial for rapid decision-making and response coordination
Because it is scalable, TSN enables military forces to adapt their communication networks to the demands of evolving adversarial environments . Military commanders can then dynamically allocate bandwidth and resources to prioritize critical data transmissions, ensuring that essential information reaches decision-makers in real time
FIGURE 1
AI-driven decision support systems enable commanders to orchestrate effective swarm engagements, while minimizing risks to ground personnel and assets.
Photo credit: United States Navy, Michael Walls.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
FIGURE 2
An integrated approach to military intelligence enhances situational awareness and decision-making capabilities. A cyber systems operations specialist assigned to the 255th Air Control Squadron, 172d Airlift Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard, checks local network connectivity.
Photo credit: United States Department of Defense/Army Sgt. Jovi Prevot.
Additionally, TSN supports interoperability between disparate systems and platforms, facilitating seamless integration of sensors, autonomous systems, and command-and-control systems across multiple domains . As military operations become increasingly interconnected and dataintensive, adopting TSN protocols becomes imperative for maintaining operational tempo and achieving mission success within the CJADC2 framework
When aligned with AI-driven support systems, TSN can be leveraged to optimize the transmission of high-value data content over limited-capacity tactical communication links It ensures essential information is sent so that the data reaches its destination within the specified timeframe, even in bandwidth-constrained and contested environments .
The synergy between TSN and AI-driven support systems empowers military commanders with enhanced situational awareness and decision-making capabilities, ultimately optimizing the effectiveness of military engagements, while minimizing risks to personnel and assets on the battlefield through the use of unmanned and other platforms . (Figure 2 .)
Sensor fusion and data integration for holistic intelligence
There is no question that sensor fusion and data integration are critical pillars of today’s military capabilities These technologies enable military forces to synthesize data by aggregating and seamlessly sharing standardized data and communication protocols from disparate sources, ranging from traditional radar and EO/IR [electro-optical/infrared] sensors to advanced cyber sensors and signals-intelligence platforms.
By combining sensor data with other intelligence sources, such as human intelligence and open-source information, data integration gives military commanders a more holistic understanding of the operational landscape . The ability to rapidly share this critical information in real time plus enhanced decision-making through synergistic system communication are crucial tactical objectives for joint operations in both manned and unmanned situations .
A good example is a wet gap crossing, one of the most complex ground-based scenarios, which can use unmanned or optionally manned systems Data needs to be secured and transmitted across tactical networks to synchronize reconnaissance and security, maneuver, fires, logistics, and other warfighting functions. (Figure 3.)
Sensor fusion and data integration also enable targeted resource allocation by consolidating data from multiple sensors and intelligence sources Military forces can prioritize strategic actions based on the perceived threat, enabling them to deploy resources where they are most needed, maximize operational impact, and minimize risks .
Streamlining unmanned operations at the edge
Placing ruggedized AI supercomputers close to the sensors (e .g ., high-resolution cameras, IR detectors) helps resolve challenges in military-vehicle electronics, which ultimately benefits the warfighter.
A dominant COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] solution for AI at-the-edge (AIAE) processing is a general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), bringing to the market small-form-factor, higher-performance rugged supercomputers, which combine GPGPUs with CPUs and suited for AIAE applications .
GPGPUs – which are widely used to accelerate a growing number of AI applications – can handle large amounts of data in parallel, making them ideal for performing certain computations much faster than traditional CPUs
NVIDIA’s Jetson family has proven to be a highly capable system-on-module (SoM) architecture for military AI-based supercomputers, with a combination of AI-capable GPGPUs and multicore CPUs that creates a tightly coupled, high-performance, low-power system For example, NVIDIA Jetson Orin-based A230 Vortex from
Aitech optimizes the full performance of NVIDA’s Ampere GPU, providing up to 2,048 CUDA cores and 64 Tensor cores that reach as many as 275 TOPS [tera operations per second]. This level of energy efficiency increases performance across all key processing metrics: AI, GPU, CPU, and memory (Figure 4 )
AIAE increases strategic capabilities
With compact, rugged AI-based supercomputers able to perform such high data processing, unmanned systems can provide enhanced capabilities, such as object recognition and classification, target recognition and acquisition, terrain analysis, and the like. The warfighter then benefits from an extended set of strategic capabilities
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
All data between AIAE boxes and other so-called smart boxes in the system is moved via industry-standard Ethernet interfaces for seamless systems integration and operability . To meet scalability requirements, additional sensors and AIAE boxes can be added if the vehicle provides wiring for a few additional Ethernet ports, making the integration of new mission equipment packages easier and faster
By eliminating the need for long, expensive, high-speed data cables between sensors to the mission computers, AIAE systems increase reliability, availability, and maintainability by reducing wiring complexity . Notably, these agile systems make military vehicles more available, reliable, and easier to maintain by reducing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of electronics systems as they eliminate the need for large mission computers and heavy wiring harnesses .
Improve intelligence across multiple domains
When integrated AI algorithms become part of this defense fabric, autonomous systems can provide unparalleled adaptability and scalability to analyze vast amounts of sensor data in real time, enabling autonomous decision-making and adaptive responses to dynamic battlefield conditions. These systems enable a wider operational footprint by augmenting the capabilities of human-operated platforms, extending reach and enhancing the effectiveness of military operations across all domains
High-performance computing and resilient communication architectures support real-time decision synchronization Edge computing solutions reduce reliance on centralized processing hubs, eliminating delays Tactical networks must withstand electronic warfare interference, cyber threats, and degraded operating conditions AI-enhanced network-management systems detect disruptions, reroute data, and prioritize mission-critical transmissions to ensure decision loops remain intact .
Effective defense operations that utilize autonomous or semi-autonomous systems call for recognizing data as a strategic asset and then applying it an enterprise-wide, holistic approach across multiple domains . Today’s rugged embedded technologies are helping ensure this cohesion among all available assets during a military operation for improved decision superiority ■
Timothy Stewart is Director, Business Development, at Aitech. He has 20 years of experience in high-technology hardware, software, and network products, with 11 years as a relationship executive managing requirements and challenges of companies seeking partnerships and critical corporate development. Tim holds a BS in mechanical engineering and physics from Boston University.
Aitech
https://aitechsystems.com/
FIGURE 3
A wet gap crossing could employ crossdomain solutions (CDS) to give military forces a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment.
FIGURE 4
The A230 Vortex uses NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin SoM to increase rugged data processing in military applications.