OIS ports ORBexpress communications middleware to latest rev of QNX Neutrino OS

You may not know it, but the QNX Neutrino OS is used in a large number of software-defined radio (SDR) devices, such as this handheld military radio from Harris. A key QNX partner in the SDR market is Objective Interface Systems (OIS), who make ORBexpress, a high-performance, real-time implementation of CORBA technology optimized for embedded systems.

This week, OIS announced that ORBexpress now supports the latest rev of the QNX Neutrino RTOS on a variety of ARM, Power, and x86 processors, including both single-core and multi-core parts. For more on the announcement, read the press release.
 

Look ma, no DVD: TeleNav showcases off-board navigation on QNX CAR platform

Two weeks ago, at Telematics Detroit, TeleNav demonstrated how it can deliver off-board navigation on a head unit based on the QNX CAR Application Platform and a Freescale i.MX51 processor.

Fortunately, our roving video crew was there to capture the action:



Besides providing drivers with turn-by-turn navigation and audio prompts, TeleNav's off-board solution can also deliver real-time information, including up-to-date maps, gas prices, and traffic reports. To learn more about QNX and TeleNav, check out this press release.
 

RealVNC demos smartphone connectivity on QNX-powered head unit

Two weeks ago, at Telematics Detroit, RealVNC demonstrated how its technology lets you access your smartphone, and all of its apps, from the dashboard of your car.

If you think this technology will give you unfettered access to YouTube, Facebook, and Email while driving, think again — the system can be configured to lock out distracting apps while the car is in motion. You can, however, interact with maps, local search, and other useful services, using steering wheel buttons or other in-car controls. The best part is, your smartphone stays in your purse or pocket, which is where it belongs when you're behind the wheel.

Enough blather. Let's roll the tape:



For more information on this and other approaches to car-smartphone connectivity, download the whitepaper written by my colleague Andy Gryc.
 

The PlayBook, the Corvette, and a (literally) cooler ride

Listen up, boys and girls: Our concept for today is cabin pre-conditioning.

Cabin what, you say?

I'll give you a hint: It has something to do with electric vehicles. And last week, at the Freescale Technology Forum, Freescale marketing director Steve Nelson used a BlackBerry PlayBook and the QNX-equipped Corvette (which most definitely isn't electric!) to explain why this concept is important.

Enough teasing. To see the demo, which took place during the conference keynote, click here, click on the keynote video, then jump to the 99:20 mark.

 

AIS intros QNX-powered touchscreen terminals for industrial control

This just in: American Industrial Systems, a manufacturer of operator terminals for industrial control environments, has introduced a series of touchscreen terminals equipped with the QNX Neutrino Realtime Operating System (RTOS).

According to AIS, the 12.1" and 15" touchscreen terminals (aka touch panels) are designed for machine-level, site-level, or mid-level applications. The terminals feature a fanless Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, a dual Gigabit Ethernet interface, and dual USB 2.0 and serial interfaces. The terminal housings comply with NEMA 1/12/4 sealing standards, providing dust, dirt, grease, shock, vibration, and moisture resistance. To further simplify deployment, the terminals accept a voltage range input of 9-33V.

QNX OS technology has been used in a host of industrial control applications for more than 30 years. Notable customers include General Electric (turbine control, locomotive control), Kieback&Peter (building automation), and Fortna (warehouse control)
 

QNX, Freescale collaborate on solutions for QorIQ and PowerQUICC processors

This just in: Freescale Semiconductor and QNX Software Systems have announced a strategic alliance focused on solutions for Freescale’s QorlQ and PowerQUICC processor families.

As part of the agreement, the companies intend to "share IP, invest jointly in product and technology roadmaps, and work together on go-to-market activities."

Initially, the alliance will focus on addressing the requirements of customers in the medical, industrial automation, and general embedded markets.

According to Raja Tabet, vice president, Software and Enablement Technology, Networking and Multimedia of Freescale, “QNX Software Systems is recognized globally for its highly reliable and scalable software, and we are pleased to take this important next step in our long and fruitful relationship for the benefit of our shared customers.”

The alliance between Freescale and QNX has already enabled many successful systems, including GE's flagship Mark VIe controller, which runs on the QNX Neutrino RTOS and a Freescale PowerQUICC processor. Other joint projects include the connected Corvette and the QNX medical demo, which both run on Freescale i.MX processors.

To read the press release, click here.
 

Taking QNX to the moon

Imagine driving a vehicle over rugged, unforgiving terrain filled with humongous rocks and craters.

I know, it sounds like a blast!

Now imagine if you had to control the vehicle via remote control.

Well, that could still be fun.

Now imagine if the signals from your remote control took 1.5 seconds to reach the vehicle, and if you had to wait another 1.5 seconds to see how the vehicle responds to your commands.

Hm, that could be a challenge.

In fact, overcoming this delay is just one of many challenges facing the 30 companies and development teams contending for Google Lunar X prize.

The mandate of the Lunar X prize is simple: Send a rover to the Moon; drive it for at least 500 meters; and transmit video, images, and data back to the Earth. The devil, of course, is in the details.

First of all, landing on the moon and beaming back videos only gets you the base prize of $20 million. To earn the full $30 million, your lunar rover has to drive at least 5000 meters, survive two weeks of minus 182 degrees C, and take a photo of the Apollo landing site. (Presumably, the photo would put to rest rumors that NASA filmed the moon landing in Neil Armstrong’s basement, but don’t count on it.)

Mind you, all this assumes the rover arrives safely on the moon in the first place. For that to happen, the lander module carrying the rover must travel more than 400,000 kilometers at maximum speeds of more than 10 kilomoters/sec. It must then decelerate by more than 2.5 kilometers/sec and fly a few hundred meters above the lunar surface until till it finds a nice cushy landing spot.

Meet Asimov, the latest incarnation
of the Part-Time Scientists' lunar rover.

So who the heck would take on such a challenge? The Part-Time Scientists, that’s who.

The Part-Time Scientists team is the first Google Lunar X PRIZE participant based primarily (though by no means completely) in Germany. They are also considered among the top 5 most likely teams to succeed.

I plan to post several articles on the team and their progress over the coming months, but in the meantime, consider this:

It isn’t 1969 anymore — The unmanned systems competing for the X PRIZE will need to pack a lot more software intelligence than the Apollo spacecraft. To handle the many real-time tasks on their lander and rover, the PTS team has chosen the QNX operating system.

These are guys are a blast — Most members of the PTS team have real jobs. They work on this project in their spare time, out of sheer love and enthusiasm. In fact, when they do publicity around their project, children represent a large portion of their target audience. They clearly want the next generation of budding scientists to share the same passion for engineering and space exploration that they themselves have. Good, that.

Stay tuned for subsequent posts, where will dig deeper into the role that QNX plays in this exceedingly cool project.

And did I mention? You can follow the Part-Time Scientists on Twitter and on Facebook.