Matthew Nelson
General Atomics used an Abaco Systems computer technology as part of a ground control station built to manage MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone operations.
CGS was equipped with the FORCE2 computer and helped General Atomics' aeronautical systems business conduct a complete flight of the remotely piloted aircraft, Abaco Systems said Tuesday.
The station also employed an off-the-shelf avionics system and hardware powered by GA-ASI's DAL B flight electronics software, which worked alongside a cockpit payload and weapons equipment.
FORCE2 has a small form-factor design and uses an avionics communications card as well as the SBC314 3U VPX single board computer.
The system's open reference computing environment is built to support a project to develop DO-254/DO-178 applications as part of The Open Group's FACE initiative.
