Case Study: Rugged and Reliable IoT Device Integration

The Client

A United States defense contractor that supports the United States military’s vehicle-based systems with hardware and software for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance, information integration, decision support, and target management

Relevant Background

A modern combat vehicle fleet is critical to the success of the United States Armed Forces. In particular, the United States Army’s differential advantage over adversaries derives from the combination of well-led, well-trained soldiers and advanced technology.

Combat vehicles are one such example of how speed, protection, and technical sophistication give our armed forces the ability to gain positions of relative advantage while reducing the likelihood of casualties in combat.

The Solution

We architected and developed a complete solution that included requirements analysis, architecture, device integration, and testing for interoperability across various technologies, including sensors, cameras, antennas, controllers, and displays. Networking technologies included Ethernet, serial, and CAN Bus.

Our team collaborated with the client to understand their requirements for distributing data and control throughout the vehicles, with a focus on achieving maximum performance and scalability while remaining cognizant of security constraints.

Myriad messaging alternatives are available to support an integration solution such as this one, all with complex advantages and disadvantages. We provided a vendor-neutral evaluation of available technology platforms and delivered our expert recommendation surrounding open source alternatives. The deliverable included an architecture that satisfied all requirements while simultaneously remaining maintainable and extensible.