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Xiphos Technologies Inc. (XTI) is a federally-registered, 100%
Canadian-owned business based in Montreal, Canada. XTI was founded in
1996.
The company was created with the objective of migrating terrestrial
computing and network communication techniques into harsh environments,
particularly in the unmanned aviation and space sectors. This first took
form with the development of high-performance, networked processors designed
for in-situ control and data processing, linked by high-speed, fault tolerant
networks.
The communications domain grew from being strictly onboard
networks to seamlessly encompassing ground control networks as
well. This led to the first high-fidelity, commercial
implementation of the Space Communication Protocol Standard, or
SCPS-TP (MIL-STD-2045-44000). This SCPS adaptation of the
Internet protocols also had a profound ability to increase the
capacity of existing commercial satellite-based data links, and
quickly found a home in the nascent, high-value satcom data
acceleration market. In 2007, XTI's XipLink business unit was
spun off to form an independent company that now provides
commercial products to customers worldwide, for accelerating
wireless and satellite data transmission.
The networked processors have become a line of
high-performance, fault-tolerant flight control and sensor
processing products primarily for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and
spacecraft. XTI's hardware and software are presently flying on
several satellites, running experimental equipment on the
International Space Station, controlling autonomous drilling and
mineral sampling equipment, and acting as integrated autopilot /
mission managers on board UAVs.
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XTI's customers, both past and present, include most major
defence firms, most major space agencies, most major satellite
communications companies, and a variety of national governments in
the industrialized and third world.
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Onboard Sensor Data Processing
XTI provides solutions for onboard processing of sensor data for
UAVs, spacecraft, and other demanding environments. The company
holds the advantage in cases where sensor bandwidth exceeds the
capacity of data links, or where size, mass, or power are at a
premium.
XTI's signature technology is a series of miniature processing
cards that use logic-software hybrid computation to perform
complex image processing tasks at a small fraction of the power
and weight of conventional processors. As an example, the most
recent of these measures 80mm x 80mm, has a mass of 50g, and
consumes less than 5W of power. For typical image processing
applications, it benchmarks at similar performance to a 2.4GHz
Intel Core2 PC.
XTI adapts existing algorithms - either proprietary or open -
created by 3rd-party image processing specialists, so that they
can run on devices such as these with increased performance.
Examples of converted applications include:
- remote management of high-resolution images and video, allowing
operators to make best use of available bandwidth;
- multi-mode camera stabilization, providing exceptional stability
for small, inexpensive gimballed camera systems;
- real-time shape from motion, generating 3D co-ordinates of
buildings, vehicles, ships, or other objects using only a single,
onboard 2D camera;
- real-time image and video enhancement techniques
(various).
Supporting capabilities include the use of STANAG 4586 for UAV
payload and platform control, as well as metadata tagging of
imagery and video. The multimode stabilization technique is
intended to enable efficient use of h.264 video compression, which
in turn is part of the company's objective of providing an onboard
STANAG 4609 capability.
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XTI is the owner of all intellectual property developed for its
product line.
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XTI's technology development is undertaken in 3500 sq-ft of lab
space in Montreal, Canada.
Firmware tools
XTI uses a combination of proven traditional techniques, industry
standards, and cutting edge tools for design of FPGA firmware.
Logic firmware is implemented with a combination of IEEE Std.
1076-1993 VHDL, Electronic System Level (ESL) tools (higher level
of abstraction than VHDL), and vendor cores. Every design is
simulated throughout the design process using ESL and VHDL test
benches. Logic synthesis is executed using vendor recommended
tools and techniques.
Firmware validation
Firmware is validated on actual hardware using a combination of
vendor tools (for Example ChipScope Pro from Xilinx) and custom
software test benches.
Hardware design and manufacturing
Cadence/Orcad software is used for schematic and layout of Printed
Circuit Boards (PCBs). XTI uses a third-party, ISO 9000-rated
chain for the manufacture and assembly of PCBs. This manufacturing
chain has been identified for its capability to produce very high
quality results in small prototype quantities.
Hardware validation
Hardware is validated at XTI at a low level using appropriate
tools (oscilloscopes, temperature sensors, integral
voltage/current monitoring) and at the functional level using
software test benches and hardware-in-the-loop simulation.
Depending on client requirements, hardware is tested for the
target environment (e.g. temperature, vacuum, EMI, radiation,
vibration) at third party facilities.
Code management
XTI uses the Subversion version control application for managing
source files for documentation, software code and firmware code.
This allows automatic tracking of changes with reference to
identity of author, date and items changed.
In support of the Development Life Cycle standard, documents
related to code and functions are automatically generated by
language-dependent parsers (Doxygen, JavaDoc etc.). Rapid
document generation is enhanced by the use of XTI macros/scripts
in standard word processing tools.
Configuration Management
XTI is in the process of bringing its configuration management
practices into conformance with ANSI/EIA-649-A (to be completed by
Q4 2009).
Process Integration and Product Improvement
XTI is actively implementing a CMMI-based process improvement
regime.
Controlled Goods
XTI has been registered with the Canadian Controlled Goods Program
since 2002. XTI also has TAAs in place with US spacecraft and
equipment manufacturers.
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XTI's core technical team holds
expertise in software, programmable logic, electronics, RF
systems, control systems, mechanical systems, spacecraft systems,
and aerodynamics.
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