Kevin Darling ) wrote:
:
: However, Microsoft themselves point out that Windows is not a hard
: realtime OS, and should not be used in more demanding applications
: such as fly-by-wire.
:
http://www.gcn.com/archives/gcn/1998/july13/cov2.htm
Software glitches leave Navy Smart Ship dead in the water |
GCN July 13, 1998

http://www.gcn.com/vol19_no27/dod/2868-1.html
Navy carrier to run Win 2000

"...Lockheed Martin officials chose Microsoft in part because of the
company's "experience in computers, networks and systems," Lockwood
said. "We felt that Microsoft had a lot of insight" that could help
Lockheed Martin stay current with commercial technology, he said.

"This is a new area for us," said Keith Hodson, a Microsoft Government
spokesman. "Windows-based products have not traditionally been
associated with Defense Department-specific mission-critical
applications..."


http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computi...r.windows.idg/
CNN.com - Technology -
Futuristic Windows version to control aircraft carrier - August 8, 2000

"...The CVN-77 win is a key triumph for Microsoft in the defense
industry, because it sets the stage for the company's participation in
the Navy's long-term, three-phase future carrier design program. "This
is not just the one ship. It will decide the architectures for the
next three ships," Roach said. Microsoft's agreement also includes a
back-fit program for seven other carriers, bringing the total to 10."

At least some PLCs are also used, per this description of the "Smart Ship"
system...

http://www.e-d-i.com/products_control.html
L-3 Communications SPD Technologies - Control Systems

"...The original MPCMS was physically removed from the ship and
replaced by 15 COTS Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and 12
Windows NT-based workstations. The workstations and PLCs are connected
via Ethernet to a fiber optic Local Area Network (LAN). The LAN
consists of five Automatic Transfer Mode (ATM) switches configured in
a 155 Mbps full mesh, backbone. To enhance reliability, the
workstations and PLCs have redundant Ethernet connections to two
different ATM switches..."


--Jerry Leslie
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