text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Aug 15, 2006
|Filing date
|Dec 18, 2000
|Priority date
|Dec 18, 2000
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Paul C. Huang, Omar A. Khan, Albert Sleder, Jr.
|Original Assignee
|Bae Systems Land & Armaments L.P.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (26), Non-Patent Citations (20), Referenced by (25), Classifications (16), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The present invention relates to multi-component armament or weaponry systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a robust control system architecture for simulation and control of multi-component armament systems.
Modem armament systems for military applications are increasingly complex. Typically, there are a plurality of disparate components that are controlled by a complex control system, which coordinates and integrates the operation of each component in the system.
In the early stages of evolution, armament control systems were merely a series of mechanical mechanisms that allowed an operator to activate a particular component using the judgment of the operator. One such example is the mechanical linkage for weapons release on early military aircraft. When the pilot determined the plane was at the correct location, the pilot would actuate a particular linkage from the cockpit, thereby releasing the related weapon. With the advent of electronic control systems, the remote release of a particular weapon component controlled by such a system became possible. An electronic switch in the cockpit of the military aircraft would send a signal through dedicated wiring to a weapon actuator, thereby releasing a particular weapon.
The next stage in the evolution of armament systems was the integration of computer control into the armament system. Targeting control computers were combined with data acquired from sources such as radar systems to aide the operator in target acquisition, thereby improving on-target percentages. U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,729 is an example of such a system that provides an automated fire control apparatus. The control system of this patent connects a radar tracking system with a targeting computer and weapon positioning means. The computer control system provides a larger period of time during which the weapon may be successfully fired at the intended target.
As computer systems became more powerful, it became more common to centralize the control functions in a single armament control system that could manage multiple diverse armament components. U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,538 is an example of one type of centralized armament control system. This patent provides a digital communications armament system for controlling a carriage of "smart" weapons. The smart weapons are carried by the aircraft in a Multiple Carriage Rack (MCR). The weapons in the MCR are programmed and controllably released as part of a weapons control system. The components of this system are communicably interconnected by a single databus as described in MIL-STD-1553. The military standard 1553 bus is a dual redundant bus comprising two shielded twisted pair cables, a bus controller, and a plurality of remote terminals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,466 is another example of a centralized armament control system. This provides a central control unit that also is communicably connected by a MIL-STD-1553 bus to multiple armament components. The system further interacts with the operator by the inclusion of graphical user interfaces (GUI's), which are typically video display screens. The GUI's allow the operator to monitor system status and actuate desired system functions. All of the components are connected by a single common bus to a central bus controller. The central bus controller directs the flow of information along the bus between the central controller and the various components.
As armament control systems have evolved over time, the engineering processes used to develop these increasingly complex systems have undergone corresponding evolutions. Not long ago, engineers would brainstorm solutions to problems in their minds and transfer them to paper by hand. These drawings could then be used by fabricators to construct prototypes. The prototypes were then field tested to determine whether that particular design met the problem criteria. If the prototype did not acceptably solve the problem, modifications were made or new ideas were tried. This involved repeating the steps of brainstorming, drafting, fabrication, and testing. This "trial and error" process was iterative in nature and proved to be both lengthy and labor intensive.
The application of computers to the conventional design process has brought about several improvements. Computer drafting programs created a cost savings by streamlining the drawing step through minimizing the time it took a draftsperson to prepare drawings and modify the drawings in subsequent design process iterations. With the advent of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools, the design process could be further streamlined by minimizing the amount of iterations that needed to be performed before a satisfactory solution was obtained. CAE tools permit engineers to perform modeling and simulation of specific tasks performed by the system. Through modeling and simulation, many unacceptable solutions to the problem can be eliminated without the need to fabricate expensive prototypes or undertake lengthy and costly testing.
The resulting streamlined engineering process produces satisfactory results for a majority of engineering applications. However, this process cannot provide a smooth and efficient flow for the development of multi-component armament systems. In a multi-component armament system, there can be at least several different subsystems that are typically developed concurrently by different engineering teams. This type of parallel development, while compressing the time needed for the development cycle, creates communication difficulties between different development teams. The different subsystems ultimately must be combined with one another in the design process as part of an integration process step. During integration, the different subcomponents are combined as a complete multi-component armament unit that is then tested as a completed system. It is typical that the completed system must undergo a series of modifications in order to debug problems that arise during the integration testing process. The additional steps of integration and testing of the overall system, when individual subsystems have already been tested, adds length and cost to the development process.
The assignee of the present invention has developed a Simulation-Emulation-Stimulation (SES) process that streamlines the complex development process for integrated multi-component weaponry systems. The SES process addresses the communication issue by creating a virtual armament simulation system that each development team can use to simulate the characteristics of the complete system during the development of a particular subsystem, thereby minimizing or eliminating problems that may be encountered during integration and testing. The virtual armament simulation system includes a virtual prototype of each subsystem. The virtual prototypes simulate the characteristics of each subsystem. Each team can then develop their particular subsystem within the simulation of a real world installation. As with other types of existing control systems, components of the virtual armament SES system and the virtual prototypes are linked in communication by different communication channels, for example, a single MIL-STD 1553 bus or an Ethernet link. A more detailed description of the SES process is provided by, Huang, et al. in, "System Integration Laboratory—A New Approach to Software/Electronics System Integration" (1996). The paper describes a modeling and simulation based development and integration approach adopted for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) M2A3 Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program at United Defense LP. The paper describes BFV A3 Upgrades, which were primarily in the area of fire control, electronics and software, and reports the development of a multi-purpose real-time simulation/emulation/stimulation (SES) and the system integration effort involved for the BFV A3 program. An SES was utilized to support system definition in the early stages and integration in later stages. A System Integration Laboratory (SIL) facilitated SES development. The SIL also provided the facilities and equipment for the overall system integration process.
During the system definition stage, the SES provided high fidelity modeling/simulation support to help define and characterize the system performance requirements, the system architecture, system sizing and timing, and interface implementation schemes between subsystems. During the integration phase the SES provided a lab integration environment with test sets, data reduction and acquisition capabilities, software upload/download and processor emulation facilities on tactical hardware; and stimulators to enable systematic testing and integration of subsystems. The SES, all target hardware and software units and subsystems, power supplies and ancillaries were accommodated in the System Integration Laboratory (SIL).
The integration tasks of the BFV A3 system involved the physical and functional connection of two electro-optical sights, an advanced fire control subsystem, a stabilized gun mount, a communications subsystem, an electronic warfare subsystem, power system, and other supporting subsystems. Most of the subsystems were equipped with processors and embedded software. The completed BFV A3 system was controlled by a turret processor unit. The system used point-to-point connections and a MIL-STD-1553 B databus to link all the subsystems to perform the combat mission. Like many major military electronic systems, the BFV A3 system had redundancy for the major components and the system was capable of performing in a degraded mode when it experiences non-fatal damage.
The paper describes computer simulation techniques in the context of computer-aided engineering (CAE) and comments on how the computer simulations can be run in real-time at a reasonable cost. One of the benefits of running simulations in real-time, according to the authors, is that it enables the interaction between simulation units to be in the form of live signals (i.e., with the same electrical characteristics as the end item). In other words, the simulations can emulate subsystems. This emulation capability expands the scope of simulation significantly. Further, with real-time simulation and emulation capability, engineers can construct stimulators to supply either the emulator or real systems with needed excitation that is similar to a field operation in a lab environment. These artificial excitations are indistinguishable from the real signals. This simulation, emulation, and stimulation (SES) provides a very powerful tool for the modern engineering process.
The paper goes on to describe the SES tool for the BFV A3 System integration tasks that was developed within the United Defense Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL). The SES development was started concurrently with system definition. Initially, the System Segment Specification was used to develop a relatively rudimentary but complete system simulation: the High Level System Simulation (HLSM), to understand the overall system characteristics early in the program and support system definition. As the design progressed, the simulation model was refined to reflect the new design. The HLSM evolved to the emulation model later to resolve issues on interfaces and communication. Eventually, a System. Integration Environment (SIE) was created. This SIE consisted of simulation models created by CAE tools, emulation software and hardware, and stimulators. The simulated counterparts of line replaceable units (LRUs) and subsystems, developed by third parties, were integrated into the SIE after initial laboratory acceptance tests, and tested extensively using this SIE to resolve performance and interface problems. Finally, the simulated counterpart was replaced by the actual LRU or subsystem in the reconfigured SIE to perform system level integration tests within the SIL.
Rapid prototyping methodology was used to create an overall system simulation before starting subsystem design. Conceptual emulation and stimulation were created using the same methodology. A rapid prototype provides an early working model of the system. This model provides an indication of system behavior and information essential for system definition. Alternative implementation schemes can be prototyped and performance characteristics obtained to support trade studies. Many technical issues associated with a complex system such as interfaces, throughput of processors, bandwidth of communication, interactions among subsystems, and soldier machine interfaces can be resolved through rapid prototyping.
In the BFV A3 Program, the MatrixX SystemBuild CAE tool (supplied by Integrated Systems Inc., (ISI)) was selected. Using this CAE tool, analysts and engineers can generate simulation models using building blocks supplied by the tool set. Simulation development consists of defining block diagrams of the system using rules defined by the tool. The tool then converts it into a simulation model, and hence the conventional equation generation and coding is streamlined into merely plotting the system block diagram. Tedious and time-consuming program debugging is replaced by accurately representing system behavior in the block diagrams.
The constructed simulation models were tested and analyzed in a powerful engineering workstation. The completed simulation models were then autocoded to generate the source code automatically. This automatically generated code was compiled and downloaded to a specific simulation controller. The simulation controller was a software and hardware system that allowed the source code of the simulation to run in real-time. A salient feature of the simulation controller was that specially constructed software/hardware interfaces could reside in the same chassis as the processor(s) to perform simulation. In the rapid prototype, the communication between the subsystems and components were looped through the special interface hardware/software. In this manner, the communications within the rapid prototype had the same functional and electronic characteristics as the completed system. The issues and problems associated with integration could be isolated and identified easily using this simulation controller. The solution candidates could be generated and tested within a fraction of the time required for conventional re-design, fabrication, and test.
The purpose of rapid prototyping was to construct an overall system model early in the program to assist system definition, assess many system issues and to better understand the integration problem. It was used to assist subsystem design and pave the way for successful system integration. During the program the constructed rapid prototypes (or SES) were constantly enhanced and refined to reflect the current design. The SES reflected the design in both function and structure. It allowed the models to be built separately. A special feature of the integration approach adopted, was the incremental integration environment. The constructed rapid prototype had many placeholders. Each line replaceable unit (LRU) or subsystem model occupied a unique placeholder within the SES. In the early stage of the program, the placeholders were filled by rudimentary simulation models of the LRUs and subsystems that could roughly simulate the functions of the BFV A3 system. This was used to formulate the system concept and assist the subsystem definition. As the design gradually progressed, those placeholders were replaced by more detailed and sophisticated LRU and subsystem models. Finally, when the actual LRUs and subsystems became available, the LRUs and subsystems replaced the simulation models one at a time, in the placeholder that resides in the overall integration environment. The corresponding placeholders allowed for appropriate software "plugs" to connect to the software/hardware interfaces, and through appropriate adapters, directly connected to the LRUs and subsystems due to early compliance to interface definition documents.
For the overall lab environment, there was almost no difference between this LRU or subsystem and the replaced simulation model. Using this approach, the tactical components (LRUs and subsystems) could be integrated one at a time into the overall system laboratory setup.
The first major program at United Defense that used a SIL was the Advanced Field Artillery System (AFAS) Advance Technology Demonstration Program. On this program, the new approach was used for a part of the system: the gun drives. On the AFAS ATD program the process was developed and perfected so that it could be used to develop the entire system for the BFV A3 program. During different phases of the program the configuration and functions of the SES equipment could evolve. In the long run, the easy reconfiguration and quick turn over of rapid prototyping can save substantial cost in system development due to the advantage of being able to identify potential problems and issues before commencement of design, and resolving them before detailed design, resulting in substantial overall savings compared with conventional approaches.
The significance of the BFV A3 System is that this was the first UDLP program that used rapid prototyping on a system that depended on a MIL-STD-1553 B databus for major communications. (emphasis not in original). The authors recognized that simulation can give rise to issues such as numerical region of stability and algebraic loops, to name a few. A second publication, Huang et al., "Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Based System Integration Approach"(1997), reports results of using the approach described in the previous paper through the delivery of the first prototype vehicle including, a seamless integration process, fault insertion capability, and software integration aid. This paper describes the use of M&S from early system development through test and evaluation and life cycle support. They also report on enhancements to the simulation (now called the Bradley Plus simulator or BPS) which will extend its usefulness. M&S was used from day one as a system engineering tool to validate the system specification. During design stage it was used as a design tool to aid the design process and tradeoffs. During system integration, M&S was used to accept and test the components and subsystems. The BFV A3 system engineering effort involved the definition and integration of many software and hardware subsystems, including two new electro-optical sights; new IFF (Identification Friend or Foe); an electronic warfare subsystem; new computers, fire control software and communications subsystems; and a new digital system architecture.
In order for M&S to be effective on the Bradley A3, it had to be ready on time to support the development process. To minimize the impact of the unpredictable and labor-intensive manually developed model software, off-the-shelf Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools were studied, analyzed, and selected. The CAE tools provided the modelers the capability to develop models rapidly and with relative ease. Labor intensive analysis, design and coding used in the development of conventional simulation models were discarded. Tedious and error-prone coding and debugging were replaced by automatic code generation and pictorial debugging tools.
Initially, the System Segment Specification was used to develop a relatively rudimentary but complete system simulation: the High Level System Simulation (HLSIM), to understand the overall system characteristics early in the program and support system definition. HLSIM included a program executive that controlled the system simulation, a set of place holders that contained the subsystems' and components' simulation models in the same configuration as the design, and a set of graphical user interfaces (GUI). The GUIs were constructed using the software tool sets and widgets. They gave near realistic views for visual understanding. The GUIs also served as user-friendly user input/output devices. As the design progressed, the simulation model was refined to reflect the new design. Special interfaces for software and hardware were constructed. The emulation model was produced using the infrastructure of HLSIM.
The interface signals originated from the same simulation models. The simulated signals were sent to specially built communication software blocks called user code blocks (UCBs). Outputs from the UCBs were used to drive interface hardware. The interface hardware was modified commercial off the shelf (COTS) circuit cards. These COTS cards, processor cards, wires, connectors, harness, and CAE tool generated simulation models comprised the overall M&S environment.
Using the easy to manipulate M&S environment, minimal effort was needed to build the communication UCBs. The communication protocols were identical to the tactical units and device drivers were equivalent commercial versions. Another salient feature of using this approach was that it allowed the real-time SES to take the advantage of any existing software/hardware prototypes or tactical units, that were available and at a later date, test sets. Whenever a subsystem or line replaceable unit (LRU) became available, the M&S environment would allow it to be plugged into the overall M&S environment to replace the corresponding simulation model. After the emulation was completed, it was also possible to generate all required external signals. Special build software models, in conjunction with specially configured software/hardware interfaces were able to generate near realistic excitation signals as input to the simulation/emulation models. Using this, the developers and users could operate the BFV A3 System and perform the functions in a near realistic "virtual environment" in the laboratory. This completed the overall SES Process.
The SES was used to emulate late delivered components and perform confidence tests for all delivered components. The SES and the M&S environment also provided the software integration process with powerful tools. The software bindings between Computer Software Configuration Items (CSCIs) were exercised on simulated CSCIs before the completion of tactical CSCI tests.
The core of the BFV A3 System is the MIL-STD-1553B high speed digital databus that links all electronic/software subsystems and LRUs. (emphasis supplied). Within the BFV A3 System, there is a bus controller (BC), a backup bus controller, and over 20 remote terminals (RTs). To test and evaluate the operation of the system requires the capability to inject faults into the system and be able to detect them. Within the M&S environment a databus fault injection feature was developed, tested, and used as both an integration and testing tool. This feature allows the direct control over words sent across the 1553 databus. This adds the capability to change data that the user does not normally have control over when the model is running; the capability to change messages quickly, on the spot, without a modification to the existing models; the capability to quickly test many scenarios; hastening debugging problems by not requiring the models to be changed and rebuilt to change messages; the capability of simulating the effects of actual failures; enhancement of the ability to integrate new hardware by allowing the operation to send messages to the hardware to determine the response; and checking possible changes to the interface with an LRU that may have been implemented with an old/newer ICD (Interfaces Control Documentation).
The SES methodology was used to implement this fault injection feature. A GUI was added to the existing control panels. This GUI had the capability of faulting multiple words simultaneously. Each of these faults could be enabled/disabled individually with the corresponding enable switch. The RX (receiving) and TX (transmitting) buttons determined whether the faulted word was the received or transmitted word of the LRU. The RT number, subaddresses, and word number were chosen using the given controls. Each bit in the word was then set with the buttons to x (no fault), 0 (bit is faulted to 0), or 1 (bit is faulted to 1). This GUI was connected to the Fault_Injection_Inputs UCB at the top level of the model. The Fault_Injection_Inputs UCB simply set global variables according to the faults input by the GUI. The code for the interface between the model and the bus driver was modified to examine these global variables for faults when the bus controller transmitted or received data. Each message in the model checked to see if a fault was intended for it. If so, this interface replaced correct data with faulted data before transmission, or in the case of a received word, replaced the correct data with faulted data after it is received, passing the faulted data to the model.
Modeling and simulation, with visualization and hardware-in-the-loop formed the backbone of the SES process. The early requirements could be tested in the M&S formed SES. The architecture and design information traveled back and forth to the simulated and emulated system. The M&S based system also controlled a turret test-stand and a Crew Station. Combined with vehicle dynamics model, structural model, vehicle mobility model, the lab Crew Station allowed a user to try out a vehicle in a virtual battlefield.
A very powerful feature of the SES was not used in the BFV A3 system. As a part of simulation development, functional equivalent units were developed for each Computer Software Configuration Item (CSCI) and used in overall SES demonstration. In several system demonstrations, partially developed tactical CSCIs were operated in conjunction with functional equivalent units seamlessly. In "Using Modeling and Simulation for Rapid Prototyping and System Integration" (1997), Huang et al. describe an SES (stimulation/emulation/stimulation) process developed as a rapid prototyping and system integration tool for the BFV A3 system. Using system specification as a guideline, a rough order of system requirements were generated and used to produce a simulation design documentation. Using the computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool, a high level simulation model was produced in a very short time duration. The architecture of the high level simulation model consists of three major parts, namely, the program executive (PE), the graphic user interface (GUIs), and the placeholders (PHs). The PE controls the timing, scheduling and other simulation related functions. The GUIs provide the engineers with convenient displays and controls. Each subsystem simulation model occupies a specific placeholder. The reason for using this approach is that the system model will experience many revisions and eventually evolve into a high fidelity system model. This process would go through many evolution stages to increase fidelity as design matured, and software and hardware for the simulation improved while keeping maximum re-usability of the developed software. Due to the complexity of the A3 system, a multi-processor based real-time environment was developed. This COTS system uses the commercial version processor cards and operating environment of the tactical units. In addition to producing similar functions as the A3 System, this unit also has to generate simulated environment and perform simulation control. Within this real-time environment, a simulation scheduler monitors each cycle of the simulation. This real-time environment uses parallel processing to achieve high throughput while maintaining affordable cost.
With the readily available interface hardware residing in the special real-time environment, the communication between those simulation models have the same characteristics as the target system (same electronical characteristics, communication protocols, and produced the same timeline, etc.). The emulation provides a powerful system tool for system tests and system integration. Since the system model architecture was based on placeholders for those subsystems, the interfaces were also 'separated' and 'segmented,' i.e., modulated. When a newer subsystem model became available, it could be put into a specific place holder to replace the corresponding older subsystem model. Similarly, the interfaces were gradually replaced by special produced hardware/software connection modules. To do this, instead of connecting the subsystems within the software model, each subsystem was connected to the specific hardware connection software module. The communication and interaction between the subsystems was looped through the interface modules and eventually via the hardware interface cards.
External stimulation such as the movement of the platform and other physical disturbance can be produced using a combination of simulation models and software/hardware interfaces directly interacting with the real-time environment. As required by testing engineers, SES was able to be modified as test and evaluation (T&E) tools. Significant T&E functions required the capability to inject faults into the system and be able to detect them. Using the rapid prototyping tool a databus fault injection feature was developed, tested and used as both an integration and testing too. This feature allowed direct control over words sent across the 1553 databus. This adds the capability to change data that the use does not normally have control over when the model is running, the capability to change messages quickly, or on the spot, without modification to the existing models, the capability to quickly test many scenarios, hastening debugging problems by not requiring the models to be changed and rebuilt to change messages, the capability of simulating the effects of actual failures, enhancement of the ability to integrate new hardware by allowing the operator to send messages to the hardware to determine the response and checking possible changes to the interface with an LRU that may have been implemented with an old/new interface control documents (ICDs).
The publication, Huang et al., "Simulation-Emulation-Stimulation A Complete System Engineering Process" (1998), describes the ongoing evolution of an integrated engineering methodology taking advantage of the advancement of computer technology by creating an System Integration Environment (SIE) that focuses on use of the Simulation-Emulation-Stimulation (SES) process. The original driving force behind development of this approach was the need to support the system integration of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle A3 System (BFV A3) (United Defense 1994f). A major concern for the BFV A3 System Integration EMD was that most of the subsystems would be completed and therefore supplied by subcontractors that were located in different and distant locations. Their subsystems would be delivered at different stages of the program. In order to ensure successful integration and demonstration of system performance, it was essential that subcontractors clearly understood how the system was partitioned, and the performance and interface requirements of the subsystems assigned to each subcontractor. Subcontractors were contractually required to deliver emulators/simulators of the subsystems to the prime to support the SES process. The system integrator was also responsible for generating alternative solutions, performing trade studies (United Defense 1994a) to select the best system architecture, and testing the architecture early, before design and building of the system. The tasks to verify system definition, monitor subsystem performance, document interface requirements in specifications and interface control documents (ICDs), and identify associated issues and concerns also belonged to the system integrator (United Defense 1994f, 1994b). This paper reports the evolution of this approach for producing rapid prototyping and performing system integration for the BFV A3 System and how it eventually evolved into a complete engineering process.
Just as real-time computer animation enables engineers to produce visual images that emulate objects in a "virtual environment," the authors describe the emulation of communication signals, that is the generation of communication signals that have the same electronic characteristics and use the same hardware and software, as a real communication signal. Using a combination of computer models, communication software/hardware (device drivers, communication protocols, chip sets, etc.), the physical characteristics of the communication and process of the emulated system is duplicated.
Due to the complexity of the A3 System, a multi-processor based real-time environment was developed. This environment used commercial versions of the tactical units to produce a reconfigurable system integration environment. This SIE used the same processors, operating system, device drivers, communication protocols, and other software and hardware components as the tactical units to produce near realistic time line and responses with a fraction cost of the tactical units. During the development stage, this SIE also served as the real-time simulator first, real-time emulator and stimulator later. It filled the roles of all temporally missing (unavailable) pieces during development and integration duration. The modular construction of the system model facilitated hardware-in-the-loop simulation. After acceptance tests, delivered subsystems replaced the corresponding simulation model one at a time by using a hardware connector that was installed to this SIE. This delivered subsystem would operate with other simulated subsystems and perform system level functions.
The SIE used CAE tools to produce simulation models and functionally equivalent unit (FEU) software modules. These simulation modules and FEU software were used to emulate the function of a complete software of a system. An interesting feature is that these automatically coded software almost completely avoided coding error and code level debugging. The debugging process can be moved into a pictorial environment. A system block diagram was used to debug the design.
To support testing engineers, the SIE was enhanced to be used as a T&E tool. A significant T&E function required was the capability to inject faults into the system and be able to detect them. Using the rapid prototyping tool a databus fault injection feature was developed, tested and used as both an integration and testing tool. A fault injection GUI (graphic user interface) and software module was constructed and used to perform the fault injection. The test engineer used this GUI to perform either manual or automatic test functions. The complete test results that included event number, event, words, pass/no pass, and time stamp were automatically recorded in test reports using this SE. Engineers had been using this tool to analyze and test the communication system for the Bradley A3 for over a year according to the authors. A publication by Huang et al., "System Simulation Based Engineering Process" (1998), reports the evolution of an engineering process that has been used on several major projects/programs. The paper refers to the significant effort that has been applied in modeling and simulation (M&S) at United Defense. Real-time simulation has become relative common practice with the proliferation of high performance and relative affordable computation devices. Running simulation in real-time has many benefits: In addition to acquiring detailed performance related information, it also allows the interaction and communication between simulated components to use live signals (i.e., with the same electrical or physical characteristics as the completed system). For a system designed for human operation, real-time simulation would allow humans to operate the simulation through appropriate input/output devices and displays. In other words, using appropriate hardware interface components, engineers can emulate the operation of the system before building prototypes. This is called a virtual prototype (VP). Using the same technique, external excitations or stimulation can be produced to mimic the complete system operation in a controlled (lab) environment. Using this approach, a system integration environment (SIE) was created using commercially of the shelf (COTS) hardware and software. The plug-in-and-play technique allows, one at a time insertion of a delivered subsystem into the SIE through the interface hardware/software. The corresponding subsystem simulation models, will then be disconnected or removed from the system simulation setup. This approach enables complicated system integration tasks to be broken down into more manageable pieces. Early in the program involving the integration of Bradley Fighting Vehicle A3 System (BFV A3 System), a high level simulation (HLSIM) was developed to understand the developmental system and identify system issues and problems. The HSLIM was evolved into BFV A3 System Simulation (SSIM) and achieved real-time simulation capability to allow user juries to test the system before the completion of the design. The SSIM was evolved into the System Simulation/Emulation (SSEMUL) to test the communication (mainly the MIL-STD-1553B databus) and tactical software. Yet another paper by Huang et al., "System Design Using Virtual Prototyping Techniques" (1998), discloses a new approach for system design. The approach is based on a methodology that utilizes simulation, emulation, stimulation (SES) combined with computer aided design (CAD) to produce virtual prototypes (VPs). According to the authors, United Defense has developed an SES process as a standard system integration methodology. This approach requires a system integration team working closely with all Product Development Teams (PDTs) throughout the program. Each PDT is responsible for the development of an individual subsystem or component. From the early requirements, the system integration team creates a high level system simulation model (HLSM) to provide an early representation of the system and identify problems and issues. With a powerful computer, the HLSM can simulate real-time system operation and generate realistic time lines. The interfaces among subsystems are simulated first, and emulated later. The system emulation allows communication between two entities (models of subsystems or components) using the same communication protocols, signal levels, and will produce the same time lines as the final system. Using commercial off the shelf (COTS) HW/SW, the emulation can be achieved quickly and economically. Next, SES produces stimulation for the system. A combination of computer simulation models and COTS HW/SW produce needed stimulation to excite a simulation model or a "real" object for test and evaluation purposes. A simulation controller is produced using graphic user interface (GUI) tools. The GUI tool produced controller may have a combination of "virtual" hand controllers such as knobs, slides, switches, and joysticks. Computer displays provide excellent status feedback for testing simulation. High quality video images can produce near realistic views of the hand controllers. These virtual control knobs, slides, switches, etc., are operated in the same manner as the "real things" through input devices (computer keyboard, touch screen, mouse, or joystick). Behind the "virtual" hand controllers and displays, software sockets and other communication schemes connect the virtual controls directly to the corresponding computer models. Through these virtual input devices, operators can test human factor related issues in a lab environment. A control station mockup can be constructed using a combination of computers and COTS HW/SW. Users can evaluate a controller design before controller hardware is built by using this lab setup. An interesting feature of the lab setup is that environmental or other external excitation, such as electronic interference, sensor data, or physical disturbances can be introduced by using a combination of simulation models and COTS HW/SW. To add more "virtual reality," computer images of complicated objects can be extracted directly from CAD drawings, and driven by powerful software on the computer monitors.
Similarly, video images can be connected directly to the real-time simulation to produce "virtual feedback" to the operator. Using ground database (information about terrain, soil property, etc.), computer programs can produce six-degrees of freedom (three linear and three rotary) movement disturbances and views to the "virtual driver." The virtual driver can drive a simulated vehicle on a "virtual road."
VP can supply the designers with complete system information in a lab environment before the start of detailed design. Many alternatives of design can be tested and evaluated with minimal cost and within a very short time frame. This virtual prototyping methodology is directly derived from the SES process. A collection of simulation models, high fidelity video images, and COTS HW/SW constitutes a system integration environment (SIE). This SIE provides the basis for a systematic approach to system integration. When a subsystem becomes available, through the reconfigurable software and hardware, it can be connected to the lab setup while the corresponding subsystem simulation model that resides in a particular placeholder is disconnected. The delivered subsystems are inserted into the lab setup one at a time. In this manner, the delivered subsystem will operate with simulated all other components.
This SES methodology has evolved smoothly into a virtual prototyping process. Almost all the software components developed in simulation, emulation, and stimulation became building blocks for the construction of VPs. The virtual prototyping effort is fully linked with all design efforts on the program. The structure of the VP also supported incremental system integration at a later phase of the program. Subsequently, the VP was used as a training device. T&E, and P3I functions could also be performed using the VP.
Presently, there exists a need for an armament control system design that can serve as the armament control system in the virtual environment of the development/simulation process, such as the SES process, and that can also serve as the actual control system for a multi-component armament system in the real installation. This control system should be dynamically reconfigurable to control a virtual prototype, a real component, or both. Additionally, there is a continuing need to provide a control system for a multi-component armament system that is scalable, easily upgraded, and that has improved usability, flexibility, and interoperability.
The present invention is a Control System Architecture (CSA) for a multi-component armament system. The CSA provides dynamic reconfiguration of multiple nodes (e.g., a component, a subsystem, or a virtual simulation) in a Simulation-Emulation-Stimulation (SES) environment utilizing redundant client-server bus configuration of the nodes in a hierarchical model. The CSA provides for ease of configuration of nodes for any specific application, automated system reconfiguration capabilities to detect and bypass failed nodes or re-group available remaining nodes in the event of degraded mode operation, and expansion and/or downsizing of nodes without requiring a modification to the overall system architecture.
Unlike existing control systems that connect all of the armament components to a common bus controlled by a single controller, various components of the CSA are preferably connected in a web-like topology. The use of a single common bus to interconnect multiple components of an armament system has been dictated by the need for well defined communications between the controller and the armament components. A signal to fire a weapon must be delivered to that component in a timely manner. The single bus single controller architecture enables existing systems to be designed such that control signals will arrive when expected. In contrast, a web-like topology provides for multiple communication paths between components and, as such, delivery of messages usually is not accomplished in a deterministic manner. To overcome this, the present invention utilizes a real-time scheduler within the CSA to monitor communications in the client-server architecture. The scheduler enables the CSA to overcome slow points and broken lines of communication while still preserving the predictable time response required of an armament system. This imparts an increased robustness to the system that is not found in the prior art armament systems, each of which featuring point-to-point communications topology.
One embodiment of the present invention provides for a client-server type multi-tiered hierarchical network for controlling a multi-component armament system. In one case, the top level of the system comprises a system controller. The system controller is comprised of an input/output management (IM) server, a notational controller (NC) server, and several placeholder (PH) servers. The second layer is comprised of a man-machine-interface (MMI) client, a plant model client, and a controller client. The third layer is comprised of first and second graphical user interfaces (GUI's) and a test stand. The MMI is configurable to operate either a virtual prototype of an armament component, a real version of the armament component, or both. The switching between the virtual prototype, real prototype, or both is preferably accomplished by the inclusion of an A/B/C switch programmably included in the system controller software. The inclusion of the A/B/C switch in the hierarchical client-server architecture allows the CSA to be reconfigured during system development and test. Additionally, the hierarchical nature of the CSA promotes system scalability, in that new nodes can be added to or subtracted from a level, and even new levels can be added to the system. The scalability feature allows the system architecture to be easily modified, upgraded and maintained.
Each node in the CSA can assume either a server role, a client role, or both, in the hierarchical architecture. The overall control function of the CSA can be handed down by the system controller to a client component at a lower level or to a new component added to the system with that component then assuming a server role in the CSA. Preferably, the CSA uses commercially available operating environments and is communicably connected to an intranet.
Referring to
Referring to
System specifications for armament systems are typically provided by the customer. Designated members of a development team use their collective experience and intelligence to construct a set of system requirements from the specifications. Then, using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools, those requirements are incorporated into the modeling environment as part of the M&S 40 step. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many different types of CAE tools are commercially available that are well suited for the M&S task 40. The model generated by the CAE tools is referred to as a high-level simulation model (HLSM). The mechanical system models are constructed by using off-the-shelf programs such as ProEngineer from PTC. Other suitable alternatives are Solid Works, Catia and AutoCad. The electrical controls are similarly simulated, preferably using MatrixX by ISI (Integrated Systems Inc.). Those skilled in the art will recognize that electrical and mechanical schematics can be produced as an inherent function of these M&S programs. Such schematics become part of the system design documentation 48. The MatrixX program possesses the capability to automatically generate the computer code required to operate any of the various components of the armament system. This is a powerful feature because it eliminates the tedious line-by-line coding and debugging tasks otherwise necessary. Automatically generated code has passed rigorous scrutiny in armament control systems and such code is currently used in many mission critical military applications.
The HLSM is first tested on the emulation environment 44 to produce preliminary results. The CAE tools allow for changes to be made to the system models and the generation of functionally equivalent software modules 42. From the HSLM using the CAE tools, a set of design documentation can be generated 48. The design documentation is useful to the subsystem design teams because it provides a detailed set of requirements to guide the development of a particular subsystem.
The system model and software modules can then be used to emulate the function of the complete software of the system in an emulation environment 44. This process is often referred to as rapid virtual prototyping (RVP). The software code is downloaded into an emulation environment 50. The emulation environment is preferably the same control system that will be used in the field application to control the multi-component armament system. The virtual prototypes in the SES process use CAE tools to simulate the characteristics of their corresponding armament component within the emulation environment 50. As individual development teams proceed with the development of their respective subsystems, they can use the control system connected to the virtual prototypes to experiment with how the system might respond under different hypothetical circumstances. They can also replace their subsystem with its respective virtual prototype and test the functionality of the subsystem in the overall control system.
The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of a common bus architecture for interconnecting multiple components in an armament control system by employing a control system architecture (CSA) that utilizes a client-server hierarchical architecture. Conceptually, the difference between the present invention and the prior art can be best understood by comparing
It will be understood that while an intranet 60 is often conceived of as a web-like connection arrangement as shown in
The CSA can easily accommodate the addition or subtraction of nodes due to the client-server nature of its hierarchy. Persons skilled in the art will understand the ability to add and subtract nodes from a client server network. Conceptually, for ease of understanding in armament systems, each component 62 or client can be represented as a component node 62 in the hierarchy as shown in
An example application of the CSA having two guns 80 and 82 is shown schematically in
In a preferred embodiment, the real-time controller 76 is housed in a VME chassis, which contains a plurality of processor cards to implement the various functions of the controller 76. Alternatively, other backplane chassis arrangements than a VME bus, a PCI backplane, or even a single processor board, could be utilized to implement all of the functions of the controller 76. The real-time controller 76 executes a real-time operating system pSOS from Integrated Systems, Inc., in the preferred embodiment. In the past other real-time operating systems such as Linx OS and VxWork have also yielded satisfactory results. As will be described, the real-time OS fulfills the role of the scheduler 63 in the exemplary embodiment of the client-server hierarchy of the CSA of the present invention.
One problem that had to be solved when employing the client-server web-like network in the context of an armament control system is timing of data communications. To illustrate the problem, consider the example of the most well-known client-server web-like network, the world wide web (WWW). Anyone who has used the WWW knows that e-mail sent over the WWW takes a random amount of time to reach its intended destination. Sometimes this may be one second, sometimes one minute, sometimes one hour, and sometimes one day or longer. This unpredictable time delay is unacceptable in an armament or other time-critical control system. One cannot spare minutes, hours, days, or even seconds for a fire command to reach a firing control client that activates the weapon. Therefore, the present invention provides a scheduler 63 that is part of the intranet 60 and preferably is programmably included in the pSOS real-time OS of the controller 76. The scheduler 63 monitors the time it takes communication over the Intranet 60 to reach its destination. If the communication does not reach its destination in the specified time as determined by the master profile database 66, the scheduler 63 notifies the originator of the message that an error in transmission occurred, in this case due to a timeout failure. The client originator will then take whatever remedial actions are proscribed in the event of a communication failure. By the inclusion of a scheduler 63, the CSA of the present invention knows whether a communication signal between different component nodes 62 in the network 60 reaches its destination in a timely fashion because the scheduler fulfills the policing function.
The real-time controller 76 uses computer code to control each of the various clients in the lower levels 64 of the hierarchy. A CASE tool such as MatrixX is preferred because the control system hierarchy can be implemented by inputting the desired computer logic into the MatrixX program, thereby automatically generating the code. However, C or any other computer language that can be compiled or some script languages such as JAVA can also be used. The system behavior encoded in the software can be described as a state machine. The concept of describing system behavior with a state machine is known to those skilled in the art. Conceptually, a state machine is shown in
Referring again to
The CSA when used in the SES system also includes a plurality of virtual prototypes (VP's). As shown in the preferred embodiment of
During the development process, it is also advantageous to be able to connect a scale size real prototype to the CSA as shown in
Slot #1 131 as shown in
In slot 3 of the VME rack 113 is a digital-to-analog converter card 142 as shown in
In slot 4 of the VME rack 113 is the Quad Serial I/O ports card 144 to the MIL-STD 1553. Bus 58, as shown in
In slot 6 of the VME rack 113 is the Resolver to Digital Card 148, as shown in
A portion of the disclosure of this invention is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner permits the facsimile reproduction of the disclosure of this invention as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights.
Although the preferred embodiment of the automated system of the present invention has been described, it will be recognized that numerous changes and variations can be made and that the scope of the present invention is to be defined by the claims.
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|U.S. Classification
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|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Dec 18, 2000
Owner name: UNITED DEFENSE LP, MINNESOTA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HUANG. PAUL C.;KHAN, OMAR A.;SLEDER, ALBERT, JR.;REEL/FRAME:011399/0585
Effective date: 20001214
|Feb 27, 2006
Owner name: BAE SYSTEMS LAND & ARMAMENTS L.P., VIRGINIA
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:UNITED DEFENSE, L.P.;REEL/FRAME:017219/0334
Effective date: 20050630
|Feb 16, 2010
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Mar 28, 2014
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Aug 15, 2014
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Oct 7, 2014
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20140815


text:
2nd Floor.
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Data Recovery Birmingham.
Our Birmingham Data Recovery city centre office deals with recovering data from all failed and faulty hard drive situations. We typically undertake data recovery work involving failed RAID configured arrays, Single and Multi-Disk faulty NAS Systems, Solid state and hybrid hard disk drives, electrically damaged SSD. Datlabs are industry exponents of recovering inaccessible data from Clicking External Hard disk Drives and Damaged Mobile Phones.
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text:
"The single burner Barbeque Box turns your outdoor gas stove into a portable barbeque grill. This grill system will outperform anything you've used. With the patented diffuser plate you don't have to worry about hot spots. The diffuser captures and vaporizes the grease, infusing your food with a rich BBQ flavor. The cast iron cooking surface holds the heat and sears the meat. A vented lid is included to help keep the heat in. This system covers one burner on both the 14"" and 16"" Camp Chef Cooking Systems.
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text:
Images: New female recruits join Afghan police force [Image 4 of 4]
Photo by Staff Sgt. Dave Overson
The first-ever female Afghan Uniformed Police graduates south of Kabul prepare to accept their diplomas and join the AUP force in the streets throughout Afghanistan at the Gardez Regional Training Center, Paktya province, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Overson, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
This work, New female recruits join Afghan police force [Image 1 of 4], by SSG Dave Overson, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:01.10.2013
Date Posted:01.12.2013 04:29
Photo ID:813229
Size:599.02 KB
Location:PAKYTA, AF
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Associated News
New female recruits join Afghan police force


text: Worth Playing: "Tank! Tank! Tank! could have been much better. From a single-player perspective — admittedly not the preferred way to play the game — the game is simply terrible. The artificial padding made to lengthen it is inexcusable from any perspective. Multiplayer is the only way to go for this game, and it is fun if you can deal with things like the odd screen placement for the other three players and lack of online play. With a fairly decent presentation, it makes for a fun party game if you're up for something a bit more violent."


text:
The UTC Learn (Blackboard) system is currently functioning as expected.
Summer 2016 courses in UTC Learn will be available to students on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.
FOR FACULTY: To access courses from Summer 2014 through Summer 2015, go to https://bb5.utc.edu or click on the login button. To import a previous course into a Fall 2015 course shell, go to the export/import tutorial.
Need to merge multiple course sections or cross-listed courses in UTC Learn? Go to the Course Merge request page to submit a form.
FOR STUDENTS: Each course has a required Academic Acknowledgement Activity. For more information on the activity, visit the UTC Learn Academic Acknowledgement webpage. For assistance in completing the activity, the steps are listed in the Student Tutorial (PDF).
UTC is currently running Blackboard Learn 9.1 October 2014.


text:
You'll find a list of recent reviews below. If you'd like to share a comment, feel free to post to our Facebook wall or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!
Hamlet is a café with a 'social conscience", a not-for-profit, community-based enterprise offering migrants, underprivileged Tasmanians and the long-term unemployed a helping hand by providing them with hospitality skills, confidence and, more than just a piece of paper, practical work experience.
Published: May 24, 2016
Pearl + Co
By way of checking the kitchen's skill with meat we then ordered lamb cutlets. Beautifully tender, cooked rare and dressed with a finely composed salsa verde, they really couldn't have been bettered
Published: May 24, 2016
Patria Della Pasta
Looking again at the menu 'ox tail' is clearly what the small print said. So, my fault, but why call it osso bucco when it ain't?
Published: May 24, 2016
Salty Dog
That it's been an instant success since opening a month ago is little wonder given that the new lessees are such multi-talented people as ...........
Published: April 28, 2016
Chinese Tasty BBQ Restaurant
How does the kitchen keep so many ingredients and sauces fresh?
Published: April 28, 2016
Devils Corner Cellar Door
It may not lift the taste of the food, but, like good design and excellent service, a fabulous view certainly enhances any dining experience
Published: April 28, 2016
The Bay Restaurant
First course for us was a dish of freshly made gnocchi in a savoury sauce that would have made any Italian nonna proud
Published: April 28, 2016
St Albi Bar and Eatery
The pick of our entrees was the tender, crisp and beautifully spicy Szechuan squid which was as good as the best spiced squid rings or strips in town
Published: March 26, 2016
Peacock and Jones Restaurant and Wine Bar
Less convincing was a shared Huon Valley sirloin on the bone showing that even with expert grilling, a chef can't do much with inferior raw material
Published: March 14, 2016
And a tastebud adventure is precisely what they deliver at Syra in dishes variously spiced, marinated or partnered with such exotica as pomegranate, saffron, sumac, cardamom, labne, harissa, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, zaatar, freekah, fattoush, haloumi, toasted almonds, chermoula and so on
Published: March 14, 2016
Sons of Baja
the hand-cut tortilla chips and tacos taste nicely of the corn masa from which they're made, the guacamole was delicious as was the re-fried bean quesadillas accompanied by a beautifully flavoured tomato salsa
Published: February 29, 2016
Smolt Kitchen
...the pomegranate molasses and date syrup saucing of the afore-mentioned duck carpaccio was delicious as were the lamb and currant meatballs with yoghurt and harissa
Published: February 22, 2016
Pepperberries Garden Cafe
...For example, the house-made mustard pickles and pickled zucchini lifted an everyday smoked ham and cheddar toastie to another level.
Published: February 16, 2016
The French Bistro – Riversdale Estate
..what came was one of the most tender, perfectly cooked and rested beef sirloins of my life followed by a confit leg and poached breast of duck that couldn't, I feel, be bettered
Published: February 16, 2016
Pancho Villa Tequila Bar
the boys behind Burger Haus, Regazzi and Capital have done it again, turning the old ANZ bank in North Hobart into a very stylish American/Mexican bar that is unique to Hobart
Published: January 30, 2016
Urban Greek
The menu is huge and, after two visits, we still haven't done head chef Vissarion Batras' food and Zaharioudakis Pavlos' pastries justice
Published: January 30, 2016
Local Pizza
...it pays to be adventurous for, while the names might be quirky, the ingredients, topping combinations and the crisp, thin, hand-stretched bases themselves are first class.
Published: January 30, 2016
.... it's the complexity and tangy deliciousness in both components and flavours in the food that sets Aloft apart and delivers a new and exciting interpretation of Asia to the Hobart scene
Published: December 6, 2015
....so the only reason to go to Templo is for the food. And that's reason enough, for the food is exceptional.
Published: December 6, 2015
And, for the first time in my memory, in Succulent they've created the sort of place that in all respects does the Gardens justice with a non-pretentious menu ideally tailored to its market
Published: December 6, 2015
Coal Valley Vineyard Restaurant
says Christian, "it's great to be back. Instead of a proper restaurant as we were doing in the earlier days, we now consider ourselves to be simply a vineyard offering food with our wines. The food is simpler, prices are lower and, after all the years, our wines are even better"
Published: November 7, 2015
PerMission to Eat
Battered women feel no need to be apprehensive or embarrassed. To sit at a table and order a meal or just coffee and cake provides, for them, a respite of normalcy in an otherwise troubled day or week.
Published: November 7, 2015
Red Velvet Lounge
....Sadly the red lounge isn't the only thing now missing.
Published: November 7, 2015
Coal Valley Farm
So, while the lunch was a bit mixed, the service was excellent, there's a concise and well-priced list of local wines, a big choice of Tassie beers and ciders and, as you'd expect, a wide variety of chocolate drinks and desserts
Published: November 7, 2015
Twelve Stones
The food and portion sizes are just what you need if you're off to plough a paddock or fell a forest. But what impressed me most was the consistent quality of the cooking
Published: November 7, 2015
Arirang Korean and Chinese Restaurant
And so it was a new experience and an interesting dinner. But with unusual but very traditional menu items like pork backbone stew, beef tripe hot pot, their BBQ meats and plenty of chilli-spiked dishes, there's lots there to try next time.
Published: August 12, 2015
The Glasshouse
While the presentation across all dishes was eye catching, the prettiest, if not the most original, dish of the night was a baby beetroot, sheep cheese and quinoa salad with orange miso dressing which tasted as good as it looked.
Published: August 12, 2015
Barilla Bay Restaurant
......the menu features a full page of fresh and cooked oyster options running from natural with various toppings, through crumbed and fried to different oyster shooters and a seafood chowder
Published: August 12, 2015
Ivory Cafe
Next came two curries, a mildly spiced black pepper curry with pork and a delicious and deeply complex red curry of duck with the flavours of Thai basil, Kaffir lime, chilli, coconut and Gum's red curry paste all beautifully melded together
Published: August 12, 2015
Dunalley Waterfront Cafe and Gallery
And I've found over that time that the consistent excellence of the food and service ..................... make it one of the most enjoyable luncheon eateries in the state.
Published: August 12, 2015
Sush Train
In the past 12 months – and despite the sad loss of Garagistes - Hobart has experienced a lift in the quality and diversity of its restaurant scene like never before. Sush Train is another to add to your list
Published: August 12, 2015
Fun Dining (Pop Up) At Room for a Pony
A single, small cube of kingfish with an eye-drop dollop of soy wasabi was so firmly fresh it was like eating a black jelly jube
Published: June 1, 2015
Signal Station Brasserie
...it probably fits their pattern of trade – dips and pate for the walkers and sightseers, likewise the desserts for the morning and afternoon coffee and cake trade and the mains for those, like us, in for a more substantial lunch
Published: June 1, 2015
Le Provencal
So, we in Hobart are inordinately blessed to have what was once one of France's national treasures, a family-run restaurant like Le Provencal, where everything is made in house using fresh local products cooked in a style that is both traditional and personal.
Published: June 1, 2015
Flathead is still "much more than a local fish and chipper" but now it's even better, much better in fact with some of the very best and most interesting seafood offerings in town.
Published: April 11, 2015
The Taroona Hotel
There were a dozen whole, tail-on prawns tossed through linguine with a nicely balanced garlic, lemon, white wine and cream sauce. And a steak knife was stabbed through the steak sandwich to stop the overflowing ingredients escaping.
Published: April 6, 2015
Straight Up Coffee and Food
They make everything in house from roasting their own coffee beans, making their low-sugar jams, bottled fruits and granola, baking four types of bread daily and serving food which is as innovative as it is flavoursome and appealingly presented
Published: April 6, 2015
it's Lebrina's longevity and the consistent high quality of its food, wine and service that make it a great restaurant and which, despite changing fashions and the hyped comings and goings in the dining scene around it, means it remains Tasmania's best restaurant – a position it's occupied for over two decades.
Published: April 6, 2015
The Dragon Bowl
The dishes were so good that I asked Wang why he didn't replace some of the many Chinese usuals on his menu with more Sichuan specialties. "Because too many people say they're too hot and spicy and send them back", he said.
Published: March 1, 2015
Frogmore Creek Restaurant
while the changes and functional upgrades have been beautifully done, together they've also provided a new air of contemporary sophistication to the whole Frogmore operation
Published: March 1, 2015
Overall I feel that with the minimalist decor, the style of the food and wines, the fact that you can only reserve a table by booking online, and that, after two months, from opening, the service is still patchy and the restaurant only serves filtered coffee, leads me to wonder if Franklin will prove to be as "inclusive", as Moyle would like
Published: March 1, 2015
Frank Restaurant and Bar
the food is as much fun as the décor with lots of lime, tomato and chilli dressings, pickles and marinades and different salsas which.....
Published: March 1, 2015
Room for a Pony
the chai-infused rice porridge with pomegranate molasses and beautifully baked pear from their all-day breakfast list was a delicious start to the day
Published: March 1, 2015
The Astor Grill
...the fact that, on the day, there was an ex-Premier at one table with two business suits and another mixed-threesome in for a long, four-hour lunch, would indicate that the Astor is still attracting much the same cross-section of clientele as it did in its heyday.
Published: March 1, 2015
By way of introduction, their menu states "Our role in life is to feed people. A lot. We can't help it. Buon appetito!"
Published: December 8, 2014
Three Japanese Charcoal Grill
And, in its elegant simplicity and delicious balance of umami-rich savouriness, chawanmushi is one of those dishes that, for me, effectively sums up her restaurant's ethos and appeal.
Published: December 8, 2014
Westend Pumphouse Eatery and Bar – Revisited
I'll be back for the buzz, those entrees and, with some friends, to pre-order one of those pigs.
Published: December 8, 2014
Hope and Anchor Tavern
...but retro can be fun and when the food came the chef had, on the whole, done a good job.
Published: December 8, 2014
Vita and Providore
...and in their first five days of trading they sold 450 litres or around 2,000 serves of yoghurt. And there's been no let up since.
Published: September 8, 2014
Vanidols Asian Cuisine
But, while I see it as a problem and won't be rushing back, OK, middle-of-the-road Thai is just what many others want and they're the ones who will keep Vanidols pumping well into its third decade
Published: September 8, 2014
Small Fry
....but it begs the question – if you can't afford to give a dish its full expression, why choose to do it at all?
Published: September 8, 2014
Kinoko Deli
and then there's a freezer with a selection of fish roes, soused mackerels, sausages, dumpling skins and even Japanese ice creams
Published: September 8, 2014
Peking Restaurant
"We always come here", she said. "For us, it's not the nearest, or the cheapest, but the food is brilliant".
Published: July 20, 2014
The Winston Alehouse and Eatery
.......As a result it was gum-tender but still beautifully moist with no stringiness, the still-intact connective tissues providing succulence and flavour.,, and, with their food, beers, atmosphere and prices, The Winston is proving a winner
Published: July 20, 2014
Smolt (revisited)
..Seven years on, I feel the same way – our lunch an assortment of delightful small dishes, the main courses at dinner far less satisfying
Published: July 20, 2014
Republic Bar and Cafe
Equally enjoyable was a generous and flavoursome seafood paella, chock full of prawns, clams, fish, mussels and good chorizo, the rice lightly spiced with Spanish smoked paprika.
Published: July 20, 2014
Chulo Cafe
They had said to me earlier that, since neither of them had been to Mexico, they resist using the word "authentic", preferring instead to describe their food as "light, simple and tasty". Which is probably as good a description as any of what they're serving at Chulo.
Published: July 19, 2014
Soup Stop
You'll find a list of recent reviews below. If you'd like to share a comment, feel free to post to our Facebook wall or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!
Published: July 19, 2014
Pier One Restaurant and Bar
...Instead it seems caught in a time warp, almost as if nobody involved has bothered to look upstream to see what culinary changes the city has experienced over the past decade
Published: July 19, 2014
Lubiana Vineyard Osteria
Monique added, "We want the food to be the simple, rustic, fresh and healthy, traditional style that you find in family-run osterias in Italy".
Published: July 19, 2014
Pollen Tea Room
The style of food is announced on a specials blackboard headed GF, SF, DF, VG and RAW which, for me, spelled "Graeme, what are you doing here?"
Published: July 19, 2014
Cornelian Bay Boathouse
we were pleasantly surprised when some excellent ciabatta bread and our first courses at dinner arrived, however, written like a ho-hum shopping list of ingredients for each dish, the fairly conservative, something-for-everyone menu doesn't do much to excite the juices
Published: July 19, 2014
All Thai – North Hobart
"Here, says chef Savayos Malayanond, we're always trying new dishes and I try to make no compromises or take any shortcuts".
Published: July 19, 2014
Mai Ake Asian Cuisine
....was a simply delicious, balanced and spiced combination accompanied on the side by a wonderfully pungent sauce composed of pounded toasted rice...
Published: March 16, 2014
Cable Station Restaurant
In the restaurant the small and regularly changing menu is a celebration of both the season and the abundance of local produce
Published: March 16, 2014
Pigeon Hole
You'll find a list of recent reviews below. If you'd like to share a comment, feel free to post to our Facebook wall or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!
Published: March 16, 2014
Ristorante Da Angelo
....as it turned out, Da Angelos was celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Published: March 16, 2014
The Burger Haus
To say the place is "hip" or "cool" would probably just show how totally unhip and uncool I really am
Published: March 16, 2014
Frogmore Creek Restaurant
This, together with a glance at Kootman's rough new menu ideas suggest that, whatever the operational changes that might take place, the restaurant's future would appear to be in very good hands.
Published: March 16, 2014
Mrs Jones Restaurant Bar Lounge
...your expectations on being seated are that you're in for a superior dining experience.
Published: March 16, 2014
Mures Upper Deck
For example, I wondered what soggy bok choy and overcooked green tea udon noodles contributed to a dish of Spring Bay mussels....
Published: March 16, 2014
Pilgrim Coffee
....crowded retro furnishings and an overall warehouse feel that contrasts with the beautifully plated, contemporary and innovative food served out of the pocket-handkerchief-sized kitchen
Published: March 16, 2014
Reflections (Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania)
The car park was full, the spacious bar and alfresco deck were buzzing and Reflections was rapidly filling up .......
Published: March 15, 2014
Miyabi is like no other Japanese restaurant in Tasmania.
Published: March 15, 2014
The Aproneers
While their underlying real, sustainable food ethos remains unchanged, The Aproneers is now as much a cafe/eatery as they are a grocer/providore.....
Published: November 30, 2013
Written on Tea (City location)
Altogether a fabulous feast and, working out at $23 a head without wine, surely one of the city's exceptional bargains.
Published: November 30, 2013
The Picnic Basket
...if the queues for takeaways and the mix of families, workmen, young and old coffee-ing, snacking and lunching inside and outside the other day was any indication, Taroona is very happy he did......
Published: November 30, 2013
Monty's on Montpelier
....it was good for the soul to be comfortably seated in a cosy room in front of a crackling fire with quality cutlery and glassware in front of me and feel that, rather than eating, I was preparing to dine, and - as it turned out - dine well.
Published: November 30, 2013
In composition and presentation, in the interplay of flavours and textures and the precision of the cooking, each dish by itself at lunch was faultless. Cumulatively, over nine dishes from soup to dessert, "amazing" seemed about right.
Published: November 30, 2013
Chatterbox Malaysian Singapore
It's easy to dismiss Chatterbox as just another of the North Hobart strip's cheap Asian takeaways – which it isn't.
Published: July 21, 2013
Cultura Espresso Bar & Restaurant
Perfectly dressed fettuccini aglio olio and the best spaghetti puttanesca I've had in a long time.
Published: July 21, 2013
Katmandu Cuisine
This is Hobart's first ever restaurant to be inspired by the foods and flavours of Nepal and Tibet.
Published: June 22, 2013
The Lotus Eaters Cafe
In a previous review I wrote "the best, most varied and perfectly cooked café food in the state". Six years on, I'm happy to say that is still my opinion.
Published: June 22, 2013
My Slice of Pie
The views of Sleeping Beauty are, as promised, magnificent and we thoroughly enjoyed our soup, scones and pastries.
Published: June 22, 2013
Taco Taco
Check out Twitter and Facebook - "TacoTacoTas" for this experience.
Published: June 22, 2013
The Duchess Cafe
It was all so good, I returned for lunch.
Published: June 22, 2013
Sfuso is the sort of casual eatery many would like to have on the next corner.
Published: June 22, 2013
Rin Japanese
It was indeed a brave move to set up a Japanese restaurant in what, in dining terms, is on the corner of nowhere... (but) in true Japanese style, the intricately woven flavours are subtly delicate and harmonious.
Published: June 22, 2013
Daci and Daci
Some of the tastiest and most reasonably priced bakery and pastry treats in the CBD.
Published: March 28, 2013
The Source
A most memorable experience - by far the best I've had in Tasmania and, for me, among the best ever.
Published: March 27, 2013
Mu Lan Restaurant
Full, and turning over tables downstairs on a Monday night, Mu Lan is an enjoyable and very welcome addition to the North Hobart strip.
Published: November 24, 2012
Jack Greene
The selection of ales, wheat beers, lagers, rauchbiers, porters, stouts, ciders and cyders, perries and kolches is unique and very special.
Published: July 23, 2012
It's two particular Sichuan-influenced dishes, as well as Jo's smiling service, that sets the restaurant apart and, I feel, deserve to win Hejo's wider exposure.
Published: May 12, 2012
Westend Pumphouse
The food actually felt and tasted like dinner, and the '07 Pierro Mancini Cannonau from Sardinia was the most enjoyable, food-friendliest drop I've had in a local restaurant in a long time.
Published: May 12, 2012
I think Italians must be born with an extra gene – a hospitality gene.
Published: April 21, 2012
Beltana Hotel
Of an evening, the menu expands to include entrees like fried cotechino, white beans and piccalilli, a modernised prawn cocktail and a goat cheese, beetroot and walnut tart plus mains of fresh fish, duck, slow-cooked lamb, grilled wallaby and beef Wellington.
Published: April 2, 2012
Chillies Indian Restaurant
It was the freshness, complexity and distinctive spicing of the food we had - chicken tikka, onion bhaji, butter chicken, chicken Madrasi and goat curry - that most impressed me.
Published: March 25, 2012
Josef Chromy Restaurant
The wines are top notch and reasonably priced, and the service excellent, friendly and professional.
Published: February 26, 2012
Italian Pantry
Only a few local eateries go much beyond the pizza and pasta clichés, but one that does is the Italian Pantry.
Published: January 31, 2012
Prossers on the Beach
The ultimate professional, Michael Prosser has brought a new sense of service, order and hospitality to the floor.
Published: January 11, 2012
Ginger Brown
Like the slightly funky, bohemian atmosphere of the place itself, there's nothing fussy, tizzed-up or pretentious about any of the food. It's simply good cooking of an intelligently thought out and balanced menu.
Published: January 11, 2012
Shoebox Cafe
A blending of Asian and Western flavours as bright as the owner's welcoming smile and so fresh that I could almost feel it doing me good.
Published: December 15, 2011
Pasha's Cafe and Restaurant
Johnny-come-years-late is not a good position for a food reviewer to be in. But Pasha's was good. Very good, in fact.
Published: September 15, 2011
The New Sydney Hotel
Good food, great staff, 12 beers on tap, some interesting wines at good prices and live music in a real, ungentrified pub chock-full of atmosphere, character and a colourful, mixed and mixed-age crowd.
Published: June 29, 2011
Remi de Provence
A peppery soup, the colour of Provencal sunshine came chock full of white beans, black cabbage and speck accompanied by one of the very best, crunchy-crusted restaurant breads in town.
Published: June 29, 2011
Ethos Eat Drink
Pop in for a heart starter and palate pick-me-up anytime from morning 'till late, snack your way through the $3 dishes as you explore the wine list, or meander your way through the menu as your appetite and inclination take you.
Published: May 2, 2011
The Stackings, Peppermint Bay
It's great to see the restaurant's food and wine once again delivering on the promise held out by Peppermint Bay's fabulous location and equally fabulous design.
Published: March 23, 2011
Sapa Rose
Hoang Bui brings some interesting and very enjoyable new dishes to Hobart including some that will take anyone who has visited Vietnam straight back to its street markets.
Published: February 28, 2011
The Brunswick Hotel
It's good to see the Brunswick given a new lease of life and a modern makeover.
Published: February 9, 2011
Cultura Espresso Bar & Restaurant
Apart from the excellent food, what is it that makes Solo Pasta and Pizza in Sandy Bay one of the most popular of the many similar Italian eateries in town?
Published: February 9, 2011
The Source
As most restaurants do in Europe, Chef Philippe Lebain simply gets the best and most interesting produce he can, from wherever.
Published: January 9, 2011
Cargo Bar Pizza Lounge
There are the usuals like Hawaiian, Margherita, garlic and pepperoni, but what does one make of a hoi sin duck pizza? Or a baby abalone pizza with croutons?
Published: December 7, 2010
Mezethes Greek Taverna
As authentically Greek in style and flavours as you're likely to get this far from Athens.
Published: December 7, 2010
The Point
A menu perfectly tailored to the restaurant's mixed regulars, special-occasionalist and tourist market and much better than many that have disappointed at The Point before.
Published: December 7, 2010
Pierre's on George
The new owners, Sarah and Rohan Birchmore, and designer/consultant chef, Xavier Mouche, have transformed Pierre's into an ultra-stylish bistro with timeless, quintessential, uncomplicated and comforting French fare.
Published: December 7, 2010
Stillwater was relaunched in August with new partners joining the remaining long-time owners, a new kitchen, new chef, new menus, new food style and an interior remodelling.
Published: November 8, 2010
Sweet Envy
If you can't count the street numbers, you'll find it by the oohs and ahhs of people stopped in their tracks by the window display!
Published: October 7, 2010
Grape Bar and Bottleshop
While always pleasant enough, some recent changes see Grape deserving to take off.
Published: August 1, 2010
Bay Views Restaurant
Now with new owners, but the same young chef, Dane Kendal, it joins Wild and Rialto as one of the best dining options on the Central Coast.
Published: August 1, 2010
Blue Eye
A whole lot more than fish 'n chips to tempt your palate on the waterfront!
Published: July 6, 2010
The Banc
John and Lee Bailey have created a simple and elegantly understated space in what used to be, until they came along, Swansea's only eatery of any note, the Left Bank.
Published: March 7, 2010
Black Cow
If you associate beef with steak-house blokiness, think again!
Published: August 6, 2009