OpenSplice

Defense and Aerospace

OpenSplice DDS (Data Distribution Service) was the first implementation of a Universal Data Bus addressing the needs of data distribution for most, if not all, Defense and Aerospace applications, ranging from Radar Processors to next-generation Network-Centric Systems. The approach, as described below was so successful that it led to the definition of an International Standard based on OpenSplice DDS, which has now been adopted by key administrations as the standard universal data bus constituting the fabric over which data should flow for all the elements of their systems and system-of-systems.

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The Ubiquitous Need for Data Distribution

In Defense and Aerospace virtually any application requires some form of data distribution at varying temporal and geographical scale. Some examples of the different, yet representative, data distribution needs of defense and aerospace applications are those exemplified by Radar Processors, Vetronic Systems, Naval Combat Management Systems, Land Systems, and next-generation Network Centric Systems.

All these systems share the same abstract need of distributing data efficiently at various time and geographical scales, with some systems requiring the ability to operate in multiple time and geographical scales at the same time.

The Universal Data Bus

Historically, the various data distribution needs were addressed by ad hoc proprietary technologies designed to address a single and well defined use case, e.g., data distribution in a Radar Processor, data distribution in a Combat Management System, etc. This approach quickly lead to the proliferation of data distribution technologies, which other than drawing internal R&D funding for solving the same problem over and over, where becoming a major hurdle toward interoperability -- even for technologies developed by the same company!

OpenSplice DDS was the first data distribution technology to address these issues once for all and provide a universal data bus. The echoes of the success of this approach motivated a wider set of parties to engage in a cooperation and define a standard universal data bus.

In early 2000, it was realized that the solution to this challenge--as proven by OpenSplice DDS--was to devise a standard-based data distribution technology that was flexible enough to address the requirements arising in the various defense system, and thus allow for an economy of scale and scope. Few years later, in 2004, the OMG Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems was born, and OpenSplice DDS was the first implementation of the standard!

The Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems

The OMG Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems (DDS) was adopted in 2004 by the OMG as a standard for real-time publish/subscribe. This standard was carefully defined to ensure that compliant implementations could deliver very high performance while scaling to very large scale systems and guaranteeing stable and real-time behaviour.

The DDS defines an API for real-time publish/subscribe (namely DCPS) enabling applications to define a relational information model whose entities are produced an consumed, respectively, by elements of a distributed system. An API for Object/Relational Mapping (namely the DLRL) is also provided to gap the impedance mismatch between the relation and Object-Oriented representation of information and relationships.
Finally, the DDS defines a standard wire protocol for ensuring that different implementations are able to exchange data without loosing performance or QoS.

DDS Adoptions and Recommendations

The DDS ability to satisfy data distribution requirements across Defense and Aerospace applications was so effective, that some of the most prestigious administration around the word have recommended or even mandated its use.

To quote a few, US Navy has mandated the use of DDS as a key building block for any architecture that whishes to comply with the Open Architecture Computing Environment (OACE) directives; DISA has recommended the use of DDS as the publish/subscribe technology for distributing tactical data for supporting Network-Centric capabilities; EUROCONTROL has mandated DDS as the technology for distributing flight data plans among European air-traffic control centers; QinetiQ has recommended DDS as the information backbone for the electronic architecture of next generation Vetronic Systems.