Speeding autonomous defense designs, Kontron S2000 Development Platform tests and validates actual hardware, interfaces used in deployments

Available soon: Kontron COBALT™ S1901 provides rugged HPEC platform for next-gen autonomous, AI and deep learning defense applications

Augsburg, Germany / Washington DC, USA, September 26, 2018 – Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computer Technology (ECT), today announced the S2000 Development Platform and the upcoming release of its high performance COBALT^™ S1901 platform. Designed to help fast-track autonomous application software in a lab environment, the Kontron S2000 Development Platform enables defense application developers to experiment with, test and validate actual-size PCIe GPU or accelator cards used in defense system deployments. With the S2000, designers of complex and challenging new autonomous, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning military applications can optimize the configuration and system platform for production deployments. 

The S2000 features the Intel^® XEON^® scalable 8160T 24-core processor providing a powerful development tool that helps accelerate innovation. Additional processor options are available. The platform has an expansion slot for full-sized GPU, FPGA accelerators and video PCIe cards and a modular, ruggedized carrier board that is suitable for deployment. It also offers 128 gigabytes (GB) of M.2 storage and can be purchased in a liquid or air-cooled chassis. 

Kontron developed its latest COBALT^™ S1901 platform to meet the high-performance embedded computing (HPEC) requirements in forthcoming autonomous, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep leaning defense applications. Scheduled to be available in early 2019, the COBALT^™ S1901 provides a powerful, compact yet flexible platform that delivers the robust features necessary to sift through voluminous streams of data, real-time data crunching and streamlined situational analysis enabling faster decision-making and access to critical insight information.  

Meeting next-generation autonomous defense design requirements, the COBALT^™ S1901 HPEC platform features multiple GPU, FPGA accelerator cards or video module options. It offers extensive high-speed I/O options such as 10 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) copper or fiber, USB 3.0, ruggedized connectors for RF and camera interfaces. Storage capacities are met with its M.2 NVME slots or high capacity 2.5-inch SSD slots (fixed or removable). The latest COBALT platform also offers WiFi and/or LTE cellular modem connectivity options. In addition, it provides superior digital signal processing (DSP) performance, is ruggedized for harsh environments and meets the military’s strict size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) guidelines. 

The COBALT^™ S1901 employs Kontron's proven, open-architecture COMe-bDV7R Computer-on-Module that delivers server-grade performance via its Intel Atom^® processor C3000 series processor performance and its multi-processing cores permit mulitple configuration options allowing one design to scale across many use cases. It is available with up to 64 gigabytes (GB) of RAM, with additionally available COMe module, processor and memory options. Customers can also select from air cooled assist and conduction cooled platform options.

Future autonomous, AI and deep learning defense applications will need fully-validated development tools and highly rugged, standards-based, multi-core platforms that can reliably handle compute-intensive deployments. Leveraging its extensive military system experience, Kontron's HPEC systems have repeatedly demonstrated their worth supplying parallel virtual machine (VM) execution and advanced rugged architectures that balance processor power with I/O bandwidth to meet current and upcoming operational warfare system requirements. Utilizing the S2000 Evaluation Platform and the soon to be available COBALT^™ S1901 makes it possible to host computationally-challenging autonomous, AI and deep learning applications on a small form factor platform that matches the requirements of a broader range of defense programs.

To learn more about Kontron's complete line of application-ready COTS boards and platforms and rugged enclosure defense products, please visit: https://www.kontron.com/industries/defense/products/rugged-systems

Kontron will exhibit its extensive portfolio of proven military hardware solutions at the AUSA Annual Meeting/Exposition, October 8-10, 2018, Washington DC, USA in Kontron's booth #8150.

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About Kontron – Member of the S&T Group
Kontron is a global leader in IoT/embedded computing technology (ECT). As a part of technology group S&T, Kontron offers a combined portfolio of secure hardware, middleware and services for Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 applications. With its standard products and tailor-made solutions based on highly reliable state-of-the-art embedded technologies, Kontron provides secure and innovative applications for a variety of industries. As a result, customers benefit from accelerated time-to-market, reduced total cost of ownership, product longevity and the best fully integrated applications overall.

For more information, please visit: www.kontron.com

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For further information please contact:

Alexandra Habekost
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Kontron S&T AG
Tel: +49 (0) 821 4086 114
alexandra.habekost@kontron.com

All rights reserved. Kontron is a trademark or registered trademark of Kontron S&T AG. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks or copyrights by their respective owners and are recognized. All data is for information purposes only and not guaranteed for legal purposes. Subject to change without notice. Information in this press release has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.