Ampex Data Systems: Data Acquisition, Recording, and NAS Ruggedized System With Common Architecture Recorder

Ampex Data Systems lauched low-cost data acquisition, recording, and NAS with the Common Architecture Recorder (CAR).

The CAR shifts ruggedized data acquisition and storage from a capital expense to an operating cost and is for ‘attritable’ systems like unmanned aerial or ground vehicle applications.

The low cost of the CAR is rivaled by its small size and scalability, weighing 2 pounds with a volume of 62 cubic inches, and up to 2TB of storage. The CAR has the features users might want, but is not stuffed with the costly upgrades they don’t need. The CAR uses a non-proprietary, modular, extensible, Linux-based open architecture, providing the flexibility to add third-party applications without exclusionary constraints. Its two miniPCIe sites enable data options to include video with H.264 encoding, MIL-STD 1553, GbE (fiber and dual copper), and others upon request. The CAR’s USB Type C interface provides download to the embedded storage and carries a 5Gb/s USB 3.1 link with Power Delivery (USB-PD3). The USB-PD3 allows the CAR to automatically switch roles and function as either standard USB storage or as the host computer.

“Ampex has always provided the best quality rugged storage for the high-end market,” stated Jim Orahood, VP and GM. “The CAR now offers the industry a similar capability at lower costs while still living up to our motto of providing ‘Excellence at the Edge’.”