I/ITSEC Details
ASTi Booth: #1949
November 30 — December 3, 2009
Orange County Convention Center
International Drive, Orlando, Florida
http://www.iitsec.org/
I/ITSEC logo courtesy NTSA

• Voisus Technology: A low-cost solution for network voice communications, simulation, and audio distribution.


• Studio VM: The same powerful features of ACE Studio while eliminating the need for a dedicated platform.


• Synapse Adds Low-Cost Option: A new low-cost Synapse Workstation option, Synapse Operator Server, using Voisus Technology.


• Filling the Toolbox - More to Use, More to Play With: A small list of some of the things we've added to the toolbox over the past year.


• Did You Know?: Fun and useful ASTi facts.


• Automatic Speech Recognition: Integrates seamlessly with existing communications and radio simulation applications.


• Top Ten Programs: ASTi's top ten programs for 2009.


• I/ITSEC Floorplan: Highlights ASTi's booth location and customers.

• Gas is 97 cents a gallon
• Nintendo releases the Game Boy
• Microsoft introduces Microsoft Office
• Intel introduces the 80486 Processor
• ASTi develops its first digital audio communication system product, the Pro Line - anyone remember this?

The year? 1989. Hard to believe, but ASTi has been developing and delivering sound and communications simulation products to the training industry for 20 years. The past 20 years has been a fantastic ride and a lot of fun participating in a market that has seen leaps and bounds in technology, fidelity, and training capability. We sincerely thank our customers for their patronage and look forward to providing the best sound and communications simulation products to the industry for the next 20 years. Cheers!

May 11, 2009 – ASTi recently completed the installation of an ASTi Synapse communications system at the 176th Air Control Squadron (ACS) at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The system is based on ASTi's Telestra 4 product line and provides the ACS with virtual radio operator stations dispersed across the facility. The ASTi Synapse system connects the ACS to the US military networks like the Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON), providing voice intercommunications with a multitude of ASTi-equipped simulator sites. The ACS initially plans to use ASTi Synapse to provide critical voice links for Defense of the Homeland Against Asymmetric Missile Attacks (DoHMA) theatre missile defense exercises.

ASTi Synapse features modular, all-ethernet installation, which facilitated quick and easy installation into the customer's existing network infrastructure. Synapse also features the Studio software utilities which automates the generation and distribution of virtual communications (comm) plans. The ACS staff can quickly configure comm plans to include virtual ground-air radio nets, as well as intercom channels for battlestaff point-to-point or workgroup conference communications. Multiple ACE Studio comm plans can be archived for reuse.

ASTi's web-based Remote Management System (RMS) is integrated into every Synapse system, allowing site staff to monitor and manage ASTi hardware and software resources on the network. RMS is accessible with a standard web browser from anywhere on the network.

ASTi provided a complete customer support package to the 176th, including: on-site installation and training courses for system administrators and battlestaff and a technical support contract for ongoing assistance.

ASTi provided a complete customer support package to the 176th, including, on-site installation and training courses for system administrators and battlestaff and a technical support contract for ongoing assistance.

ASTi has been shipping Synapse live-to-virtual communications systems since 1999.

About the 176th Air Control Squadron:

The 176 ACS operates and maintains the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Region Air Operations Center (RAOC). The RAOC is staffed by the Alaskan Air National Guard, who in conjunction with active-duty US Air Force and Canadian Air Command members, serve to protect air sovereignty and perform air control operations. A key duty of the RAOC is to detect and intercept aircraft that violate US or Canadian airspace. The RAOC is the only NORAD site that regularly intercepts foreign military aircraft, including Russian Tu-95 "Bear" long-range cruise missile carriers.

More Information: 176th Air Control Squandron

May 1, 2009 – ASTi recently completed training and installation of seven T4 Synapse Workstation network voice communications systems at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. The Synapse systems were installed in various remote locations to provide communications with the other remote sites and the Joint Operations Center.

The Synapse Workstations communicate over a newly installed fiber optic network allowing for seamless voice communications linking groups of operators with headsets and hand-held terminals between all locations. The seven distributed systems can be configured and managed over the network using a single Studio VM system. Studio now runs on a Virtual Machine (VM) installed on a customer supplied PC/Laptop. Running Studio VM on a laptop provides portability and the ability to have Studio on Windows or Linux operating systems.

After successful testing of the Synapse Workstations configuration and use during an exercise, Ft Polk has ordered seven additional T4 Synapse Workstation systems.

April 29, 2009 – ASTi is pleased to announce that a Telestra 4 sound and communications system, fitted to a 737-800 simulator, was recently certified to meet Level D standards for both the JAA STD 1A amendment 3, and FAA Part 60. This simulator is the world's first certified to both standards on one device, and represents the state-of-the-art in full flight simulators. The single Telestra 4 processor provides both aural cue sounds for the aircraft through all phases of flight, and communications system audio for both crew and instructors.

The aural cue simulation utilized the latest soundfield reconstruction capabilities of the ASTi ACE software toolkit to provide full immersive 3D sound directionality, and meet the requirement to match objective spectral analysis over the frequency range 50Hz to 16kHz within the +/-5dB tolerances defined in both FAA and JAA standards.

Communications within the cockpit includes replication of the aircraft intercom buses, radio transceivers, navigation receivers, and all cockpit warning and caution alerts, including TCAS voice messages. The instructor has the ability to monitor all crew communications and provide role-play capability for all external radio entities, with support from a fully automatic ATIS system.

ASTi is also pleased to report that a 737NG simulator installed in Europe, fitted with an ASTi Telestra system providing Level D sound and communications, recently passed 7000 hours operational use with 99.6% simulator reliability. ASTi is proud to be associated with such an outstanding reliability record for such a challenging and complex training device.

ASTi currently has five Level D systems in-work for commercial simulators (FAA Part 60/JAA Std 1A amendment 3), and nineteen Level D systems for the U.S. Air Force (FAA AC120-40B/C), making ASTi the leading supplier of COTS Level D solutions to the simulation and training industry.

Feb 21, 2009 – ASTi delivered $1,000 worth of donated snacks and personal care items to the Soldier Support Group for the 150 members of the 266th. This unit was mobilized to Iraq 5 months ago and is coping with numerous day-to-day problems besides keeping the peace in Iraq. "The National Guard forces have little opportunity to buy things they need so they rely on packages from home" says Crystal Pruitt. Crystal Pruitt, wife of deployed soldier Thomas Pruitt, spearheads the shipment campaign in Winchester, VA.

The care packages shipped provide much needed comfort to the soldiers while stationed overseas and also include items to be donated to small children at local Iraqi schools. Pruitt estimates she must raise $2,000 a month to cover the cost of purchasing and shipping these care packages. Fundraisers, in kind donations such as the one provided by ASTi come as a great relief to already strained budgets. The 266th company will be deployed for another 12 more months so donations of any kind are still being accepted and greatly appreciated.

ASTi is pleased to help this grass roots support group in aiding our troops overseas.

To continue support efforts, contact the soldier Care Group through Crystal Pruitt at pruittfamily4army@yahoo.com.