August 10, 2004 – ASTi recently delivered seven DACS to Naval Surface Warfare Center - Dahlgren Division (NSWC-DD) Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC). These systems will be integrated into simulated shipboard communications stations replicating those found on Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Guided Missile Destroyers.

These communications systems are based on ASTi's commercial off-the-shelf DACS processing platform and Model Builder simulated communications software toolkit. The systems also feature embedded software modules--developed by ASTi for NSWC--which allow direct interface between communications models running on the DACS and actual Navy shipboard communications panels, called LS-653 Secure Voice Command and Communication Units.

The shipboard comms panels connect directly to RIU serial data ports, and the embedded ASTi state machine software provides realtime digital processing of panel switch states and generation of panel display messages. This embedded interface system replaces a legacy host computer system, greatly reducing customer hardware and software installation and maintenance costs.

ASTi's LS-653 embedded software module supports these shipboard communications features:

• Interphone (IP) Dial-up Calls: incl. station-to-station, group and conference calls
• Radio (RT) Calls: live radio-telephone functionality providing operator links to external comms
• Stereo Audio Distribution: operators can selectively mix radio and interphone audio to right or left ears
• Security Level Selection for Radio or Interphone calls
• Busy, busy override, executive-busy override
• Call memory

Since 1999, NSWC-DD has awarded over 50 contracts to ASTi. The ATRC now has 88 LS-653 based operator stations, with 176 channels of digitally distributed audio. This is in addition to dozens of other ASTi systems installed at NSWC-DD, which are filling various networked voice communications requirements.