Hardware, Software, and Embedded Systems Engineering for Defense Applications

DoD Combat environments present unique and demanding challenges on electronic equipment deployed in the field. These challenges require innovative, complex solutions to maintain performance in compliance with strict requirements for shock, vibration, temperature, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and other design considerations.

General Digital’s team of diverse, experienced engineers have provided high-caliber products and services for America and her allies for decades. We know that supporting a program goes well beyond designing a solution to meet requirements. Our team utilizes modular design processes to allow for easy modifications to be made in the event of component obsolescence. This dedication to configuration management and revision control allows for unparalleled product lifecycles, meaning that most equipment can remain in service for decades.

From rugged workstations, display systems, and accessories, to software development and testing, to custom product development, General Digital is here to tackle any engineering requirement, large or small.

Military-Grade Displays and Workstations

Since 1973, General Digital has provided world-class hardware solutions for the most extreme environments from the factory to the front lines. We’re proud to have supported all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and countless allied nations for decades with our American-made products.

Our ruggedized displays and workstations are uniquely equipped with highly-specialized capabilities for use within tanks, armored personnel carriers, Humvees, submarines, aircraft carriers, helicopters, fighter jets, spacecraft, and all types of land, marine, air, space, and autonomous vehicle systems.

Military-Grade Displays and Workstations

As innovators in the rugged display industry, we stay on top of the military’s ever-evolving mobile warfare approach to expertly answer the call for new, highly-advanced display technology, which includes:

  • Low power
  • High brightness
  • Night vision goggle-compatible (NVIS) LCD monitors
  • GD-designed LED backlighting systems
  • Flat panel optical bonding
  • Display film enhancements
  • High performance video controllers
  • Customized electronics & PCBs
  • Mechanical apparatus
  • And much more

These rugged LCD innovations continue to prove indispensable as the military continues its development of on-the-move intelligence systems, threat detection, surveillance and suppression operations. Therefore, every General Digital military-grade LCD monitor and ruggedized peripheral can be customized to meet the rigorous demands presented in the modern warfare theater.

Quality control inspection is performed on 100% of all General Digital’s manufactured products, not on a sample lot. This proves invaluable for today’s modern and future war fighter since life and limb depends on equipment that works EVERY time, ALL of the time, regardless of the harsh environment.

Following is a partial listing of the many military and industrial requirements General Digital’s military LCD monitors are designed to meet:

  • MIL-DTL-901E (High Shock)
  • MIL-STD-810G (Environmental)
  • MIL-STD-461G (EMI/RFI Emissions)
  • MIL-STD-167B (Vibration)
  • MIL-STD-740B (Airborne and Structureborne Noise)
  • MIL-STD-3009, MIL-L-85762A (Sunlight Readable/NVIS)
  • UL 60950 (Electrical Safety)
  • FCC Part 15 (Commercial EMI/RFI Emissions)
  • CE Marking (European Electrical Safety, EMI/RFI Emissions)

Learn more about our Military-grade rugged displays and workstations, or request a quote today.

Software Engineering Services

General Digital’s Software Engineering Services Team has worked with mission-critical technology for decades. From the development and testing of new applications to the upgrade of existing products, our team has the expertise you need.

Software Development

Software Engineering Services

Download our Software Development Processes: The Basics white paper

Our flexible team of software developers have a long history of developing high-quality software. The basic steps that define the process of software development are:

  • Requirements Development and Analysis
  • Product Design
  • Software Coding
  • Software Testing
  • Product Deployment
  • Product Maintenance

By combining our development and verification services, you benefit from a complete Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) solution.

Our software development team offers a full suite of support for every stage of implementation, including embedded firmware development and software development in many technologies, including:

  • C/C++, C#, Assembly
  • Ada, LabVIEW, Perl, Python
  • SGL, Ruby, Qt
  • Freescale/NXP, ARM, Renesas
  • WCF, WPF
  • Xamarin, Mono, XAML
  • MS-Windows, Embedded Linux
  • Bare Metal Environments
  • Proprietary RTOS
  • Android, IOS
  • TCP-based protocols, CAN, Bluetooth
  • Many more

In addition to custom development, our team is also experienced in reverse engineering existing products to implement changes to embedded systems.

Learn more about our Software Development services or speak to an expert today.

Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

Download our IV&V Processes white paper

It’s no secret that for military electronics deployed in the field, failure is not an option. Our experienced team of IV&V test engineers combine unit, integration, and systems testers with robust automation tools to deliver test reports with 100% coverage that are guaranteed to be certified—every time.

Our IV&V process includes:

  • Requirements Development
  • Tool Validation/Qualification
  • Test Planning and Execution
    • System Level Testing
    • Regression Testing
    • Integration Testing (HSIT, SSIT)
    • Unit Testing for Safety-critical Embedded Systems
  • Project Coordination
  • Discrepancy Resolution
  • Results Reporting

Learn more about our Independent Verification and Validation services or request a quote for your project today.

Embedded Systems Engineering

In 1973, our company was founded by Len Lazar, a Software Engineer, and Russ Reiss, an Electrical Engineer. As the business grew, the two divisions found success in different markets (avionics for software, defense for hardware), though occasionally collaborated on projects as necessary (e.g., our GenStar monitor built for the FAA). In recent years, as technology continues to advance, we’ve seen increased demand for products requiring customization in hardware as well as embedded firmware.

To best manage these exciting new projects, we’ve organized a team of Embedded Systems Engineers. Our Embedded Systems Engineering team is a diverse group of focused, experienced electrical, software development, and IV&V test engineers who possess the flexibility to tackle almost any engineering project—from product conceptualization to production delivery, and anywhere in between.

What is ESE?

Our Embedded Systems Engineering function consists of the following elements:

  • Software Development including requirements development, retrofitting tools into legacy systems, project coordination, updating software to be agency compatible, reverse engineering software to existing hardware, and documentation
  • Electrical Engineering including circuit design and analysis, PCB layout, fabrication, and assembly, and EMI design and confidence testing
  • Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) Services including tool validation and qualification, test planning and execution (code reviews, unit/module testing, regression testing, systems testing, and integration testing), discrepancy reporting and resolution, and results reporting

Combined with the robust mechanical, optical, and production engineering expertise of our Display Systems group, the creation of ESE furthers our ability to become a true one-stop shop for any engineering requirement.

Learn more about our Embedded Systems Engineering team or speak to an expert today.

General Digital: AS9100D & ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certified

Graphic of AS9100d & ISO 9001:2015 QMS Certified MarkGeneral Digital Corporation has been a leading provider of defense-related engineering services for decades, and our commitment to providing quality products and services is second to none. We are compliant with DFARS, NIST, and CMMC. All products and services are manufactured and performed at our AS9100D- and ISO 9001:2015 QMS-certified facility in East Hartford, Connecticut.

General Digital Software Engineering Services has maintained a reputation for meeting our customers’ demands with accurate, on time, and cost-efficient software service and support.

Real World LCD Applications

collage of industries servedGeneral Digital’s customers have easily incorporated our rugged, flat panel LCD monitors and other products into their many diverse applications, as can be evidenced by the list below. We provide this partial list so that potential customers have a clear understanding of the various environments in which General Digital products have been deployed. We have intentionally provided limited information in order to protect our current customers’ interests as well as our customer base.

  • Navy
    • Rack-mounted SlimLine Lite II and SlimLine 1U LCD monitor/keyboards, Rack Mount Hinge, custom Saber RackMount, Saber Standalone, Saber PanelMount, TwoView, SlimLine Micro, Impact Monitor Kit, and custom rack-mounted LCD computers
      • Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers
      • Blue Ridge-Class Amphibious Command Ships
      • Coronado-Class Command Ships
      • DDG-1000 Zumwalt / DD(X) Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (Destroyer)
      • Gerald R. Ford-Class (CVN-21 Class) Super Carrier
      • La Salle-Class Command Ships
      • Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarines
      • Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers
      • Osprey-Class (MHC51) Mine Hunters
      • San Antonio-Class Amphibious Transport Dock
      • Sea Wolf-Class Attack Submarines
      • Spruance-Class Destroyers
      • Tarawa-Class Amphibious Assault Ships
      • Ticonderoga-Class Cruisers
      • Virginia-Class Submarines
      • Wasp-Class Amphibious Assault Ships
    • Saber RackMount and RackMate LCD monitors used for Ballistic Missile Telemetry Imaging
    • C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computer, and Intelligence) applications
    • C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Telemetry) applications
    • Numerous LCD monitors used on various programs supporting navigation, global positioning, communications, fire control, targeting, and man-machine interfaces
    • Impact Monitor Kits used on Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) delivery vessels
    • Titan PanelMount large format LCD monitors used in wall mount and horizontal console mount multimedia applications within Virginia-class submarines
    • SlimLine 1U, Rack Mount Hinge, and RK121 rack mount keyboard utilized for C4I applications within the DCGS-N (Distributed Common Ground System – Navy) program
    • SlimLine Lite II with Smart Card (CAC: Common Access Card) Reader employed within CANES (Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services) and LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) programs
    • Saber PanelMount Solar 901D with night vision goggle-compatibility (NVIS) in use for ship and shore radar surveillance
  • Marines
    • Rack Mount Hinge and SlimLine 1U LCD monitors and LCD monitor/keyboards used for mobile and transportable tactical exploitation command and control center
      • Used in both Hardigg™ transit cases and Humvees
    • C4I (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence) applications
    • C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Telemetry) applications
    • Daylight Readable SlimLine 1U Solar LCD monitor/keyboards used for mobile and transportable tactical combat and intelligence command and control systems
      • Used in transit cases for rapid, lightweight deployment
    • Numerous LCD monitors used on various programs supporting navigation, global positioning, communications and targeting
    • Saber Standalone Solar with touch screen utilized within the internal cabin of the M1 Abrams-based ABV (Assault Breach Vehicle)
    • TwoView Solar and TwoView Micro Solar integrated for use within Humvees and ECS™ transit cases for the CONDOR (Command and Control On-the-Move Network, Digital Over the Horizon Relay) program
    • SlimLine Lite II Solar employed with Sun Microsystems Netra™ servers within ECS™ transit cases for GCCS-M (Global Command and Control System-Marines) program
  • Air Force
    • Rack Mount Hinge LCD monitors and Rack Mount Keyboards used for airborne psychological warfare operations in C-130 Hercules aircraft
    • Rack-mounted Stowaway flip-up LCD monitors used for airborne reconnaissance operations
    • C4I (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence) applications
    • C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Telemetry) applications
    • Numerous LCD monitors used on various programs supporting navigation, global positioning, communications, fire control, targeting, and man-machine interfaces
    • Saber Standalone and SlimLine Lite II LCD monitors and LCD monitor/keyboards used for F-15 Eagle aircraft field service and diagnostics
    • SlimLine Lite II flip-up LCD monitor/keyboards for surveillance via infrared imaging on P3 Orion aircraft
    • Impact Monitor Kit used for FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) imaging
    • Saber RackMount used in various EWAC (Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander) applications
    • Rack-mounted SlimLine Lite II and SlimLine 1U flip-up LCD monitor/keyboards used for airborne terrain mapping and tactical exploitation operations
    • Custom Saber Standalone Solar daylight readable LCD monitors, with LCD heaters, used for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) navigation for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance
    • Custom Impact Monitor Kit LCD monitors used in a mobile pilot shelter for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) navigation for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and combat
    • Sunlight readable and standard brightness Saber Standalone used as video information display for Air Force air traffic control
    • Saber PanelMount with custom user-defined sealed bezel buttons for installation into portable command and control briefcase solutions
    • Sunlight Readable Rack Mount Hinge Solar flip-up LCD monitors used for tactical combat operations in high ambient light conditions
      • Used in transit cases for rapid, lightweight deployment
  • Army
    • Rack Mount Hinge flip-up LCD monitors used for mobile video imaging and teleconferencing
      • Used in Hardigg™ and ECS™ transit cases, as well as Humvees
    • Custom Saber Standalone ruggedized LCD monitors mounted in Zodiac boats
    • Rack-mounted Stowaway flip-up LCD monitors and Rack Mount Keyboards used for weapon systems command and control
    • Dual Saber RackMount LCD monitors used for AH-64 Apache helicopter maintenance station
    • Rack-mounted SlimLine 1U LCD monitor/keyboards used in Hardigg™ transit cases for C4I (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence) operations
    • Impact Monitor Kit used for FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) imaging
    • TwoView Solar integrated for use within Humvees and ECS™ transit cases
    • SlimLine Micro employed for rugged C4I forward deployed ground stations on the CGS (Common Ground Station) program
    • Sunlight Readable Rack Mount Hinge Solar flip-up LCD monitors used for tactical combat operations in high ambient light conditions
      • Used in transit cases for rapid, lightweight deployment
  • Coast Guard
  • Joint Armed Forces
    • Rack Mount Hinge and SlimLine 1U flip-up LCD monitors and LCD monitor/keyboards used for various target acquisition systems
    • Rack-mounted SlimLine Lite II flip-up LCD monitor/keyboards used in Hardigg™ transit cases for comprehensive radar, telemetry and communications operations
    • Rack Mount Hinge LCD monitors used in transit cases for joint armed services use in battlefield coordination and interface
    • Saber RackMount and RackMate LCD monitors used for Ballistic Missile Telemetry Imaging
    • C4I (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence) applications
    • C4ISRT (Command, Control, Communication & Computer Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Telemetry) applications
    • Numerous LCD monitors used on various programs supporting navigation, global positioning, communications and targeting
    • Custom Saber Standalone Solar daylight readable LCD monitors, with LCD heaters, used for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) navigation for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance
    • Custom Impact Monitor Kit LCD monitors used in a mobile pilot shelter for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) navigation for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and combat
    • TwoView and TwoView Micro integrated into aircraft and ground vehicle systems for C4I applications
    • Barracuda Standalone Solar utilized as portable information system display on international law enforcement vessels
  • ATC
    • GenStar and GenStar II sunlight readable LCD monitors used exclusively on the FAA’s STARS (Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System) program as the primary tower display for both the commercial and military airfields
      • Saber Standalone LCD monitors also used on the FAA’s STARS program as the supplemental display
    • GenStar sunlight readable LCD monitors used on ASDE-X (Airport Surface Detection Equipment) as tower displays
    • High bright and standard luminance Saber Standalone Solar LCD monitors, with and without touch screens, designed to provide Air Traffic Control Specialists with static and dynamic data regarding weather and other safety-critical operational data. This information benefits air traffic control towers, radar approach control facilities, en route centers, automated flight service stations, weather stations, maintenance facilities, training facilities, airline and airport operations, and military airfields
    • Rack-mounted SlimLine 1U LCD monitor/keyboard/trackball used to provide system support and terminal weather data
    • Sunlight readable Saber Standalone Solar and standard brightness Saber Standalone used as video information display for Naval air traffic control
    • TwoView utilized in forward deployed interim air traffic management stations
    • Read more about General Digital’s purpose-built air traffic control tower LCD monitors
  • Other
    • Impact Monitor Kit used for in-vehicle entertainment and computing systems
    • Saber RackMount, RackMate and Rack Mount Hinge LCD monitors used for security monitoring systems
    • Custom MRI-compatible Saber Standalone LCD monitors for use in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) rooms
    • Desktop keyboards used for harsh factory environments
    • Rack-mounted Gen-Pak™ LCD computers used as a man-machine interface in nuclear power plants
    • Custom Saber PanelMount LCD monitors used for facility control in nuclear power plants
    • Stowaway flip-up LCD monitors used in regional business jets for streaming video and communications applications
    • Desktop keyboards used in retail applications for customer self-service order entry
    • SlimLine Lite II flip-up LCD monitor/keyboards used without rack adaptor for field servicing of fuel pipeline terminals and test stations
    • Impact Monitor Kit used for specialized public kiosk applications
    • Saber Standalone LCD monitors used for weather systems and radar aboard U.S. and foreign Coast Guard aircraft
    • RackMate LCD monitors used in mobile office applications of tractor trailers
    • Custom Saber RackMount LCD monitors used in sports entertainment production applications
    • Saber Standalone and Sunlight Readable Saber Standalone Solar with live video option used for New York City Transit Authority passenger safety and surveillance systems
    • Impact Solar Monitor Kit used in elevators for advertising and passenger information
    • Saber PanelMount Solar installed for amusement park attraction diagnostic information and guest convenience
    • Saber Standalone for use within passenger boarding bridges at commercial airports
    • Barracuda PanelMount integrated within human operated and autonomous mining machinery
    • For telepresence applications, the Titan Standalone Series of large format LCD monitors proves indispensible to all manner of businesses
    • Additionally, General Digital products serve in diverse applications for a multitude of customers, some of which are listed below:
    ABBJohns Hopkins University
    ADT SecurityJoy Mining Machinery
    Alion Science and TechnologyKollmorgen
    Alliant TechSystemsL3Harris Technologies
    AMSECLockheed Martin
    Anadarko PetroleumMIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
    ARINCNASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration)
    AstronauticsNAVICP (Naval Inventory Control Point)
    Apptis Technology Solutions NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command)
    AvnetNAWC (Naval Air Warfare Center)
    BAE SystemsNewark InOne (Newark Electronics)
    Bechtel BettisNewport News Shipbuilding
    BoeingNew York City Transit Authority
    Bombardier Aerospace NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
    Booz Allen HamiltonNorthrop Grumman
    Bristol-Meyers SquibbNSWC (Naval Surface Warfare Center)
    CACI TechnologiesNUWC (Naval Undersea Warfare Center)
    Canadian ArmyOtis Elevator
    Captivate NetworksPhilips Medical Systems
    Collins AerospacePratt & Whitney (Collins Aerospace)
    Constellation Energy Generation GroupProvincial Airlines
    CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation)Rave Computer
    Cubic WorldwideRaytheon
    DaimlerChryslerRockwell Collins
    Defense Research and Development CanadaRoyal Canadian Air Force
    Denver International AirportRoyal New Zealand Air Force
    Detroit Edison Nuclear PowerSaab
    Leonardo DRSSAIC (Science Applications International Corporation)
    Eastman KodakSaint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics
    EDO CorporationSemitool
    Electric Boat (General Dynamics)Sensis
    ESPNSiemens
    Eyak TechnologySPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare) Systems Center
    FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)Stanley Associates
    FMC TechnologiesSun Microsystems
    FSI InternationalTexas Instruments
    General Atomics Aeronautical SystemsThales Systems Company
    General DynamicsThiokol
    General ElectricToshiba
    General MillsTyco
    General MotorsUltra Electronics Advanced Tactical Systems
    Gerber ScientificUniversity of Texas Applied Research Laboratories
    GoodrichU.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
    GTSIU.S. Army Research Laboratory
    Hamilton Sundstrand (Collins Aerospace)U.S. Coast Guard
    Hershey ChocolateU.S. Naval Research Laboratory
    Honeywell InternationalU.S. Treasury Bureau of Engraving & Printing
    Hutchinson TechnologyVerizon Wireless
    iGovVolvo
    Intergraph Solutions GroupWalt Disney Company
    ITT IndustriesWestinghouse
    John Bean Jetway SystemsWR Systems

    We would like to note that these impressive accomplishments could not have been achieved without the loyalty of our large customer base and we are grateful for their referrals of friends and associates to General Digital.