TTTech

TTTech Computertechnik AG is an Austrian company that provides solutions in the field of time-triggered computer systems. TTTech’s technologies and products, based on TTP, TTEthernet and FlexRay, improve the reliability of networked computer systems in the transportation and automation industries. [http://www.tttech.com/index.php?id=105] FlexRay solutions are offered by TTTech’s subsidiary, TTTech Automotive.

Infobox_Company | company_name = TTTech Computertechnik AG
company_
company_type = Public Limited Company
company_slogan =
foundation = 1998
location_city = Vienna
location_country = Austria
key_people = Dr. Stefan Poledna, CEO, Georg Kopetz, CFO
num_employees = 200 (2007)
industry = Automotive, Aerospace, Off-Highway, Automation & Industrial
products = Software and hardware for embedded systems
homepage = [http://www.tttech.com/ TTTech.com]

Offerings

Standard software and hardware products are complemented by product and project support to develop and implement distributed embedded systems. TTTech especially enables by-wire and integrated vehicle control systems.

The TTTech subsidiary TTControl offers electronic control systems for off-highway vehicles, such as agricultural and construction machinery, fork lifts, cranes, and snow groomers.

Technologies

TTP is a technology for digital integration of safety-critical systems in more electric aircraft. TTEthernet is a flexible and open, real-time Ethernet technology platform. TTTech’s subsidiary TTTech Automotive provides solutions for the upcoming automotive FlexRay standard.

Business Locations

TTTech Computertechnik AG is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Besides, there are branch offices and sales representations in Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Romania and the United States.

History

TTTech emerged as a company from the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) and EU-funded research projects in 1998. Its core technology, TTP, has been developed over more than 25 years by the TU Wien and TTTech in cooperation with industrial partners and leading research institutions.

TTP was first commercially deployed for railway signaling systems by Thales Rail Signalling Solutions in 2002. Furthermore, Nord-Micro decided to apply TTP for the Airbus A380 cabin pressure control system.

In 2003 austriamicrosystems delivered the third-generation TTP communication controller, the AS8202NF. Another important milestone was the signing of the IP license agreement by Hitachi and TTChip. That agreement secured the delivery of TTP silicon for automotive applications.

In 2004 DECOS, a project within the EU’s Framework Programme 6, started to develop a set of generic components within the frame work of the TTTech technology.

Honeywell F124 jet engine with TTP makes its first flight in Aermacchi M-346 trainer in 2005.In this year both Red Team robot vehicles, each equipped with TTTech products, completed the DARPA Grand Challenge under the Top 3.

In 2006 Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation selected TTTech to support development of electric and environmental control systems on Boeing 787 Dreamliner. TTTech Computertechnik AG was ranked among Europe’s 500 for five consecutive years and the strategic financial investor firstVentury invested 20 million Euros in TTTech, AUDI AG acquired a minority participation of less than 25% in TTTech.

Since 2007 TTTech provides TTP support for Altera Corporation's Cyclone II and Cyclone III FPGAs. The company received the AS9100 quality management certification for the development of safety-critical applications in the aerospace industry.ATHENA Wien Beteiligungen (Wiener Wachstumsfonds) made an investment of about 4 million Euro to acquire a participation in TTTech. Hamilton Sundstrand chose TTTech to support the development of a TTP-based data communication platform for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. TTTech Automotive started a project with the AUDI AG subsidiary AEV, where the PEGASUS concept car with FlexRay-based electronics architecture was developed.

Aerospace applications

TTTech products and solutions for TTP are selected for commercial and military aircraft such as Boeing 787, Airbus A380, Aermacchi M-346 and Lockheed Martin F-16.cite web | title = Hamilton Sundstrand Selects TTTech | publisher = Embedded Computing | url =http://www.embedded-computing.com/news/db/?2891 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] cite web | title = Airbus to use time-triggered protocol on A380 | publisher = EETimes Asia | date = 22 July 2002 | url =http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800255733_480600_NT_05469a78.HTM | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] cite web | title = On Semi agrees to make TTP controller | publisher = EETimes | date = 26 March 2008 | url =http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206905879 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] cite web | title = Time-triggered protocol gains aerospace mileage | publisher = EETimes | date = 12 September 2002 | url =http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020912S0061 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]

Automotive applications

TTTech's products are used in several automotive prototypes and in commercial production programs.cite web | title = SIRIUS, Creative Product Development | publisher = Lulea University | url =http://www.cad.ltu.se/education/course.asp?ID=MTM077 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] cite web | title = Drive-by-wire shows potential in future car design | publisher = Evolution 16 November 2001| url =http://evolution.skf.com/zino.aspx?articleID=371 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]

A close technical cooperation with Audi exists since 2001.cite web | title = TTTech and Audi Form Technical Partnership | publisher = The Auto Channel | date = 2001 | url =http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2001/02/26/015431.html | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]

Off-highway applications

TTControl has developed electronic control systems for off-highway vehicles. Electronic control units are used in various industry projects such as in Leitner Group's snow groomer Leitwolf cite web | title = CAN in the Leitwolf snow groomer | publisher = CAN in Automation | url =http://www.can-cia.org/index.php?id=372 | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] and in Red Team's autonomous vehiclescite web | title = Carnegie Mellon's Sandstorm Robot | publisher = Carnegie Mellon Today 10 May 2005| url =http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/050505_h1ghlander.html | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]

Controversy

In 2004, Joseph Mangan, a former employee of TTTech, created controversy surrounding TTTech's products on the Airbus A380 by asserting that there was danger that microprocessors in the plane could result in sudden decompression. According to EADS, all parties have ensured through the most varied control channels that there is no safety deficit with regards to the scenario as described by Mangan cite web | title = Statement Regarding Claims | publisher = EADS | date = 5 October 2005 | url =http://www.eads.com/1024/en/pressdb/archiv/2005/2005/en_20051006_stellungnahme.html | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] .TTTech documents were reviewed and approved by EASA and FAA. The review process proved Mangan's allegations to be wrong and was successfully finished in late 2006 when the Airbus A380 including the internal communication system and the microprocessors of the cabin pressure control system by TTTech was certified by EASA and FAA cite web | title = Airbus A380 Gets Type Certification | publisher = Airwise News | date = 12 December 2006 | url =http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1165958573.html | accessdate = 2008-04-04 ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.tttech.com Company Homepage]
* [http://www.tttech-automotive.com TTTech Automotive]
* [http://www.ttcontrol.com TTControl]