Groundbreaking solution for fixed and portable air, ground, or surface control stations.

STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT April 13, 2015

CTI Electronics Corporation is in the "crosshairs" of UxV manufactures for NextGen Command and Control. CTI NEMA 4X (IP66) uHMI-Pod Universal Industrial Joystick Controller is a groundbreaking solution for fixed and portable air, ground, or surface control stations. It embodies NextGen features using a new innovative encasing design, thats hardened and protected, while enveloping world class electronics technology.

STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, April 10, 2015 - CTI Electronics has just unveiled a rugged, interoperable, mission flexible, pilot/operator control module; i.e. uHMI-Pod. It's focused on a future safe technology design with standards based interfaces, operating systems independence, and multi-platform adaptability. All while eying a commitment to high reliability under harsh environmental conditions and long term durability by engineering design with usage of the best quality materials.

The watertight sealing of the uHMI-Pod allows usage outdoors in extreme temperature and climate conditions. Its ergonomic design is in a non-corrosive, powder coated aluminum enclosure with cushioned closed foam for operator comfort. Elastomer protection from solid or liquid debris including oils, chemicals, and solvents is achieved by a specially formulated polyurethane coating. Protective shielding against electromagnetic interference as well as radio frequency signals was also incorporated. The stainless steel crash bar protects the joystick and doubles as a convenient carrying handle. Optionally, the crash bar is replaced by a cable bar protector and the enclosure secured to a surface using the two stainless steel threaded inserts on the bottom plate.

A key design feature of the uHMI-Pod is flexibility in functionality. The joystick functions as a motion controller providing either absolute or relative positioning, with pin-point accuracy. Switch components that can be reconfigured and/or reprogrammed to meet system level control requirements. Four, six, eight, or 12 switch functions, hat-switch, mouse, or keypad functions are available. Plug-and-play mission capability allows fast connect/disconnect from a tethered, shielded, removable cable that provides assurance against communication interference, signal blockage or disruption. Standards based USB and RS422/RS485 interfaces allows for compliance with STANAG 4586 or SAE AS5684A.

With the growing proliferation of UAVs, UGVs, USVs, and UUVs for military, commercial, and public sector applications, the uHMI-Pod modular design allows hundreds of possible combinations. Reusable from mission to mission the uHMI-Pod is adaptable; e.g. military operational missions, thwart detection and security protection, or surveillance of terrorist and/or criminal organizations. Its reliability is critical to first responders in law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, or humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, where early detection is crucial. Ruggedness and durability in the field is essential for inspections of roadways, bridges, power lines, gas pipelines, smoke stacks, building construction, or land surveys, GIS mapping, agriculture analysis, etc. Given the new FAA section 333 exemption, the applications for this robust versatile operator control module are now within a "visual line of sight".

About CTI
CTI Electronics Corporation is a leading U.S.A. manufacturer of rugged industrial computer peripherals. Products range from keyboards, joysticks, trackballs, to switches used as operator input devices, mouse pointers, or motion control devices. Designed to operate in extreme temperature ranges (-40oC to +80oC) while under harsh conditions these devices offer a NEMA 4 (IP66) watertight sealing. The commercial off the shelf human machine interface solutions can be customized to the original equipment manufacturer or systems integrator build to print specifications. For additional information, visit http://www.ctielectronics.com or call 203-386-9779.