Delivering Graphics Devices to the Embedded Market

There is no easy way today to separate the OpenGL® graphics-driver software from the graphics device that the software manages. To support its customers best, Seaweed Systems acts as a one-stop shop for embedded graphics devices and software, distributing both products to the embedded-systems market.

Seaweed Systems works with its graphics-device partners to select a comprehensive set of graphics parts that cover the range of customer requirements — including high-end, medium-end, and low-power graphics devices. Seaweed Systems is far more than a parts distributor. Because the DO-178B certification process includes the need to certify graphics driver software and the firmware that runs on the graphics device itself, Seaweed Systems must have access to its partners' graphics-device designers and hardware design documents. This requires forging highly technical, highly trusted relationships with graphics-device manufacturers.

Seaweed Systems distributes products from both NVIDIA and 3Dlabs in the aerospace & defense market. With this level of unprecedented cooperation from the leading graphics device companies, Seaweed Systems is able to field an unmatched range of products to meet virtually any embedded-system requirement. For each graphics device supported, Seaweed Systems receives the required documentation and technical support from the device manufacturers' engineering teams. With the knowledge of device internals, Seaweed Systems is then capable of handling all sales and support responsibilities when delivering products into the aerospace & defense market.

Unmatched in the industry, this level of cooperation is essential for Seaweed Systems to produce its high-performance, certifiable, embedded graphics drivers. Seaweed Customers benefit from having a single point of contact for technical issues surrounding both graphics hardware and software. Customers integrating graphics-device products from Seaweed Systems into embedded-systems designs will engage in Seaweed Systems' Embedded Support Agreement, which clearly identifies the services offered by Seaweed Systems to support the use of its partners' graphics devices in embedded-design projects.

Supply Guarantee Program

Understanding that aircraft avionics systems have a significantly longer product life than do graphics devices for the personal computer and video game market, Seaweed Systems has established a Supply Guarantee Program. This program allows avionics manufacturers to virtually eliminate the risk that the graphics devices on which their products are based cease to be available partway through their programs. Because of its close relationship with graphics-device suppliers, Seaweed Systems can harmonize the release cycle of its OpenGL software products with those of the graphics devices it supports. This allows the maintenance of a coherent product roadmap into the future, and reduces the risk of incompatibilities between the software and the graphics devices themselves.

Qualified Parts

Safety-critical embedded systems require a degree of parts qualification not directly provided by COTS graphics device suppliers. Because Seaweed Systems is committed to the embedded graphics market, it recognizes this fact and works with graphics-device manufacturers directly in order to bridge the gap. This makes the graphics devices that Seaweed Systems distributes the most appropriate COTS graphics parts for the aerospace & defense market.

Avionics Hardware Design Support

Seaweed Systems has a highly-experienced staff of graphics hardware design engineers who are available to help customers build high-performance, highly reliable graphics systems. Its staff has experience with graphics chip and firmware design, and embedded hardware design. Seaweed Systems' on-staff FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) is accredited to Design Assurance Level A for both DO-178B and DO-254 for Part 23 and 25 projects. The Seaweed Systems DER is available for consultation on software and electronic hardware compliance and certification issues.

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For compatibility information on Seaweed Systems products, please see our compatibility list.

For information on Seaweed Systems' hardware platform partners, please refer to our hardware platforms page.