Astute DDS
Real-Time Data Connectivity for Defence Systems
The middleware that powers mission-critical vehicle platforms
Fully featured DDS with X-Types. Weapons grade DDS for defence.
Powering the Complete GVA Stack
Astute DDS is the data distribution middleware at the heart of Astute Systems' complete DEF-STAN 23-009 Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) solution. From sensors to screens, one unified platform connects every subsystem in your military vehicle.
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graph TB
subgraph Vehicle["🎖️ Complete GVA Vehicle Platform"]
subgraph HMI["🖥️ Astute HMI Software"]
Display["Crew Displays"]
Maps["Mapping"]
Alerts["Alarms & Warnings"]
end
subgraph DDS["⚡ Astute DDS"]
Middleware["Data Distribution Middleware"]
end
subgraph Subsystems["⚙️ Vehicle Subsystems"]
Sensors["Sensors & Cameras"]
Navigation["Navigation & GPS"]
Power["Power Management"]
Weapons["Weapons Systems"]
Comms["Communications"]
end
end
Display <--> Middleware
Maps <--> Middleware
Alerts <--> Middleware
Middleware <--> Sensors
Middleware <--> Navigation
Middleware <--> Power
Middleware <--> Weapons
Middleware <--> Comms
style Vehicle fill:#012141,stroke:#00FFFF,color:#00FFFF
style HMI fill:#0a3a5c,stroke:#00ff88,color:#00ff88
style DDS fill:#0a3a5c,stroke:#ffaa00,color:#ffaa00
style Subsystems fill:#0a3a5c,stroke:#0072FF,color:#00FFFF
Why Publish/Subscribe Matters
The Problem with Traditional Architectures
Legacy vehicle systems use point-to-point connections. When you add a new subsystem, you must modify every system it talks to. This creates:
- ❌ Expensive integration — Each new component requires custom coding
- ❌ Fragile systems — One failure can cascade through the network
- ❌ Vendor lock-in — Proprietary protocols trap you with a single supplier
- ❌ Slow upgrades — Changing one subsystem means retesting everything
%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': { 'primaryColor': '#012141', 'primaryTextColor': '#00FFFF', 'primaryBorderColor': '#0072FF', 'lineColor': '#0072FF'}}}%%
graph TB
subgraph Legacy["❌ Point-to-Point (Expensive & Fragile)"]
direction LR
A1["GPS"] --- B1["Navigation"]
A1 --- C1["Display"]
A1 --- D1["Logger"]
B1 --- C1
B1 --- E1["Weapons"]
C1 --- D1
E1 --- C1
end
subgraph Modern["✅ Publish/Subscribe (Flexible & Resilient)"]
direction TB
A2["GPS"] -->|publish| Hub["Data Bus"]
B2["Navigation"] -->|publish| Hub
Hub -->|subscribe| C2["Display"]
Hub -->|subscribe| D2["Logger"]
Hub -->|subscribe| E2["Weapons"]
end
style Legacy fill:#1a0a0a,stroke:#ff3366,color:#ff6666
style Modern fill:#012141,stroke:#00ff88,color:#00FFFF
The Publish/Subscribe Solution
With DDS publish/subscribe architecture, subsystems simply publish data to named topics. Any system that needs that data subscribes to the topic. No point-to-point connections. No custom integration code.
| Business Benefit | How Pub/Sub Delivers |
|---|---|
| 💰 Lower Integration Costs | Add new subsystems without modifying existing ones |
| 🔧 Easier Maintenance | Replace or upgrade components independently |
| 🛡️ Greater Resilience | Systems continue operating even when others fail |
| 🏭 Multi-Vendor Freedom | Mix equipment from different suppliers on one data bus |
| ⏱️ Faster Time-to-Market | Standard interfaces mean less custom development |
Single Source for the Full GVA Stack
Astute Systems is the only vendor providing a complete, integrated software stack for GVA-compliant military vehicles:
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flowchart LR
subgraph Design["📐 Design Phase"]
Model["SysML Models"]
Bohemian["Bohemian Model Viewer"]
end
subgraph Middleware["⚡ Runtime"]
DDS["Astute DDS"]
LDM["Land Data Model"]
end
subgraph HMI["🖥️ User Interface"]
Displays["Astute HMI"]
end
Model --> Bohemian
Bohemian --> DDS
DDS --> LDM
LDM --> Displays
style Design fill:#012141,stroke:#0072FF,color:#00FFFF
style Middleware fill:#012141,stroke:#ffaa00,color:#00FFFF
style HMI fill:#012141,stroke:#00ff88,color:#00FFFF
| Component | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Bohemian | View and validate SysML models, generate interface definitions |
| LDMX | Best-in-class Land Data Model editor and validator for LDM v10.0.0 |
| ToolX | Automated code generation, build integration, and deployment tooling |
| Astute DDS | Connect all subsystems with real-time, secure data distribution |
| Land Data Model v10.0.0 | Pre-built GVA-compliant data types for all vehicle domains |
| Astute HMI | Crew display software meeting DEF-STAN 23-009 requirements |
Benefits of the Full Stack
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Single Point of Responsibility | One contract, one support team, one integration partner |
| 📋 Proven Compliance | Pre-validated against DEF-STAN 23-009 requirements |
| 🔄 Seamless Updates | Upgrade any component without breaking the others |
| 💰 Predictable Costs | No surprise integration fees or licensing gotchas |
| ⏱️ Faster Delivery | Start with working software, not empty frameworks |
DDS Vendor Comparison
Procurement Considerations
| Factor | Astute DDS | RTI Connext | CycloneDDS | OpenDDS | Fast DDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence Model | Flexible options | Per-seat commercial | Eclipse EPL 2.0 | LGPL | Apache 2.0 |
| Licence Cost | Competitive | $$$ per deployment | Free | Free | Free |
| Support Model | Australian vendor contract | Global enterprise | Eclipse Foundation | OCI commercial | eProsima commercial |
| Australia-Based Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ US-based | ❌ No | ❌ US-based | ❌ Spain-based |
| GVA Pre-Integration | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Custom work | ❌ DIY | ❌ DIY | ❌ DIY |
| Full Stack Available | ✅ Single source: HMI + LDM + DDS + Tools | ❌ Middleware only | ❌ Middleware only | ❌ Middleware only | ❌ Middleware only |
| SysML Tooling | ✅ Bohemian + LDMX + ToolX | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Export Control | Australian jurisdiction | US ITAR considerations | EU | US | EU |
Technical Feature Comparison
| Feature | Astute DDS | RTI Connext | CycloneDDS | OpenDDS | Fast DDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDSI-RTPS 2.5 | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete |
| DDS Security 1.1 | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete |
| X-Types 1.3 | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ⚠️ Partial | ⚠️ Partial | ⚠️ Partial |
| Dynamic Data API | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ❌ None | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Basic |
| TypeLookup Service | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ❌ None | ❌ None | ⚠️ Partial |
| Content Filtering | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete |
| Shared Memory Transport | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ❌ None | ✅ Complete |
| TCP Transport | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete |
| Zero-Copy | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ❌ None | ✅ Supported |
Standards Compliance
| Standard | Astute DDS | RTI Connext | CycloneDDS | OpenDDS | Fast DDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMG DDS 1.4 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| OMG DDSI-RTPS 2.5 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| OMG DDS-XTypes 1.3 | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| OMG DDS Security 1.1 | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| OMG IDL 4.2 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| DEF-STAN 23-009 (GVA) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Land Data Model v10.0.0 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Language & Platform Support
| Capability | Astute DDS | RTI Connext | CycloneDDS | OpenDDS | Fast DDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C++ | C++20 | C++11 | C99 wrapper | C++11 | C++11 |
| C | Via C++ | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ❌ | ✅ Native |
| Python | Roadmap | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rust | Roadmap | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Linux | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Windows | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| VxWorks | Roadmap | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Embedded/RTOS | ✅ Designed for | ✅ Micro variant | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Static Linking | ✅ Single library | ⚠️ | ⚠️ Shared libs | ⚠️ Shared libs | ⚠️ Shared libs |
Why Astute DDS Wins
| vs RTI Connext | vs CycloneDDS | vs OpenDDS | vs Fast DDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible licensing options | Complete X-Types support | Complete Dynamic Data API | Australian-based support |
| Australian vendor, no ITAR concerns | Built-in security | TypeLookup Service | Full GVA compliance |
| Single source full GVA stack | Best-in-class LDMX + ToolX | Best-in-class LDMX + ToolX | Simpler deployment |
| LDM v10.0.0 included | Commercial support | Australian jurisdiction | Complete X-Types |
Why Primes Choose Astute Systems
"We reduced our GVA integration timeline by 40% using the Astute stack. Having one vendor responsible for middleware, HMI, and data model eliminated the finger-pointing that plagued previous programmes."
— Programme Manager, UK Defence Prime
Interoperability Guaranteed
Astute DDS is fully interoperable with all major DDS implementations. Your vehicle can communicate seamlessly with:
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graph LR
subgraph Your["🎖️ Your Vehicle"]
Astute["Astute DDS"]
end
subgraph Partners["🤝 Partner Systems"]
RTI["RTI Connext"]
OpenDDS["OpenDDS"]
Cyclone["Cyclone DDS"]
FastDDS["Fast DDS"]
end
Astute <-->|OMG Standard| RTI
Astute <-->|OMG Standard| OpenDDS
Astute <-->|OMG Standard| Cyclone
Astute <-->|OMG Standard| FastDDS
style Your fill:#012141,stroke:#00ff88,color:#00FFFF
style Partners fill:#012141,stroke:#0072FF,color:#00FFFF
No vendor lock-in. If a partner system uses a different DDS implementation, Astute DDS will connect without modification.
Defence Standards Compliance
Built for Military Requirements
| Standard | Status |
|---|---|
| DEF-STAN 23-009 | ✅ Full GVA compliance |
| Land Data Model v10.0.0 | ✅ Complete domain types |
| NATO STANAG | ✅ Interoperability ready |
| Cyber Essentials | ✅ Security certified |
Security You Can Trust
- 🔐 Encrypted communications — All data protected in transit
- 🎫 Certificate-based authentication — Only authorised systems connect
- 📋 Access control policies — Define who can publish or subscribe to each topic
- 📝 Full audit logging — Complete trail for security reviews
Proven in Production
Deployed Across Multiple Programmes
Astute DDS is trusted by defence primes across Australia, UK, and allied nations:
| Domain | Applications |
|---|---|
| 🎖️ Armoured Vehicles | Crew displays, sensor fusion, weapons integration |
| 🤖 Robotics & Autonomous Systems | Unmanned ground vehicles, robotic platforms, autonomous navigation |
| 🛡️ Counter-UAS (CUAS) | Drone detection, tracking, and defeat systems |
| ✈️ Ground Control Stations | UAV command and control, sensor feeds |
| 🚢 Naval Systems | Bridge displays, damage control, navigation |
| 🏭 Training & Simulation | Synthetic environments, after-action review, debriefing |
🎬 Request Demo
See Astute DDS and the complete GVA stack in action. Find out more about our stack or request a demonstarion now.