SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Communications Engineering

COTS Integration

 

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Specific problems call for specific solutions, but when the most elegant solution to a problem is beyond the budget and schedule requirements, consider implementing a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) integrated solution. A COTS solution, which may satisfy most of the system requirements, will use existing technology and components to address different aspects of the problem.

 

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) engineers have experience working with many technologies in new and innovative ways and helping clients analyze requirements so that they may decide if a COTS integrated solution will fulfill their requirements.

 

 

The table below summarizes some of the tradeoffs associated with the two different system development techniques.

 

 

COTS

Development 

Custom System

Development 

  Development Cost

Lower Higher

  Development Time

Shorter Longer

  Availability of a Complete Solution

Not Guaranteed High

  Production Cost (low quantity)

Lower Higher

  Production Cost (high quantity)

Higher Lower

 

SwRI has significant experience with developing both types of systems, but the following links provide brief descriptions of systems that utilize COTS integration techniques to varying levels.

 

Examples of COTS Integration Projects

 

For more information about COTS integration capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Mike Pilcher at mpilcher@swri.org or (210) 522-2083. We can offer you the best approach for solving your COTS integration problem.

 

Contact Information

Mike Pilcher

Communications Engineering

(210) 522-2083

mpilcher@swri.org

Related Terminology

communication devices

communication networks

radar systems

communication systems

RF systems

radio frequency engineering

RF engineering

analysis

specification development

circuit design

fabrication

consulting

COTS integration

custom instruments

test systems

prototype development

modeling

simulation

reverse engineering

replacement engineering

communications engineering

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

June 10, 2008