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Press Release The Open Group Launches Consortium to Standardize Sensor Open System Architecture

SOSA™ Consortium to develop common standards for sensor subsystems at the electrical, mechanical and software interfaces 

San Francisco, CA – October 19, 2017 – Today The Open Group announced the launch of The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Consortium. The SOSA™ Consortium aims to create a common framework for transitioning sensor systems to an open systems architecture, based on key interfaces and open standards established by industry-government consensus.

Originally an initiative under The Open Group FACE™ Consortium, the SOSA Consortium enables government and industry to collaboratively develop open standards and best practices to enable, enhance, and accelerate the deployment of affordable, capable, interoperable sensor systems.

The SOSA Consortium is set to provide a fair and neutral environment for cooperation between industry and government partners, resulting in a collaborative effort across the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) community, Air Force and Department of Defense, and industry. The architecture will incorporate both hardware and software components to handle demanding processing and data requirements, ease system upgrades, reduce total cost of ownership, and promote competitive acquisition with minimal system reworks.

“The launch of the new SOSA Consortium is a vital step in developing a unified and coherent set of standards for the interoperability of sensor systems,” said Steve Nunn, President and CEO, The Open Group. “In a war fighting environment there is no ‘one size fits all’, so it’s key that the consortium is looking at both hardware and software components as well as the business case for standardization.”   

John Bowling, Technical Expert in Avionics Architectures and Interoperability, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, stated, "The United States Air Force is serious about pursuing practical, measurable benefits of open interfaces for new and legacy systems.  I see integrative, collaborative efforts like the SOSA approach greatly improving our long-term agility and cyber resiliency in weapon systems."

For more information about the SOSA™ Consortium, please visit www.opengroup.org/content/sensor-open-systems-architecture-sosa

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About The Open Group

The Open Group is an international vendor--‐and technology--‐neutral consortium upon which organizations rely to lead the development of IT standards and certifications, and to provide them with access to key industry peers, suppliers and best practices.  The Open Group provides guidance and an open environment in order to ensure interoperability and vendor neutrality.  Further information on The Open Group can be found at www.opengroup.org.

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