Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT) is a high-speed, high-capacity computer storage magnetic tape format developed and controlled by Sony. It competes mainly against the DLT, LTO, DAT/DDS, and VXA formats. AIT uses a cassette similar to Data8 or 8mm . SAIT (Super AIT) is a higher capacity variant using wider tape in a larger, single-spool cartridge. Both AIT and SAIT use a helical scan method of reading and writing the tape.

Form factors

AIT technology is now available in two form factors.

• AIT - 8 mm, dual reel cartridge, similar to Sony's 8 mm videotape products and Exabyte's 8 mm data tape products.
• SAIT - 1/2", single reel cartridge, similar to DLT and LTO.

As of 2006, AIT is widely used for computer backups, but its popularity is waning.

Compatibility

One of the most compelling features of the AIT format is that many generations are both backwards and forwards compatible. This allows multiple generations of tape drives to both read and write to multiple generations of tape media.

AIT Generations

AIT-1

• Original specification's data capacity is 25 GB, with a data transfer speed of 3 MB/s.
• Extended length tape, introduced in 1999 gave additional capacity, 35 GB.
• Speed increased to 4 MB/s in 2001.
• Turbo variant, introduced in 2004, is 50% faster (6 MB/s) and holds 40 GB.
• A budget version, AIT-E Turbo, was also introduced in 2004 to compete with DDS.
• SATA version of AIT-1 Turbo available in 2006.

AIT-2

• Doubled capacity and transfer speed
• WORM technology introduced
• Turbo variant is 50% higher capacity, 100% faster (same speed as AIT-3)
• Turbo variant introduced R-MIC technology
• SATA version of AIT-2 Turbo available in 2006.

AIT-3

• Doubled capacity and transfer speed
• Ex variant is 50% higher capacity, 50% faster

AIT-4

• Doubled capacity and transfer speed
• New tape formulation, AME-2
• Not compatible with previous generations

AIT-5

• Available September 27, 2006
• Announced July 2006, hardware and media expected "in the fall."
• Doubled capacity, maintained transfer speed.
• Backwards compatible with AIT-3, AIT-3Ex, AIT-4
• New tape formulation, AME-3

AIT-6

• Not Released Yet

SAIT Generations

SAIT-1

• Highest capacity tape cartridge from 2003 to 2006. Displaced by DLT-S4 (800 GB).

SAIT-2

Released in 2006 by Sony, available only in libraries, 800 GB native and 45MB/sec sustained of transfer rate. [1]

Notes

• Data Capacity and Speed figures above are for UNCOMPRESSED data. Sony assumes a 2x or 2.6x compression factor in their marketing material.
• According to SONY, "All future products are based on technology projections."

Technical Features:

AME Advance Metal Evaporated is a different formulation of tape media.

MIC Memory in Cassette Memory chip in the cartridge that keeps relevant information about the tape.

R-MIC Remote - Memory in Cassette Like MIC except it doesn't require physical contact.

WORM Write Once Read Many functionality, useful for archive keeping.

Additional Info From Other Sites:

• AIT Technology Forum
• AIT Roadmap
• SAIT-1 comparison
• SAIT2-800. Sony

Low Level Specifications:

• ECMA 246 Specification of AIT-1. [2]
• ECMA 291 Specification of AIT-1 w/ MIC. [3]
• ECMA 292 Specification of AIT-2 w/ MIC. [4]
• ECMA 329 Specification of AIT-3. [5]

See also: DDS, LTO, DLT, SDLT, AIT, QIC, 8mm, Travan, Optical, DVD-RAM