xmc
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Embedded Tech Trends 2018 Wrap-up
In January, Embedded Tech Trends 2018 was held in Austin, Texas at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. Just off 6th Street, attendees had walking access to the famous Austin music scene and wonderful BBQ.
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VPX: Is it the optimum form factor for electronic warfare and sensor processing systems?
The VPX form factor is used today for a wide range of applications and deployed environments. Applications vary from rail management systems to active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars on high-performance fighter aircraft, and environments vary from lab-benign (or near-lab conditions like wide-body jets) to tracked vehicles and unpressurized bays in high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The ruggedness and huge bandwidth provided by VPX make it a natural choice for many projects. However, one application space that benefits more than most from the processing power of VPX is electronic warfare (EW) and military sensor processing (SP) systems.
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Intel's Xeon-D 10 Gig connectivity drives demand for VITA 76 connector high-speed signal integrity
The recent introduction of Intel's first Xeon System-on-a-Chip (SoC) device, the Xeon-D (codenamed "Broadwell DE"), dramatically changes the range of options for designers of high-performance small-form-factor (SFF) mission computers. Compared to earlier Core/Atom devices, the Xeon-D provides more cores and threads per central processing unit (CPU) - up to 16 cores/32 threads - and adds a significantly greater number of Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) lanes (32 PCIe lanes for Xeon-D, compared to 16 lanes for Core i7 or six lanes max for Atom). The Xeon-D also natively provides support for a large number of fast USB 3.0, USB 2.0, 1 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), and serial interfaces. Most notably, a significant leap forward for designers of modern mission computers is Xeon-D's support for 10 GigE.
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Managing the infinite possibilities: How to cope with the many I/O options of VPX
Thanks to its flexibility, performance, and suitability for harsh and varied environments, VPX - especially the size, weight, and power-cost (SWaP-C)-friendly 3U VPX - has rapidly established itself as the form factor of choice for aerospace and defense programs. The majority of new opportunities are in the 3U VPX VITA 48.2 (conduction cooled) form factor, housed in an ARINC 404 enclosure, commonly called Air Transport Rack (ATR). ATR enclosures are notorious for restrictive I/O limitations.
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Securing embedded systems based on Open System Architectures
Many of the standards developed by VITA working groups are for defining modules that are part of Open System Architectures (OSA) - whether they are VME, VPX, PMC, FMC or one of many other standards. These modules are used to build critical embedded systems that are deployed in a variety of application platforms. Today these platforms are typically connected via a network, a network that is often susceptible to cyberattacks. This article introduces you to high level concerns and challenges facing designers using Open System Architecture (OSA) modules.
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Business barometer: 2018 trend predictions
Last fall we were in the middle of a presidential election, not sure of the outcome. Now we know! I was contemplating a move to Australia, but I am still here - with my options open! I was reviewing my past predictions in preparation for this year's forecasts. It was a bit humbling as I realized how slowly technology evolves in many aspects. Watching consumer gadgets roll out every year gives one the impression that our advancements in computing technology are moving quickly but then one realizes that things do not move at the same pace in critical embedded computing.
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Solving the OpenVPX multi-gigabit I/O Problem
The success of Meritec's VPX+ cabling system has spawned a new cabling system that replaces the need for the Multi-Gig (TE TM) connector and it is field deployable. The new VPX+ DA (Direct Attach) cabling system (product currently in development) reduces weight and cost while improving performance. Preliminary VPX+ DA SI simulations are showing 25Gigabits/seconds (Gb/s) performance. The VPX+ DA is an ideal solution for pulling various protocols from slot-to-slot and backplane to I/O at higher speeds. VPX+ DA is the ideal size, weight, and power (SWaP) solution.
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VITA Standards Update
The November VITA standards meeting was held in Miramar Beach, Florida. This update is based on the results of that meeting. Contact VITA if you are interested in participating in any of these working groups. Visit the VITA website (http://www.vita.com) for details on upcoming VITA Standards Organization (VSO) meetings.
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Cybersecurity insecurity
I had a chance to attend an IEEE cybersecurity presentation recently and left wanting to ditch all my computers and smartphones to move into the deep woods as far off the grid as possible. The presentation included very high-level demonstrations of several common methods that attackers use to gain access to your PC or smartphone. Readily available hardware and software were used to illustrate how easy it is for someone to gain unauthorized access. Within a matter of seconds, a cyber attacker can monitor your every keystroke during a public hotspot session. To top that, allow them physical access to one of your devices and they can inject a worm in two to three seconds, which gives them complete remote access to your device and anything that it connects to in your personal or business environment.
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VPX evolution drives ever greater capabilities
As VPX completes its first decade since ratification, it is clear this standard is here for the long haul. A healthy competitive marketplace has driven product adoption in actual programs, which have been proven in real combat operations. However, the true strength of VPX is its continuing evolution to keep pace with technological advancements.
Mark Littlefield, Kontron
