Articles
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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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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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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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Truly rugged and proven reliable: VITA 47 and beyond
All vendors of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware intended for use in harsh defense and aerospace environments insist that their products are reliable as well as rugged. But without a consistent baseline for comparison, it's almost impossible for system integrators to objectively confirm whether one COTS product is more reliable than another. The VITA 47 standard gives system integrators just such a baseline as it is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard.
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It's time for VITA 47: Raise the bar on defining ruggedization, reliability
How rugged is "rugged"? The answer to that question should have a clear and consistent answer that gives system integrators the confidence and surety that a specific module from a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) supplier will perform and survive in the conditions their application requires. All too often though, claims made by COTS vendors that their module will meet a certain range of durability (temperature, shock, and vibration) are not based on a common, industry standard that enables the customer to make meaningful comparisons between different boards from different vendors.
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Creative uses of FMC
The FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) standard has become the defacto mezzanine standard for anyone wanting a modular solution for platforms using an FPGA [field-programmable gate array]. The convenience of having modular I/O for any FPGA family makes it hard to not use an FMC as the I/O front-end. Consequently, the FMC standard, VITA 57, has gained worldwide acceptance and is endorsed by the major FPGA manufacturers.
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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.
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Embedded Tech Trends 2017 wrap-up
In January, Embedded Tech Trends 2017 was held at the wonderful Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter. Bordered by Bourbon Street to the west with Jackson Square and the mighty Mississippi River to the east, the attendees had easy access to the sights and sounds of the true essence of New Orleans (NOLA).
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VITA 47, environmentally sound
The standards developed by the members of the VITA Standards Organization typically fall into one of two categories. The first are hardware standards, which define the hardware parameters for some type of form factor, interconnection, or other mechanical features such as cooling. Hardware supplier companies that have expertise in a specific aspect of that technology typically leads the creation of hardware standards, while the user community provides inputs guided by their real-life design experiences.
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VITA Standards Organization activity updates
The March VITA Standards Organization (VSO) meeting was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 VSO meetings.
Ivan Straznicky, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions
