Articles
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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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Embracing open standards in military electronics systems
Every month the McHale Report will host an online roundtable with experts from the defense electronics industry – from major prime contractors to defense component suppliers. Each roundtable will explore topics important to the military embedded electronics market. This month we discuss Department of Defense (DoD) open architecture initiatives, board-level standards from VITA and PICMG, [...]
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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 earli...
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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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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 sev...
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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...
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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.
Mark Littlefield, Kontron
John McHale, Editorial Director
