OpenVPX expands on the VPX Base and Dot Specifications and provides a System Specification to address interoperability issues between VPX modules and Chassis. OpenVPX is an extensible specification that addresses the current and future needs for computing in harsh environments.
While many have turned away from VME in favor of VXS, VPX, and even PC-based “computer motherboard” modules, among other iterations, this case study shows that VME is still a viable candidate in FPGA-based data acquisition systems. The primary reasons: Its high pin counts and additional P0 connector – plusses that came in handy when Joerger Enterprises designed its new module’s basecards and daughtercards.
If you thought Ethernet was only a command and control fabric, think again. At 10 Gbps, Ethernet is now ready to serve as the high-bandwidth data plane. VITA 42.6 defines the 10 GbE standard for the XMC platform, giving benign and rugged military applications access to the king of fat data pipes.
With changing political and even social environments driving demand for the latest “run-faster, jump-higher” processing wares, GPUs – combined with GPPs, DSPs, and/or FPGAs – just might make the “miracle” supercomputing system a reality. Variables to consider include power consumption, compute power, life-cycle extension, and physical environment.
Theft of sensitive military designs is not a new problem, but new technology development is providing a novel way to identify IP ownership and trace FPGA design theft with a noninvasive, nondestructive test. This is accomplished via an IP tag that emits coded thermal signals. The thermal signals can only be detected by authorized users to provide a discrete way of signaling internal conditions from a working chip. In addition, it can be adapted to help fight the growing problem of fake devices and monitor system status more effectively than RF tags or electrical signaling.
As multiprocessor systems such as those used in military DSP applications continue their rise in performance and power, it becomes increasingly critical to obtain accurate data on per-slot power dissipation. This can be a real challenge unless boards are provided with advanced power management and temperature monitoring capabilities.
Time-triggered Ethernet represents a path to giving Ethernet networks the determinism they need to be viable in mission-critical, high-reliability, real-time applications such as avionics. It assigns different levels of priority to message types, ensuring the on-time delivery of critical information and optimizing bandwidth usage. How time-triggered Ethernet works and how it supports heterogeneous networks is described, in addition to the operational role of switches and the concepts of safety and fault tolerance.
VPX has a bright future in the defense arena, considered by many as next-generation VME. Mil/aero designers now have the flexibility to evaluate both when looking at their design requirements, assessing the legacy environment and considering rugged application demands and the types of data being processed now and moving forward. Key considerations include power-efficient performance and bandwidth.
VME and VPX apps are known for their durable packaging as the harsh environments they typically traverse are par for the course. But what about the processor that powers the application? High reliability is not an option. It's mandatory. To the rescue: e2v's PC8640/8641D and PC8640/8641 "e...
In today's "instant everything" world, expectations exist for everything from fast food to a fast car wash to a fast lane on the freeway with no delays and no slow drivers. And, of course, computers are no exception to these expectations. In fact, computers might have the most expectations...
While some developers are sticking with the tried-and-true Ada programming language, others are modernizing their systems by converting to the C and C++ languages. Though programming language conversions can strike fear in the hearts of many, MapuSoft's new Ada-C/C++ Changer tool can make...
If one could walk through a store with shelves lined with military embedded systems and their respective “ingredients,” what would set one SBC or backplane apart from the rest? It’d be power and processor type for sure, or serial fabric accommodation and speed, but what else...
Are the engineers at Altera perfectionists? We don’t know, but considering their latest attempt to improve upon a good thing, perfectionism could be a distinct possibility. And their most recent FPGA incarnation (or perhaps iteration) proves this point: the newest member of the 40 nm...
Why stick with just one when you can explore two ... or three ... or six different designs? Now, engineers – whether designing a VME, VPX, or other form factor system – can use CFdesign 2010, an upgraded version of Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc.’s design study environment, to do...
Though the OpenVPX Industry Working Group propelled VPX (VITA 46) and OpenVPX (VITA 65) into the limelight with unprecedented momentum, sister standard VXS (VITA 41) is still getting its share of attention. Case in point: Concurrent Technologies’ VXZ 541/06x, a dual VXS/VME PMC/XMC pr...
Though sticking to a double standard is typically thought of as negative, it’s definitely a positive if we’re talking about Themis Computer’s new T2VPX board-level computer – which supports both the VITA 65 (OpenVPX) and VITA 46 (VPX) standards. One thing that sets the...
Sometimes keeping a low profile (literally) can be a good thing, when considering the nooks and crannies of today’s space-constrained military and aerospace systems into which components must sometimes be shoehorned. These systems might be 3U VPX or even OpenVPX, but regardless of the...
And speaking of OpenVPX ... we chose BittWare’s new GT-3U-VPX (GT3X) hybrid signal processing board for an Editor’s Choice award because it offers just so darn many intriguing combinations: The board is fashioned in a 3U VPX form factor – yet also supports several OpenVPX sl...
Those who design enclosures, systems, and components for military apps complete their work in a safe, clean, temperature-controlled environment. So ensuring proper operation of said technology is easy. But what happens when their deployed wares are used by soldiers in the harsh desert envi...
In today’s tough economy, finding the most bang for your buck is more important than ever. Whether sampling edibles at your favorite restaurant or performing transient analysis in a lab or benign field environment, getting the best offering for the price is part of a satisfactory expe...
They’re everywhere … and everyone’s using them, from college students to the family next door to business professionals and military personnel. They’re virtually guaranteed to appear in any embedded system, too. You’ve probably even used one in the past week –...
Solid-State Drives (SSDs) have captured the loyalty of many embedded computing vendors and system users, whether the system is classically VME based or spun in another form factor. SSDs’ main selling point, of course, is their innate fixed and immovable nature, a highly desirable char...
Everyone’s got a Solid-State
Drive (SSD), but not everyone’s got the street cred in rugged components like White Electronic Designs. The company’s new NAND SSD product line (which strangely has no name or
number at press time) is designed specifically for “demanding d...
VME and VPX apps are known for their durable packaging as the harsh environments they typically traverse are par for the course. But what about the processor that powers the application? High reliability is not an option. It's mandatory. To the rescue: e2v's PC8640/8641D and PC8640/8641 "e...
In today's "instant everything" world, expectations exist for everything from fast food to a fast car wash to a fast lane on the freeway with no delays and no slow drivers. And, of course, computers are no exception to these expectations. In fact, computers might have the most expectations...
While some developers are sticking with the tried-and-true Ada programming language, others are modernizing their systems by converting to the C and C++ languages. Though programming language conversions can strike fear in the hearts of many, MapuSoft's new Ada-C/C++ Changer tool can make...
If one could walk through a store with shelves lined with military embedded systems and their respective “ingredients,” what would set one SBC or backplane apart from the rest? It’d be power and processor type for sure, or serial fabric accommodation and speed, but what else...
Are the engineers at Altera perfectionists? We don’t know, but considering their latest attempt to improve upon a good thing, perfectionism could be a distinct possibility. And their most recent FPGA incarnation (or perhaps iteration) proves this point: the newest member of the 40 nm...
Why stick with just one when you can explore two ... or three ... or six different designs? Now, engineers – whether designing a VME, VPX, or other form factor system – can use CFdesign 2010, an upgraded version of Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc.’s design study environment, to do...
Though the OpenVPX Industry Working Group propelled VPX (VITA 46) and OpenVPX (VITA 65) into the limelight with unprecedented momentum, sister standard VXS (VITA 41) is still getting its share of attention. Case in point: Concurrent Technologies’ VXZ 541/06x, a dual VXS/VME PMC/XMC pr...
Though sticking to a double standard is typically thought of as negative, it’s definitely a positive if we’re talking about Themis Computer’s new T2VPX board-level computer – which supports both the VITA 65 (OpenVPX) and VITA 46 (VPX) standards. One thing that sets the...
Sometimes keeping a low profile (literally) can be a good thing, when considering the nooks and crannies of today’s space-constrained military and aerospace systems into which components must sometimes be shoehorned. These systems might be 3U VPX or even OpenVPX, but regardless of the...
And speaking of OpenVPX ... we chose BittWare’s new GT-3U-VPX (GT3X) hybrid signal processing board for an Editor’s Choice award because it offers just so darn many intriguing combinations: The board is fashioned in a 3U VPX form factor – yet also supports several OpenVPX sl...
Those who design enclosures, systems, and components for military apps complete their work in a safe, clean, temperature-controlled environment. So ensuring proper operation of said technology is easy. But what happens when their deployed wares are used by soldiers in the harsh desert envi...
In today’s tough economy, finding the most bang for your buck is more important than ever. Whether sampling edibles at your favorite restaurant or performing transient analysis in a lab or benign field environment, getting the best offering for the price is part of a satisfactory expe...
They’re everywhere … and everyone’s using them, from college students to the family next door to business professionals and military personnel. They’re virtually guaranteed to appear in any embedded system, too. You’ve probably even used one in the past week –...
Solid-State Drives (SSDs) have captured the loyalty of many embedded computing vendors and system users, whether the system is classically VME based or spun in another form factor. SSDs’ main selling point, of course, is their innate fixed and immovable nature, a highly desirable char...
Everyone’s got a Solid-State 
