By Matt Vincent, Senior Editor
2010 was a banner year for VPX technology developments. The stage was set in December 2009 when VITA, the trade association dedicated to fostering American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited, open system architectures in critical embedded system applications, announced the formation of the VPX Marketing Alliance, with the goal of bringing suppliers together to develop and advance VPX and OpenVPX initiatives.
VITA said the purpose for the creation of the Alliance was to continue the work done by its OpenVPX marketing working group in promoting OpenVPX technology and establishing an ecosystem of interested parties who will promote the VPX architecture and drive widespread adoption of the VPX specifications and technology.
In January 2010, VITA announced that the VPX Marketing Alliance had grown to include 23 member companies in the embedded computing industry, including: 4DSP; Aitech Defense Systems; Amphenol; BittWare; Curtiss-Wright Controls; Diversified Technology; Dynatem; Elma Electronic; Emerson Network Power; Embedded Computing; Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES); GE Intelligent Platforms; Hybricon; Kontron; Mercury Computer Systems; Meritec / Joy Signal Technology; Pentek; SIE Computing Solutions; Technobox; TEK Microsystems; Themis Computer; Tracewell Systems; Tyco Electronics Corporation; and VTI Instruments Corporation.
Deep roots
Work had been underway on the VPX family of specifications since its introduction in January 2004. VPX is a broadly defined technology incorporating a variety of contemporary switch fabric technologies in 3U and 6U Eurocard format modules. OpenVPX is the architecture and framework that defines system-level VPX interoperability for multi-vendor, multi-module, integrated system environment, according to VITA. In October of 2009, the OpenVPX Working Group, which developed the VPX systems specification, submitted the final spec to the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as VITA 65, leveraging the work of the individual VPX standards committees to create better interoperability.
VITA says the OpenVPX framework delineates clear interoperability points necessary for integrating module-to-module, module-to-backplane, and chassis designs. OpenVPX recommends—but does not specify—development systems to assist in VPX system evaluation, prototyping, and testing. OpenVPX is intended as an evolutionary technology, incorporating new fabric, connector, and system technology as new standards are defined.
“VPX technology builds on the extended legacy and enormous ecosystem built by VME over more than a quarter of a century, and VPX has now reached a critical stage in its technical development,” commented Ray Alderman, executive director of VITA. “The time is therefore right to ensure that all those developers and users who can take advantage of its unique benefits are aware not only of what it can do for their business, but that VPX is ready for prime time. The VPX Marketing Alliance is a major effort by VITA members to ensure that the significant effort that has gone into the technical development of VPX is matched by an equally significant effort to bring it to market.”
VPX REDI standard ratified
To wrap up the year, in December 2010 VITA announced the ratification by ANSI and VITA of the VPX REDI [Ruggedized Enhanced Design Implementation] base specification and several dot specifications.
VPX REDI is described as a computing standard defining mechanical specifications for cooling and maintenance strategies for VPX systems. VITA says the standard was inspired by the need for higher-density electronics, increased power draw that requires more effective cooling strategies, and rugged and maintainable modules.
"The work on VPX REDI dovetails with the OpenVPX architectural framework, which we helped lead [in 2009]," said Mike Gust, senior manager, mechanical engineering at Mercury Computer Systems and chair of the VITA 48 working group.
According to VITA, VPX REDI targets the requirements of Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) platforms for defense and aerospace, defining mechanical design implementations for embedded computing modules with the following three primary design objectives.
1. Accommodating cooling methods including forced air, conduction and liquid cooling.
2. Adding features compatible with ESD covers required for two-level maintenance strategies.
3. Facilitating module designs with components on the secondary side of the circuit board.
Gust added, “Effective standards for rugged systems are critical to meeting the DoD’s need for cost-effective, deployable computing subsystems that can be deployed rapidly in new embedded defense applications. We feel that we have successfully met the VPX REDI objectives and look forward to the utilization of our efforts in upcoming products."
The following VPX REDI specifications were ANSI/VITA ratified.
ANSI/VITA 48.0-2010: Ruggedized Enhanced Design Implementation Mechanical Base Specification
-- Defines a mechanical implementation for plug-in units. Two types of plug-in units are defined: Type 1 and Type 2. Both take advantage of increased slot pitch to provide enhanced thermal performance and increased structural durability. Only Type 1 units support Level 2 maintenance.
ANSI/VITA 48.1-2010: Mechanical Specification for Microcomputers Using Air Cooling Applied to VPX
-- Defines the mechanical requirements that are needed to insure the mechanical interchangeability of air-cooled 3U and 6U plug-in units and define the features required to achieve 2 Level Maintenance compatibility.
ANSI/VITA 48.2-2010: Mechanical Specification for Microcomputers Using Conduction Cooling Applied to VPX
-- Defines the mechanical requirements that are needed to ensure the mechanical interchangeability of conduction cooled 3U and 6U plug-in units and defines the features required to achieve 2 Level Maintenance compatibility.
ANSI/VITA 48.5-2010: Mechanical Specification Using Air Flow-through Cooling Applied to VPX
-- Establishes the design requirements for an air flow-through cooled plug-in unit with a 6U form factor using a compact core heat exchanger located within the central heat sink of the unit.
