GE
Intelligent Platforms
VPX Technology
Thank you, VME
Hello, VPX
It’s no exaggeration to say that the VMEbus has been one
of the most successful computing architectures in history.
VPX is intended to extend and build on that success.
Anyone who has worked in rugged, industrial or defense computing owes a debt
to VME. But the latest applications are
making demands that VME simply cannot
meet, and that is the reason VPX
developed by VITA (VMEbus International
Trade Association).
VPX is a direct descendant of VME, and
has the support of the majority of leading
vendors and integrators who relied on its
predecessor. The goal of VPX is to bring
rugged industrial and defense computing
*
was
into the era of serial switched fabric
backplanes while still preserving many of
the features which made VME successful.
VPX is an open standard which utilizes the
familiar 3U and 6U card sizes of VME. It
offers true rugged capabilities, including
conduction cooling and resistance to shock
and vibration. At the same time it offers
higher power budgets, more signal density
and a far faster serial backplane.
*The original standard, VITA 46, has now become known as VPX.
VPX TECHNOLOGY
Field applications are the
driving force behind VPX
Sensor and signal processing applications
require massive bandwidth and VPX delivers.
Mission Computers
Rugged systems are designed to survive
and thrive in harsh environments. They
stand up to challenges like temperature
extremes, shock, vibration, EMI and
G-forces. VPX offers computational speed
and graphics capabilities which will make
mission applications even more effective
and real-time.
Situational Awareness
Until now, surveillance of large areas
has been based on a confusing array
of disparate video feeds, and the
inter- relationships between cameras
are not always obvious, so important
contextual visual information can be
easily overlooked.
Our subsystem presents 360º, high resolution, real-time video from up to sixteen
cameras, and the virtual camera can be
panned or zoomed instantaneously. The
performance advantages of VPX allow an
entire subsystem with these capabilities
to be fit into an extremely compact area
in a very rugged application environment.
Video Tracking & Target Detection
VPX enables the highest performance
solutions in the smallest, rugged hardware
packages with features that include:
Moving Target Detection
The Moving Target Detection (MTD) acquisition algorithm extracts objects from the
scene which are moving independently in
relation to the background.
Centroid Tracking
Centroid tracking is used for tracking
bounded objects such as an aircraft ,
which can be fully contained within
the track window.
Multiple Target Track (MTT)
MTT is used for tracking bounded objects
such as aircraft or ground vehicles that are
fully contained within the track window.
The MTT gives good performance with
small targets in high clutter.
Image Matching
Automatic Image Matching (AIM) allows
images taken from different sensors at
different times to be compared with each
other. Image Matching could assist a UAV
with navigation or target detection.
Fire Control
Fire-control systems require sophisticated
high-performance embedded computers
and sensors. GE VPX-based highperformance single board computers,
multi-function software, sensors and
switches provide high-performance
capabilities to aid in greater control and
accuracy of radar and fire-control for
naval, ground and air-based systems.
WWW.GE-IP.COM/VPX
The future of rugged COTS
systems is here now
VPX is revolutionizing the world of rugged
mil/aero systems by delivering blazing
performance in the harshest environments.
AXIS Application
Development Tools
Advanced Multiprocessor Integrated
Software (AXIS) is a toolset designed
to accelerate complex signal processing application development.
The AXIS architecture consists of
three integrated elements:
6
Interprocessor Communications
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Multiprocessor Productivity Tools
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DSP Libraries
For more information visit:
www.ge-ip.com/axisdemo
New Connectors
At the heart of the VPX standard are new
high-bandwidth connectors. They deliver
highly controlled impedance, minimal
insertion loss and less than 3% crosstalk
at transfer rates up to 6.25 Gbits/second.
Independent tests confirmed the ruggedness of the VPX connector, showing that it
performed much like the existing VMEbus
connector. VPX also provides a significantly
greater number of user I/O pins than are
available from the VME64 or VXS standards.
Power Budget
While a VMEbus slot offers 90 watts at 5
volts, VPX allows for up to 115 watts at
the same voltage, 384 watts at 12 volts or
768 watts at 48 volts. The issue of cooling
has been addressed, and 6U VPX calls for
a conduction-cooled envelope compliant
with IEEE-1101.2, which is compatible with
existing enclosures.
REDI
Ruggedized Enhanced Design Impl e m entation (REDI) is a VITA standard for the
design of forced air, conduction-and liquidcooling, and spray cooling. REDI also makes
important provisions that allow for improved
field maintenance. A feature of VPX-REDI is
its standardization of Two Level Maintenance
and the provision for placing covers over
single board computers to protect them
during handling and from ESD damage.
Field Maintenance
The military’s goal has been to move more
repairs into the field. To this end, the new
VPX connector features ESD protection via
a grounding strip. In addition, board covers
provide protection from environmental
factors. The combination makes field maintenance a practicable approach.
GE Intelligent Platforms & VPX
GE Intelligent Platforms participated in the
VITA 46 working group and was among the
first to bring VPX products to market. The
company now has a range of VPX solutions available, ranging from subsystems
to single board computers, fabric switches,
storage modules and graphics processors.
VPX TECHNOLOGY
VPX Products
Product Type 6U Size 3U Size
Rugged System MAGIC1 compact 2-slot & 6-, 9-slot VPX systems
Single Board Computer Intel-based VPXcel6 SBC620 VPXcel3 SBC320
VPXcel3 SBC340
VPXcel3 SBC341
Single Board Computer PPC-based VPXtreme6 SBC610 VPXtreme3 SBC310
VPXtreme3 SBC330
Graphics Controller GRA110 rugged GPU DVI 1.0 digital video module
Solid State Storage SDD910 SATA disk drive module
Multiprocessor DSP 230
PCI Express Switch PEX430 4-lane PCI Express switch
Gigabit Ethernet Switch GBX410 12-port fully managed switch
Mezzanine Card PEX440 PEX430
VPX subsystems and chassis
VPX rugged computers combine the
processing power of Intel
based microprocessors with powerful
graphics processors connected together
with 16-lane PCI Express
ble of driving demanding computing and
display applications.
For example, a graphics processing
computing node can be based on a dual
channel NVIDIA
®
G73 graphics processing
®
- and PowerPC®-
®
. They are capa-
unit, as featured on the NVIDIA GeForce™
7600GT, incorporating 256 MBytes of
GDDR3 SDRAM arranged in two banks.
The interface between GPU and CPU is
16-lane PCI Express, allowing maximum
bandwidth between the two processors.
Storage is provided by a solid state disk
drive, which boasts a capacity of up to
64 GBytes, sustained read performance
of 45 MBytes/second, and a purge facility
to allow data on the drive to be securely
deleted in an emergency.
VPX-based subsystems can be packaged
in a baseplate-cooled, fan-cooled, liquidcooled, or spray-cooled chassis capable
of operating in the harsh environments
that characterize many military and
aerospace applications.
OpenVPX is a subsystem specification for
VPX that provides a defined framework for
interoperability between OpenVPX products.
OpenVPX leverages existing VPX dot specs
for compatible OpenVPX profiles for modules,
backplanes and development chassis.
WWW.GE-IP.COM/VPX
VPX Systems
Build your system for your application,
based on our extensive selection of
VPX enclosures and boards. We have
decades of experience working with
customers to create the optimum solution, which in many cases may involve
custom versions of existing products. To
speed application development, we also
offer engineering development units
which closely match the expected final
system configuration. We offer extensive in-house testing and validation
capabilities such as thermal modeling,
shock and vibration testing, functional
testing, thermal cycling, qualification
and MIL-STD certifications.
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VPX supports high-performance fabric
technology including star, ring, mesh
and daisy chain.
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GE Intelligent Platforms provides a wide array
of VPX products including chassis, switch cards,
graphics cards, processor and storage boards,
and a range of I/O cards with inputs for a
variety of sensors and displays.
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VPX defines connectors, power delivery,
backplane dimensions, non-volatile memory,
system reference clock, system management,
memory and other elements.
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VPX Ruggedized Enhanced Design Implementation
(REDI) specification covers thermal cooling
technology including conduction cooling, forced air
cooling, spray cooling, and liquid cooling techniques.
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High bandwidth MultiGig RT2 Connector
is designed specifically for VPX boards.
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VPX specifies alignment/keying
blocks to prevent pin stubbing
and provide card keying and a
safety ground.
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VPX slots allow minimal insertion
loss and controlled impedance.
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VPX permits higher power than
similar Eurocard formats.
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The VPX REDI specification
addresses cooling techniques
for VPX boards including the
use of covers for both sides
of a board.
GE Intelligent Platforms Contact Information
Americas: 1 800 433 2682 or 1 434 978 5100
Global regional phone numbers are listed by location on our web site at www.ge-ip.com/contact
www.ge-ip.com/vpx
©2010 GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc. All rights reserved.
All other brands or names are property of their respective holders.
01.10 10M GFA-1083A
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