The Importance of Expansion and Scalability of Mission Computers

Rugged Mission Computer Options

The modular design of Curtiss-Wright mission computers enable rapid expansion and scalability for integrating additional processing capabilities and payload-specific I/O interfaces for avionics, vetronics, and other platforms.

Curtiss-Wright offers a host of interfaces that can be added to the open architecture of our standard mission computer systems, enabling customers to take advantage of the latest, pre-qualified and proven technology available in the industry. This avoids the expense and time associated with developing a proprietary or custom solution.

We offer our own I/O expansion cards, as well as third-party cards that our engineers have vetted for reliability and robustness. Many of these cards have previously undergone rigorous qualification testing.

Scalability allows tailoring of standard mission computers for application- or platform-specific functionality, such as adding a data bus not common to a traditional PC for instance, an ARINC429 or MIL-STD-1553 avionics data bus or a CANbus for vehicles.

Curtiss-Wright mission computers offer mechanical, electrical and I/O expansion capabilities. The mechanical designs of our modular mission computer chassis are scalable, supporting expansion of processing and I/O.

Many of our enclosures can also be expanded in a modular fashion, as needed. This mechanical scalability supports electrical scalability for adding additional processing and I/O cards.

In some cases, this modular architecture can even accommodate scaling of computing capabilities with multiple processors in a single box. Such processors may be of different architectures, such as an FPGA-based processor, an Intel-processor or a Power Architecture processor.

For newer technology systems, Curtiss-Wright uses the OpenVPX standard to allow use of standard profile cards to create an architecture connection scheme in the backplane. With spare OpenVPX slots, this facilitates scalable computing, such as a CPU, general-purpose graphics processor unit (GPGPU) or an FPGA.

Another means of scalability, for VPX- or VME-based single-board computers, are PMC and XMC mezzanine cards. These cards provide a means for adding I/O to an SBC without taking up another slot in the backplane. Curtiss-Wright's MPMC rugged VPX- and VME- based COTS systems are pre-validated with Curtiss-Wright's portfolio board level products, which satisfies stringent program requirements while reducing program risk and schedule.

The Parvus DuraCOR mission computers within Curtiss-Wright's small form factor Parvus product line facilitate scalability often through stackable PCIe104 modules and/or Mini-PCI Express modules. The mechanical design of the latest DuraCOR systems also enables them to be coupled together in a single enclosure with standalone DuraNET Ethernet switch or DuraMAR IP router functions. A product called the DuraWORX, also in the Parvus line, combines networking and computing in the same box to reduce the number of line replaceable units (LRUs) and simplify system integration.

DuraCOR systems support expansion of serial, Ethernet and other interfaces such as video and traditional military data buses, such as MIL-STD-1553 or ARINC 429 avionics buses.

To learn about the scalability of Curtiss-Wright mission computers, contact a Curtiss-Wright representative today.