New rugged OpenVPX graphics engine delivers SWaP-optimized, high-performance multi-head Radeon graphics solution, reduces slot count
ASHBURN, Va. – August 28, 2015 – Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that its Defense Solutions division has introduced a single-slot 3U VPX Display Controller solution for quad-head graphics display. The new small form factor board set combines Curtiss-Wright’s highest performance embedded graphics module, the small form factor VPX3-716 3U OpenVPX™ graphics display card, with the low-power XMC-109 mezzanine single-board computer (SBC). This fully validated, pre-integrated board set achieves in a single 3U VPX slot, which typically requires two 6U or 3U modules, thus reducing system size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements when integrating four (4) graphics display heads into deployed embedded systems for aerospace and defense applications. Offered in both air- and conduction-cooled configurations, the board set is ideal for applications that require multi-head graphics and an excellent balance between performance and thermal management, such as embedded training, moving maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 360-degree situational awareness, Diminished Vision Enhancement (DVE) and other graphics and video-intensive OpenGL™ and OpenCL™-based applications.
A video overview of this innovative board set, "A Powerful Graphics Processor and an SBC in a Single 3U Slot – VPX3-716 and XMC-109" is available for viewing online.
"Our customers are seeking ways to support the increasing amount of video information on-board deployed platforms while reducing weight, power and cost in already constrained environments," said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President, and General Manager, Defense Solutions division. "Our single-slot graphics controller solution provides a quad-head 3U VPX display capability that delivers the performance they need while reducing slot count."
The board set has been fully integrated with the OS and embedded OpenGL driver suite, which significantly reduces the design risk for new applications, lowers the up-front cost, and shortens development schedules with proven technology. The board set combines the next generation AMD Embedded Radeon™ E8860 "Adelaar" GPU with the processing capabilities of the XMC-109 SBC’s 1.2 GHz Freescale™ dual-core QorIQ™ P2020 processor. Together, they provide the highest performance quad-head graphics controller capability available in a single 3U VPX slot. The board set features the unique ability to thermally manage the GPU and SBC simultaneously while operating at maximum performance.
The board set’s large complement of dedicated video memory and its very high bandwidth make it ideal for use in demanding graphics-rich applications that require extensive video processing and display capabilities. What’s more, its XMC-109 processor XMC module provides system designers with flexibility for future technology upgrades.
About the VPX3-716 Graphics Engine
The board set’s Embedded Radeon E8860 "Adelaar" GPU is based on AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. It meets the long lifecycle availability required for aerospace and defense programs. Its suite of CoreAVI® software drivers, including OpenGL™ graphics and H.264/MPEG 2 video decode drivers, is supported with a 20-year component supply program. The CoreAVI software drivers are designed to enable advanced graphics and video support on all popular real-time operating systems, such as Wind River VxWorks® and Lynx Software Technologies LynxOS™. For applications that require safety certification, CoreAVI’s software suite includes FAA RTCA DO-178C and DO-254 certification packages for VxWorks that simplify and speed time to market
About the XMC-109 SBC
The XMC-109 single-board computer supports a dual-core Freescale QorIQ P2020 processor designed to run up to 1.2GHz with a single bank of DDR3 memory (with ECC) at 800 MT/sec. It provides a high-performance, highly integrated processing node designed for applications where low power with dual-core performance is a requirement. In applications requiring even lower power, the XMC-109 XMC Processor Mezzanine can be ordered with a P2010 processor as well as being user configured to run at 800MHz/600MT/sec. The XMC-109 is a member of Curtiss-Wright’s family of XMC processor solutions that also includes the recently introduced XMC-120 Intel® Atom™ (Bay Trail) E3845 SBC for Intel-centric display systems.
A VPX3-716/XMC-109 demo system is available for qualified customers upon request. The demo features drivers from CoreAVI and an HMI interface developed with tools from Esterel.
About Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is a global innovative company that delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
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