Curtiss-Wright Introduces Ultra-Flexible, DO-254/DO-178 Safety Certifiable 3U VPX I/O Module

Curtiss-Wright Introduces Ultra-Flexible, DO-254/DO-178 Safety Certifiable 3U VPX I/O Module
Curtiss-Wright Introduces Ultra-Flexible, DO-254/DO-178 Safety Certifiable 3U VPX I/O Module
Press release
March 01, 2016

Curtiss-Wright Introduces Ultra-Flexible, DO-254/DO-178 Safety Certifiable 3U VPX I/O Module

Supports multiple DO-254/DO-178 safety certifiable avionics I/O interfaces, including MIL-STD-1553B and ARINC 429; safety certifiable FPGA blocks with DO-178C drivers reduce cost & risk 

HELI-EXPO 2016 (BOOTH #111), LOUISVILLE, Ky. – March 1, 2016 – Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division today introduced its first avionics I/O module, the VPX3-611, an FPGA-based rugged 3U VPX module that can be configured with a virtually unlimited combination of DO-254 / DO-178 safety certifiable I/O interfaces. Because DO-254 certification artifacts are available for the module’s I/O interfaces at the FPGA block macro-level, I/O configuration variants of the VPX3-611 can be created quickly and at minimal cost compared to the development of a custom solution. Safety certifiable I/O interfaces supported by the VPX3-611 include MIL-STD-1553B, ARINC 429, CANbus, asynchronous UARTS, discrete, analog in, analog out, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), and others (contact factory for additional information). 

The VPX3-611’s unmatched flexibility enables customers to select the specific mix of I/O needed to meet their unique application requirements. The module’s FPGA I/O blocks, which can be factory-configured to DO-254 Design Assurance Level (DAL) C and DO-178C DAL C, ease platform certification, speed time to market, and significantly reduce the cost and risk of developing safety certifiable electronics subsystems for commercial and military aviation platforms. An on-module “personality module” provides all required transformers, transceivers, and drivers for I/O signal conditioning. 

The VPX3-611 also optimizes overall system performance by off-loading the system host from I/O processing tasks.  What’s more, because the module supports a wide mix of I/O types, it can reduce board count by eliminating the need for multiple modules to address a wide variety of I/O requirements. This size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) optimized COTS module is available in both air and conduction-cooled versions, 

“Our defense and commercial aerospace customers are demanding solutions that are smaller, lighter, and have reduced recurring costs –we’re also seeing increasing demand for safety certifiable avionics,” said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President, and General Manager, Defense Solutions division. “Our new VPX3-611 helps reduce overall SWaP and cost by providing a single slot solution for heterogeneous military and commercial avionics I/O. Even better, the optional DO-254 and DO-178C Artifact Kits speed time to market and slash the risk of safety certification efforts.”

Comprehensive Safety Certifiable Data Artifact Packages

The VPX3-611 was developed under Curtiss-Wright’s Safety Certifiable Module initiative using a development process that results in DO-254 and DO-178 Design Assurance Level (DAL) C certifiable product and supporting artifacts. The VPX3-611’s DO-254 and DO-178C Artifact Kits feature reusable design artifacts and support documents that make it ideal for use in demanding military and civil aerospace applications. 

Software Support

Operating environments supported by the VPX3-611 include VxWorks 6.9 SMP. Safety certifiable software drivers supported by the module include but are not limited to VxWorks 653 V2.5 AMP. Please contact the factory for other operating system software support

 

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation 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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John Wranovics

John Wranovics

Director of Public Relations

John Wranovics has over thirty years of experience in managing media relations and the promotion of high technology products. He has been with Curtiss-Wright since 2003. He has a degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.