3U VPX embedded computing specified for M1A2 Abrams vetronics computer upgrades

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., 23 Sept. 2009.Vetronics designers at General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in Sterling Heights, Mich., needed 3U VPXsingle board computer hardware, graphics processors, disk subsystems, and switches for a project to boost the performance and shrink the size of embedded computing in the U.S. Army's M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. They found their solution from GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms in Charlottesville, Va.

GDLS vetronics systems designers ordered these embedded computer components from GE Fanuc for the Abrams Evolutionary Design (AED) program, which seeks to replace the 6U VMEbuscomputer boards systems in today's most advanced versions of the Abrams tank with "significantly greater computing power, but with a smaller footprint," says Peter Cavill, general manager of military and aerospace at GE Fanuc.

The AED computer upgrades for future Abrams tank computer systems include the GE Fanuc SBC310 3U VPX Freescale Power Architecture 8641D single board computer; SBC340 3U VPX Intel Core2 Duo single board computer; GRA110 3U VPX NVIDIA G73 graphics processor; PEX430 3U VPX PCI Express switch and PMC/XMC carrier; GBX410 3U VPX 16-port Gigabit Ethernet switch; and SDD910 3U VPX solid state SATAsolid state drive module.

These embedded computing components comply with the REDI (ruggedized enhanced design implementation) VITA 48 standard for operation harsh environments of military applications. VITA 48 guidelines also provide the Army with a line replaceable module (LRM) solution that makes level two maintenance possible.

For more information contact GE Fanuc online at www.gefanucembedded.com.

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-- Posted by John Keller, [email protected]. www.milaero.com.