Curtiss-Wright Introduces P4080 Octal-Core Power Architecture™ 3U OpenVPX™ Single Board Computer

ASHBURN, VA – August 12, 2013 – Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions, a business unit of Curtiss-Wright Controls, has introduced the new VPX3-131, a rugged 3U OpenVPX™ single board computer (SBC) featuring Freescale™’s octal-core QorIQ™ P4080, Dual-core QorIQ™ P5020/5010, or Quad-core QorIQ™ P3041 Power Architecture™ processor. The VPX3-131 combines the performance and the advanced I/O capabilities of Freescale's QorIQ™ 4-core, 8-core or dual 64-bit processors with an impressive set of I/O that provides a powerful processing solution for SWaP-constrained environments. It delivers a high level of computing functionality in a small 3U standard form factor with low power for its level of processing performance, while providing industry leading I/O flexibility. 

The rugged VPX3-131 is available in either air-cooled or conduction-cooled variants. Its integral high-speed backplane and XMC mezzanine module connectivity support multi-GB/s data flows from board-to-board, both through the VPX3-131’s backplane interface and from the backplane to its XMC site. The board is designed to deliver the high bandwidth processing needed to handle the acquisition, processing, and distribution of sensor data required by demanding defense and aerospace applications such as video, radar, and sonar. The VPX3-131 is equally well suited for use as a mission computer, display computer, or in SIGINT and motor control applications.

“Our new VPX3-131 brings the high level of processing performance found in our 6U SBCs that are based on the P4080 (VME -186 and VPX6-187) to the small form factor 3U VPX arena,” said Lynn Bamford, senior vice president and general manager of Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions.  “With the introduction of the VPX3-131 we can now provide customers with the same processing performance and software compatibility on VME and 3U or 6U VPX platforms, giving customers the freedom and flexibility to move between different form factors as they require, enabling the cost-effective reuse of applications developed for one form factor on another.”

The VPX3-131 can be configured with a range of Freescale processors including the P4080, P5020/P5010 or P3041.  When configured with a P4080, the VPX3-131 provides eight (8) Power Architecture E500MC 32-bit cores at 1.2 GHz. With a P5020/P5010 processor the board provides two/one (2/1) 1.5 GHz Power Architecture E5500 64-bit cores, while with the P3041 it provides four (4) Power Architecture E500MC 32-bit cores at 1.5 GHz.

Ideal for System Upgrades and SWaP Sensitive Solutions

Providing software compatibility with our highly popular VME-186 and VPX6-187 6U SBCs, the VPX3-131 supports seamless transition of legacy applications into a SWaP sensitive 3U form factor embedded system. The VPX3-131 is ideally suited for upgrading legacy embedded systems, with key design features that speed and simplify technology refresh requirements, including backward pin-compatibility with earlier Curtiss-Wright 3U SBCs (Curtiss-Wright’s earlier VPX3-127 MPC8640D 3U SBC) as well as pin-compatibility in specific configurations with the Curtiss-Wright’s Intel® Core™i7-based VPX3-1257 SBC. 

Advanced Applications

Ideal for use in SWaP-constrained applications, the VPX3-131 has been designed to support programs that require a path to safety certification. For applications that demand the highest levels of hardware and software protection the VPX3-131 also provides advanced anti-tamper and information assurance features with Curtiss-Wright’s Trusted COTS™ and Freescale’s Trusted BOOT™ technologies and capabilities.

VPX3-131 Features Include:

• 3U VPX (VITA 46/VITA 65) format
  • Supports eight (8) different OpenVPX slot profiles
  • VPX Redi LRM Support
• Powerful general-purpose SBC can be configured with Freescale P4080 or P5020/P5010 or P3041processor:

1) P4080: Eight (8) 1.2 GHz Power Architecture E500MC 32-bit cores

2) P5020/P5010: Two/one (2/1) 1.5 GHz Power Architecture E5500 64-bit cores

3) P3041: Four (4) 1.5 GHz Power Architecture E500MC 32-bit cores

• One or two (2) [depending on the processor] independent 64-bit DDR3 SDRAM controllers with ECC integrated into the processor
• Up to 8 GB/s of DDR3 SDRAM with ECC to correct single-bit errors and detect double-bit errors on single memory controller
• 256 MB of contiguous direct-mapped Flash memory
• 8GB NAND support
• Two (2) x4 lane PCIe fabric ports on the VPX P1 connector (capable of being used as 4 x2 lane or single x8 lane)
•  XMC (VITA 42.3) site (capable of being converted to a VITA 61 site)
• Two (2) GbE interfaces on P1 connector mapped per VITA 46.9 or 2 1000Bx as per OpenVPX
• Two (2) asynchronous RS-232 serial ports
• Two (2) asynchronous (one single synchronous) capable RS-422 ports
• Four (4) LVTTL discretes; each is software configurable as input or output, with interrupt capability as input
• Up to two (2) USB 2.0 ports
• SATA
• Designed for harsh environment applications, both air- and conduction cooled

Software Support

Software support for the VPX3-131 includes Curtiss-Wright's firmware which provides a comprehensive suite of system debug, exerciser and update functions, built-in-test (BIT), and non-volatile memory sanitization functions. The VPX3-131 will provide support for the industry’s popular operating systems.

The VPX3-131 complements Curtiss-Wright's wide range of SBCs, Digital Signal Processors, Graphics and Communications and I/O products. The new SBC is fully compatible with a variety of Curtiss-Wright products with which it can be combined to provide a fully integrated solution, these include Curtiss-Wright’s QUAD port 1553 XMC-603,  XMC-651 Ethernet switch, Graphics Controller XMC-715, and the VPX3-215 3U mezzanine carrier.

For more information about Curtiss-Wright's embedded computing solutions please visit www.cwcdefense.com.

Sales & Editorial Contacts

For additional information on Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions please visit: http://www.cwcdefense.com. For editorial information regarding Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions products or services, contact John Wranovics, public relations director, Curtiss-Wright Controls, Tel: (925) 640-6402; email: [email protected].

Sales inquiries: Please forward all Sales and reader service inquiries to Jerri-Lynne Charbonneau,

Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions, Tel: (613) 254-5112; Fax: (613) 599-7777; e-mail: [email protected].

About Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions

Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions is a long established technology leader in the development of rugged electronic modules and systems for defense applications. Defense Solutions serves as a technology and integration partner to its customers, providing a full range of advanced, highly engineered solutions from modular open systems approaches to fully custom optimized solutions. Our unmatched capabilities and product breadth span from industry standard based COTS modules to complete electronic subsystems. The company’s modules and systems are currently deployed in a wide range of demanding defense & aerospace applications including C4ISR systems, unmanned subsystems, mission computing, fire control, turret stabilization, and recording & storage solutions. Additionally, the company’s broad engineering capabilities combine systems, software, electrical, and mechanical design expertise with comprehensive program management and a broad range of life-cycle support services. For more information visit www.cwcdefense.com.

About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the Controls segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation and a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technologies for niche actuation and drive applications, integrated sensors and controls, and electronic subsystems internationally for the aerospace, defense and industrial markets.  For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.