Kontron
AdvantechSingle-board computers (SBCs) are complete computers built on a single circuit board. The design is centered on a single or dual microprocessor with RAM, IO and all other features needed to be a functional computer on the one board. The first true single-board computer (see the May 1976 issue of Radio-Electronics) called the "dyna-micro" was based on the Intel C8080A, and also used Intel's first EPROM, the C1702A. The dyna-micro was re-branded by E&L Instruments of Derby, CT in 1976 as the "MMD-1" (Mini-Micro Designer 1) and was made famous as the example microcomputer in the very popular 8080 "BugBook" series of the time. SBCs also figured heavily in the early history of home computers, for example in the Acorn Electron and the BBC Micro. Other typical early single board computers were often shipped without enclosure, which had to be added by the owner, examples are the Ferguson Big Board and the Nascom. With the development of PCs there was a sharp shift away from SBC, with computers being constructed from a motherboard, with functions like serial ports, disk drive controller and graphics being provided on daughterboards. The recent availability of advanced chip sets providing most of the I/O features as embedded components allows motherboard manufacturers to offer motherboards with I/O traditionally provided by daughterboards. Most PC motherboards now offer on-board support for disk drives including IDE and SATA with RAID, graphics, Ethernet, and traditional I/O such as serial and parallel ports, USB, and keyboard/mouse support. Plug-in cards are now more commonly high performance graphics cards (really graphic co-processors), high end RAID controllers, and specialized I/O cards such as data acquisition and DSP (Digital Signal Processor) boards.
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Managed Ethernet Switch Rides 3U CompactPCI Attracted by its ubiquity and longevity, the military is growing ever more fond of Ethernet. And switched Ethernet is becoming asRead More...
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Recorder and Signal Conditioner Team for Rugged Duties When you can integrate any technology down to a significantly smaller size and weight, sometimes that opens up a wholeRead More...
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3U VPX SBC Sports Freescale MPC 8640D Processor There have been only a handful of SBC vendors so far that have rolled out VPX products. The ones that jumped on board haveRead More...
Multicore Boards Roundup
6U CompactPCI Boards Sport Quad Core Xeons The multicore trend has hit all levels of processor families, and the Xeon is no exception. Concurrent Technologies has released theRead More...
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0.3 mm Pitch Sockets Support Devices Up to 6.5 mm2 Keeping up with the fast moving pace of IC packaging technology is a tough challenge for the military market. FortunatelyRead More...
VPX and VXS Strike a Balance of Choices for Designers
Developers of high-performance embedded computing systems for defense must satisfy both tactical and technical requirements of the programs they serve. Since the life cycle of mostRead More...
Stand-Alone Rugged Boxes Fine-Tune their Feature Sets
A trend has been building in the past couple of years where traditional embedded board vendors are adding stand-alone rugged box-level systems to their military market offerings. TheseRead More...
Caged Cards versus Rugged Box-Level Systems
Companies in the military and aerospace industries compete for business, but they are united in the goal of providing our warfighters the best possible advantage. In aircraft andRead More...
VPX Trade-Offs: Getting to Common Backplanes
The first wave of “beachhead” innovators and early adopter customers for VPX (VITA 46) boards and subsystems quickly established the preeminence of the architecture. They wereRead More...
Technology Focus: Conduction-Cooled cPCI Boards
Rad-Tolerant SBC Boasts Low Operating Power Space-based applications require a level beyond the typical definition of ruggedness. Aitech Defense Systems offers aRead More...
The Customer Shall Judge
As a member of the trade press I can’t hide a little bit of glee when controversies erupt in the standards-based embedded computer industry. That stuff never fails to provide juicyRead More...
VME Tech Refresh Programs Abound
Often filling the role as the “cash cow” of the military embedded computer business, slot-card technology upgrade programs are continuing to do brisk business. That ability to insertRead More...
Technology Focus: Rugged Box-Level Systems Roundup
Small Core Duo Box Has PC/104 I/O Expansion The concept of the “stand-alone rugged” box has infiltrated the military embedded market in a big way. The latest example is ACCES I/ORead More...
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Controller Adds Graphics to StackableUSB USB for years went underutilized in military embedded applications. That’s starting to change as uses from the technology presentRead More...
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Quad-Core Intel Xeon-Based VME SBC The multicore trend has swept through the military embedded computing industry, and military system developers are embracing it with open arms.Read More...
PCI/104-Express, PC/104 and EPIC SBCs Roundup
SBC Provides Right-Sized PC/104 Solution PC/104 has always shined in defense applications that need a modest amount of computer power. Adlink Technology has released the AmproRead More...
Space-Qualified Boards and ICs Satisfy Rad Hard Needs
Electronic systems designed for space face unique requirements over and above those of any typical military application. Satellites designed for space missions, for example, have toRead More...
Fabric-Based Strategy Doubles Up on UAV Payload Functions
In recent years, the aerospace industry, particularly in the military market, has seen the proliferation of UAV in a variety of end-use applications. The applications now includeRead More...
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Advanced Low-Power PMC Supports Dual Graphics Heads A blend of graphics and video performance is vital for advanced sensor fusion, image/frame capture and recording inRead More...
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Tiny SMD Fuse Approved for Space Applications Reliability and ruggedness take on a whole new meaning for electronics used in space applications. There’s no repair truckRead More...
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3U cPCI Board and Rack Family Satisfies Extreme Thermal Needs CompactPCI, particularly in its 3U flavor, is no longer the new kid on the block in the military market. It’s paidRead More...
VPX, VXS and VME SBCs Roundup
VME SBC Boasts Latest Low-Power Core2 Duo Processor Perhaps the greatest triumph of VME is its capability to maintain backward compatibility while remaining suited to incorporatingRead More...
Systems Issues Drive VME, VXS and VPX SBC Trends
The military is hungry to put VPX to work in both new and legacy/upgrade programs. System developers are attracted to the increased potential bandwidth, level-2 maintenance features,Read More...
FPGA Processing Boards Roundup
PMC Uses Virtex 5 FPGA for Speedy I/O Processing At one time FPGAs served merely as glue logic interfaces. Now they function as complete processing engines. Acromag’s PMC-VFXRead More...
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Qseven-Based Carrier/SBC Duo Rolls The Qseven connector scheme leads the way on the notion of combining a variety of I/O technologies onto one connection. Supporting that standard,Read More...
Small Form Factor Realm Churns out Boards and Standards
Small embedded computers—in both standard and non-standard form factors—are in high demand for military applications that are extremely space- or weight-constrained or whereRead More...
AMCs Expand MicroTCA's Military Potential
Modern warfare systems must expertly blend issues of ruggedness, flexibility, mobility and high-end processing with the need for standards-based solutions that can be developed andRead More...
MicroTCA Connectors Tested Extreme Conditions
MicroTCA connectors are extremely robust and therefore suitable for use in applications beyond telecommunications. In every situation, the connectors have to guarantee secureRead More...
SUMIT Interconnect Spec Revamps Small Form Factor Landscape
Designers of high-performance embedded systems need to incorporate growing numbers and types of I/O in smaller and smaller off-the-shelf and semi-custom boards, while keeping theirRead More...
1U Rackmount Boards Serve Up a Diverse Array of Solutions
1U Blade Server computing solutions and other 1U rackmount boards are rapidly finding a niche in a variety of military applications such as SATCOM-On-the-Move systems. Now thatRead More...
1U Rackmount Servers Feed High-Density Computing Needs
Government organizations deploy a vast array of servers for mission-critical applications in a wide variety of networks—including enterprise computing, field operations, command andRead More...
COM Express Sports 2 GHz i7 Processor
Gone are the days of a long gap between when a mainstream processor emerged and when it made its way into the military embedded board realm. Exemplifying that trend, several vendorsRead More...
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BGA Adapters Adapt 0.50 mm Devices to 1.00 mm Boards Keeping up with and mitigating the impact of component obsolescence is a constant challenge in the military industry. ICs oftenRead More...
Rugged Stand-Alone Box System Roundup
Rugged System Features Military Connectors The stand-alone rugged box trend has touched nearly every corner of the military embedded computer market. ADLINK Technology, for its part,Read More...
XMC and PrXMC Roundup
Rugged 10 Gbit Ethernet XMC Sports Dual Front-Panel Interfaces The military has completely embraced Ethernet both as a network technology and as a fabric interconnect scheme. WithRead More...
Small UAV Tap the Rich Variety of Embedded Options
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) were originally developed to take the soldier out of harm's way and have come a long way since the days of "large" surveillance drones like the PredatorRead More...
HALT/HASS Testing Goes Beyond the Norm
The increased focus on network-centric warfare in today's military operations has expanded the use of embedded systems in the deployment of mobile, mission-computing andRead More...
Rugged Boards Push the Performance/Power Envelope
Compute-density has become the watchword in many segments of military system design. More and more programs are pushing for as much computer processing muscle as can possibility fitRead More...
First UltraSPARC T2-Based VPX Board Rolls
First UltraSPARC T2-Based VPX Board Rolls This is truly becoming the year of VPX as vendors roll out many types of VPX products for military applications. Themis Computer hasRead More...
Atom-Based Series of Fanless, Cable-Free Rugged I/O Platforms
Atom-Based Series of Fanless, Cable-Free Rugged I/O Platforms A series of rugged and fanless I/O platforms based on the Intel Atom N270 are targeted for providing rugged I/O solutionsRead More...
ETX 3.0 Module Combines Core 2 Duo Performance with Legacy I/O
ETX 3.0 Module Combines Core 2 Duo Performance with Legacy I/O A series of ETX 3.0-compliant computer-on-module (COM) products is based on Intel’s LV and ULV Core 2 Duo and Core DuoRead More...
EPIC-sized SBC features Core 2 Duo and SUMIT
EPIC-Sized SBC features Core 2 Duo and SUMIT connector New performance levels in an EPIC-sized SBC have been achieved with the integration of the new Intel Core2 Duo (model P8400) 45Read More...
Next-Gen Processor Technology Redefines Compute Density
The demands of today's advanced military applications require system architects to constantly push the design envelope. These demands are coming from multiple fronts. The militaryRead More...
Intel Architecture Invades Embedded DSP Arena
Floating point processors are an essential component of military digital signal processing (DSP) systems. For approximately the last ten years, the evolving series of PowerRead More...
Intel Architecture Ups its Appeal for Military Embedded Apps
There used to be a delay-numbered in years-between when the latest and greatest computer microprocessors first rolled out and when they made their way into the embedded computerRead More...
1.4 GHz Freescale 7448 VME Board Addresses Radar/Sonar Needs
1.4 GHz Freescale 7448 VME Board Addresses Radar/Sonar Needs Demanding applications such as radar, sonar, image processing and communications all have something in common: they have aRead More...
Fanless Pico-ITX Board Sports VIA Nano Processor
Fanless Pico-ITX Board Sports VIA Nano Processor Compact, low-power, fanless SBCs are just what the doctor ordered in deployed military systems. VIA Technologies offers the VIARead More...
Atom-Based 3.5-inch SBC Provides Dual LVDS
Atom-Based 3.5-inch SBC Provides Dual LVDS The Atom processor has caught on like wildfire in military applications—especially where Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) is a priority.Read More...
1U Rackmount Appliance Serve Core2 Quad Processor
1U Rackmount Appliance Serve Core2 Quad Processor The 1U server form factor has secured a key niche among military system designers. It provides a compact computing solutionRead More...
3U OpenVPX Systems Available as Air- and Conduction-Cooled
3U OpenVPX Systems Available as Air- and Conduction-Cooled Two OpenVPX-compliant 3U development systems cover both air- and conduction-cooled projects. Just announced by ExtremeRead More...
OpenVPX Development System Comes Preconfigured
OpenVPX has turned VPX technology into a more well-defined embedded computing architecture suited for military applications. Concurrent Technologies announces two low-cost,Read More...
SBC Offers A/D Channels, PC/104 Expansion
Board-level functionality that used to require a box full of slot-cards is now possible in a board the size of a napkin. Along such lines, Diamond Systems offers a series ofRead More...
Rugged Single Slot Graphics Solution Rides VME
Applications such as digital mapping need to render significant amounts of graphics data in close to real time. And distributed aperture sensors need to acquire and process substantialRead More...
CompactPCI Embedded Board Supports DisplayPort Standard
A variety of military applications have stepped up their demand for sophisticated graphics as net-centric information sharing has become a priority. Kontron offers a 3U CompactPCIRead More...
Quad-Core Blade Server Boasts Thermal Shell Enclosure
The principle barrier to higher compute density in modular electronic packaging is the cooling and mechanical stabilization of high dissipation devices, most notably the new breed ofRead More...
6U VME SBC Sports Freescale MPC8572E Processor
VME remains the most prevalent computing technology in today's legacy military systems. Extreme Engineering Solutions has announced the availability of XCalibur1531, a high-performanceRead More...
OpenVPX Flourishes as it Readies for Prime Time
The goal of bringing together advanced switch fabric interconnects and all the features of a modern, rugged embedded computer architecture, is finally happening in the form of OpenVPX.Read More...
3.5-Inch SBC Sports New Generation Atom Processor
The Atom processor has caught on like wildfire in military embedded applications where size, weight and power top the list of requirements. Feeding those needs, WINRead More...
StackableUSB Carrier Boards Support SUMIT Spec
The SUMIT connector interface ranks as one of the most innovative approaches to maximized small form factor board space. Micro/sys has added to the growing line of StackableUSBRead More...
3.5-Inch Embedded Board Marries Atom and 2 Gbyte DRAM
The popular Atom CPU, now in its second generation, is finding its way into a variety of embedded board level platforms. Along such lines, American Portwell Technology hasRead More...
PC/104 Camp Ropes in Multiple Interconnect Schemes
PC/104 and all of its follow-on variants continue to hold an established position in military embedded systems. Now, as PCI Express and USB make their way into the PC/104 universe,Read More...
PC/104 and PC/104-Family Boards Roundup
Rugged EPIC SBC Features SUMIT Expansion The SUMIT interconnect scheme provides an innovative way to aggregate a variety of I/O types onto a compact connector. Marrying that ideaRead More...
Gigabit Ethernet Switch Rides 3U CompactPCI
Ethernet is now firmly entrenched in the mindshare of military system developers. It’s useful both as a networking technology and as a high-speed data plane interconnect fabric.Read More...
6U OpenVPX Board Provides GPU-Based Rugged Solution
OpenVPX has seen probably the faster rate of new product roll outs in the last 12 months. The latest from Mercury is a high-performance 6U OpenVPX, dual GPU-based conduction-cooledRead More...
3U cPCI Card Serves Up FPGA and Atom CPU
FPGAs are now powerful enough to be used alongside general-purpose CPUs as coprocessors. MEN Micro offers a 3U CompactPCI SBC that combines low-power Intel Atom XL processors withRead More...
Type II Compact COM Express Has Dual Core CPU
A new (95 mm x 95 mm) Type II Compact COM Express is based on Intel Atom processor N450 (single core), D410 (single core) and D510 (dual core). Called the PCOM-B215VG from AmericanRead More...
OpenVPX Module Sports Eight-Core P4080 Processor
Extreme Engineering Solutions has announced the XPedite5470, a high-performance 3U OpenVPX single board computer with Freescale QorIQ P4080 processor. XPedite5470 provides a newRead More...
Energy-Efficient Processor Family Targets 1-Watt Video-Enabled Devices
Small electronic devices are in the mix of the most advanced military devices under development. A product family of energy-efficient embedded processors provides a small form factorRead More...
OpenVPX: Cards Dealt, Ready to Play
Hailed as the next-generation fabric-based slot card standard, VPX has had a few rocky years getting started. But over the last year and a half, the goal of bringing together advancedRead More...
OpenVPX Boards Roundup
FPGA and TigerSHARC Share 3U VPX Board FPGAs and DSPs have different strengths when it comes to the signal processing muscle they provide. BittWare has brought together the bestRead More...
Multiple Vendor Fairy Tale
Even the military is following the trend of consumer electronics—more functionality, smaller, less power and cheaper. The only problem is that the military can’t accept a “use it forRead More...
