The OpenVPX™ Industry Working Group, an alliance of VITA member defense and aerospace prime contractors and embedded computing systems suppliers focused on addressing VPX (VITA 46) system-level interoperability issues, has announced the completion of the OpenVPX specification and its release to the VITA 65 working group for quick ratification.

The OpenVPX working group was formed in January 2009 to develop a system level specification that addresses interoperability improvements for the VITA 46 specification.  At the initial meeting, the steering committee established several challenging objectives:

• Improve interoperability of COTS 3U and 6U VPX boards achieved by implementation of predefined system topologies
• Lower the risk of adoption, expand the addressable market for VPX solutions, increase the market opportunities, and accelerate the deployment of VPX solutions into defense related applications
• Complete the work no later than October of 2009.

Twenty-eight VITA member companies quickly came together and have been working diligently and collaboratively to meet these goals over the last 9 months.  As a result of the focused efforts within the OpenVPX Technical Working Group, the specification is completed on schedule. The specification is now released to the VITA 65 working group www.vita.com , with the objective of the VITA Standards Organization’s (VSO) ratification in Q1 of 2010.

The OpenVPX™ System Specification describes the technical implementation details for 3U and 6U VPX payload and switch modules, backplane topologies, and chassis products, which will provide clear guidance to the Defense primes and suppliers on how to build interoperable computing and communication platforms.  Widespread adoption of OpenVPX™ would ultimately create a healthy ecosystem of interoperable components and systems providing customers with the benefits of reuse, choice of best of breed, faster time-to-market, lower risk technology refresh, and more competitive marketplace.

Click here for more information on VPX and OpenVPX.

Information on OpenVPX

Overview presentation

OpenVPX Press Briefing

OpenVPX Briefing Video - Part 1

OpenVPX Briefing Video - Part 2

Working group documents

OpenVPX FAQ

Press releases

OpenVPX Specification Completed and Released to VITA65 for Ratification

OpenVPX Releases 0.9.4

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Member companies

These companies have signed the OpenVPX operational MOU agreement:

• Aitech Defense Systems, Inc.
• Agilent Technologies Inc.
• BittWare, Inc.
• The Boeing Company
• Concurrent Technologies
• CSP Inc.
• Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
• Diversified Technology, Inc.
• DRS Signal Solutions, Inc.
• Elma Electronic, Inc.
• Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES)
• Foxconn Electronics, Inc.
• GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms
• General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems
• General Dynamics Canada
• Hybricon Corp.
• Kontron
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
• Molex, Inc.
• Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
• Pentair Electronic Packaging / Schroff
• Pentek, Inc.
• Pigeon Point Systems
• SIE Computing Solutions
• TEK Microsystems, Inc.
• Tracewell Systems
• Tyco Electronics Corporation

Working group operation

The OpenVPX Industry Working Group was comprised of three functional subgroups:

Steering Committee (SC)

The OpenVPX governing body was charged with enforcing schedules and approving the final systems specification that was released to VITA on October 19, 2009. Ian Dunn, Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. chaired the Steering Committee.

Technical Working Group (TWG)

Was responsible for drafting the systems specification per the Steering Committee direction. Co-chairs were Robert Ford, The Boeing Company; and Mark Littlefield, Curtiss Wright Controls, Inc.

Marketing Working Group (MWG)

Was responsible for educating, training, and promoting the potential capabilities of the systems specification and informing the broader community and press. Co-chairs were Neil Peterson, Hybricon and Matt Tracewell, Tracewell Systems;

This work was done with the VITA 65 Working Group, which is the liaison to the VITA community and the conduit for submitting the final work product to VITA.