Small Form Factor Flight Control Computer features dual-ARM processors, dual DSPs and three Xilinx FPGAs with safety certifiable artifacts
SANTA CLARITA, CA – September 13, 2011 — Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems (CWCES), a business group of Curtiss-Wright Controls and a leading designer and manufacturer of rugged deployed subsystems for the aerospace, defense and commercial markets, introduced the Versatile Flight Control Computer (VFCC), a high-performance, low-power conduction-cooled embedded processing system optimized for size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) in deployed airborne commercial and military applications. The rugged dual processor clusters make the VFCC ideal for rotorcraft, manned and unmanned aircraft environments. The VFCC satisfies a wide array of demanding applications including flight controls, vibration management, engine controls, mission computing, actuator control, etc.
“The ARM processor’s low-power design makes it the go-to processor for mobile devices,” said David Dietz, vice president and general manager of Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems group. “Our Versatile Flight Control Computer provides designers of airborne computing systems with a qualified low-profile, lightweight, rugged flight control computer that includes a full complement of flexible I/O interfaces. It’s ideal for simplifying avionics system design and reducing time to market for rugged military and aerospace deployed platforms.”
CWCES’s new VFCC combines a multi-processor architecture and small form factor design to optimize flexibility in world-wide commercial and military applications. The VFCC provides dual 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor clusters, dual TMS320C64x+ DSP processors, and three Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGAs with 1GB of data to non-volatile memory. The fully enclosed unit supports a wide range of configurable off-the-shelf I/O interfaces including ARINC 825, RS-422/485, USB 2.0, ARINC 429 receive, ARINC 429 transmit, analog inputs with excitation outputs, synchronization discretes, discrete inputs/outputs, dedicated solenoid drivers and 10mA servo valve drivers. The system also includes system level built-in-test (BIT).
VFCC Performance Features:
* Dual ARM Cortex-A8 processor clusters:
o 600 MHz core (1200 DMIPS)
o NEON vector coprocessor (1200 single-precision MFLOPS)
* Dual Texas Instruments TMS320C64x+ DSP core
o 520 MHz very long instruction word architecture
o Eight (8) highly independent functional units with six (6) ALUs and two (2) multipliers each executing an operation per clock cycle
* 1 GB Non-volatile RAM
* Three Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGAs for user applications and I/O processing
o Up to 43,661 logic cells and 58 DSP slices
* DO-178B Level A certifiable RTOS
* DO-254 Level A certifiable FPGAs
* Size: 11.5″ x 9.3″ x 2.1″
* Operating temperature: -40◦ to +71◦ C, natural convection-cooled
* Weight: < 4.4 lbs
* Input power: 28V DC with 50 millisecond holdup
* Power dissipation: < 21 Watts
* Certifiable RTOS with open source API, mode software and system built-in-test (BIT)
* Shock mounts available for high shock and/or vibration environments
For additional product information on the VFCC and to download the factsheet, please visit: www.cwcelectronicsystems.com/vfcc.html
Sales Contact
Please forward all sales and reader service inquiries to Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems, Tel: (661) 257-4430; email: [email protected]
Editorial Contact
For editorial information regarding Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems, contact John Wranovics, public relations director, Curtiss-Wright Controls, Tel: (925) 640-6402; email: [email protected].
About Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems
Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems is one of the industry’s most comprehensive and experienced single sources for rugged, integrated electronic system solutions. Our product and service expertise includes mission and flight control computer systems; network centric computing systems; avionics and Vetronics processor units; motion control solutions and rate sensor assemblies; rugged high-speed data recorders and storage devices; engineered packaging (including chassis/enclosures, power supplies, subracks and backplanes); smart power control and distribution systems; sensor management systems; electric turret drive, stabilization, and ammunition handling systems; and electro-mechanical solutions. The Electronic Systems group serves the defense, aerospace, commercial and industrial markets and is part of Curtiss-Wright Controls Inc.
About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Curtiss-Wright Controls is the motion control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW). Curtiss-Wright Controls is a leading international technology-based organization. With manufacturing facilities around the world, the company provides niche motion control products, subsystems and services for the aerospace and defense markets. For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.
