This roundup summarizes the several working groups that have current project work underway. Participating in these working groups is a great way to influence the direction of the next generations of technology important to the critical embedded computing industry. Contact VITA if you are interested in participating in any of these working groups, and for details on upcoming VSO meetings.
VITA 46: VPX
Subgroups continue to complete development of various dot specifications related to VPX. Plus, work continues to make improvements to the original specifications as they go through reaffirmation.
VITA 48: VPX REDI
The working group is completing updates to ratified specifications and preparing various dot specifications for approval.
VITA 51: Reliability Prediction
Updates to ANSI/VITA 51.1, the MIL-HDBK-217 subsidiary specification have recently been released.
VITA 57: FPGA Mezzanine Cards (FMC)
The VITA 57 working group is completing the VITA 57.2 specification that describes FMC XML metadata used to test functionality and compatibility of FMCs and carriers.
VITA 59: Rugged COM Express
This specification describes a rugged enclosure for COM Express modules. The working group has posted a draft and is near balloting for VITA and ANSI ratification.
VITA 65: OpenVPX Architectural Framework for VPX
The OpenVPX system specification is a living document that is continuously being updated with new profile information and corrections. The 2012 version is currently available.
VITA 66.x, VPX: Optical Interconnect on VPX
Several dot specifications have been VITA and ANSI ratified and work is nearing completion on the remainder of the projects. The first products based on this specification are just beginning to be announced.
VITA 67: Coaxial Interconnect on VPX
VITA 67 establishes a structure for implementing blind mate analog coaxial interconnects with VPX backplanes and plug-in modules, and to define a specific family of interconnects and configurations within that structure. Several of the dot specifications have been ratified by VITA and ANSI. Work is wrapping up on the last activities.
VITA 68: VPX Compliance Channel
This specification defines a VPX compliance channel including common backplane performance criteria required to support multiple fabric types across a range of defined baud rates. The working group is entering into the ballot stage.
VITA 73: Small Form Factor (SFF)
The VITA 73 specification is in VITA Draft Standard for Trial Use status. The working group is collecting comments from developers prior to moving to the ratification phase.
VITA 74: Nano Small Form Factor (NSFF)
The VITA 74 specification is in VITA Draft Standard for Trial Use status. The working group is collecting comments from developers prior to moving to the ratification phase.
VITA 75: Rugged Small Form Factor (RSFF)
The VITA 75 specifications are in VITA Draft Standard for Trial Use status. The working group is collecting comments from developers prior to moving to the ratification phase.
VITA 76: High Performance Cable
The working group is defining a standard cable for box-to-box interconnection. Testing is underway to verify various proposals.
VITA 78-NGSIS: SpaceVPX Systems
This is a new working group that is chartered with developing a standard for intra-satellite physical and logical interconnects that covers high- and low-data rate use cases. VITA is currently soliciting members to join the working group. The first draft of the specification is under review by the working group members.
VITA 79: Embedded Photonics
This working group is chartered with developing a standard based on work done by the JEDEC 13.6 subcommittee for photonics. This is the first step in preparing a series of projects to address using optical backplane technology in the future. VITA is currently soliciting members to join the working group.
VITA 80: Interoperability
This working group is chartered with developing interoperability testing for products within the OpenVPX community. It is necessary that the interoperability test effort be an industry-wide effort where interoperability testing is conducted under the auspices of the appropriate organizations. For OpenVPX, it is VITA, specifically within the charter of the VITA 80 Interoperability working group. The working group has defined a set of tests and released test software for comments. Plans are coming together for the first interoperability workshop in the coming months.