Embedded Tech Trends, Houston, TX, January 17, 2016 — VITA, the trade association for standard computing architectures serving critical embedded systems industries today announced the formation of a working group that will develop a new air flow through (AFT) cooling standard, VITA 48.8, for use in size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) constrained 3U and 6U VPX module-based systems.
VITA 48.8 will achieve weight and cost reduction for AFT cooling by eliminating the use of wedgelocks and ejector/injector handles. The resulting open standard will be the first to bring AFT cooling to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) 3U form factor VPX modules. It will also help reduce weight and cost for cooling high density, high power dissipation 3U and 6U module based systems. Because VITA 48.8 does not use module-to-chassis conduction cooling, it also promises to help drive innovative use of new lightweight plastic or composite material based chassis. The combination of advanced cooling, small form factor AFT and reduced weight are of especial benefit to SWAP-C constrained platforms such as rotorcraft and unmanned vehicles.
“At the November 2015 VSO (VITA Standards Organization) meeting in Scottsdale, a new standards effort, VITA 48.8 was proposed,” stated Jerry Gipper, executive director of VITA. “This new effort promises to bring the benefits of AFT cooling technologies to small form factor 3U VPX COTS systems for the first time, while significantly reducing weight and cost for building both 3U and larger 6U module based systems that require the higher levels of cooling provided by AFT.”
The VITA 48.8 Working Group is chaired by Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, with Lockheed Martin serving as the standard’s editor. The working group has set a goal of submitting the finalized VITA 48.8 draft for ANSI ratification later in 2016.
Companies interested in participating in the working group should contact VITA.
About VITA
Founded in 1984, VITA is an incorporated, non-profit organization of suppliers and users who share a common market interest in critical embedded systems. VITA champions open system architectures. Its activities are international in scope, technical, promotional, and user-centric. VITA aims to increase total market size for its members, expand market exposure for suppliers, and deliver timely technical information. VITA has ANSI and IEC accreditation to develop standards (VME, VXS, VPX, OpenVPX, VPX REDI, XMC, FMC, VNX, etc.) for embedded systems used in a myriad of critical applications and harsh environments. For more information, visit www.VITA.com.
