Mercury Computer Systems Unveils New VXS Ensemble Dual-Core Processing Module

Mercury Computer Systems, a Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based provider of computing solutions for image, sensor, and signal processing applications, has announced the addition of HCD5220 Dual 8641D dual-core processing module to its VXS Ensemble 5000 Series product family, which is designed to extend embedded, high-performance computing to a sensor-networked environment, thereby facilitating rapid access to critical information from distributed sensors via the Converged Sensor Network (CSN) architecture.

 

The new Ensemble VXS HCD5220 module combines two Freescale 8641D PowerPC processors with dual PMC/XMC mezzanine sites, along with advanced switched-fabric topologies, in order to enable a two fold increase in size, weight, and power (SWaP) performance - for image and signal processing

 

Designed for radar, SIGINT/EW, and industrial applications, the HCD5220 modules offer enhanced protection for software algorithm investment, multi-platform code portability, and rapid deployment on multiple form factors.

 

HCD5220 can be configured with Echotek Series Digital Receiver modules. In addition, the module has a special thermal design that supports 8641D processor with 1.33 GHz in a standard 0.8" inch VXS slot.  

 

Steve Patterson, product group manager for 6U VPX and VXS Systems at Mercury Computer Systems, said, "While a number of embedded computing suppliers, including Mercury, are aggressively working to improve system-level capabilities in VPX, Mercury's VXS processor-based designs leverage those capabilities today."

 

"Unlike mesh-based designs, switch-based topologies simplify the customer's system design by making the application independent of the slot location in the chassis, while simultaneously providing 2x to 3x improvement in key system performance parameters."

Mercury Computer Systems said that the Ensemble Series software facilitates quick deployment of customer applications across 3U VPX, 6U VPX, and VXS form factors. All the Ensemble products share identical Linux and VxWorks development and runtime environments, thereby making HDC5220 module easily retargeted for other Ensemble products. This enables its users to have a single software code base along with protected investment in software algorithms, code portability, performance predictability, and rapid deployment across multiple form factors.

Mercury also plans to include a 10 Gigabit Ethernet real-time gateway to the future offerings in the VXS Ensemble 5000 family, for system connection with external Ethernet backbones.