3U VPX RF processing system boasts highest RF channel density
Claimed to be the industry’s highest RF channel density 3U VPX processing system, the VP430 features Xilinx Gen3 RFSoC technology.
The commercial off the shelf direct RF processing system features the third generation Xilinx RF SoC (RFSoC). The ZU47DR device used on the VP431 includes eight integrated ADCs sampling up to 5Gsamples per second, eight DACs up to 10.0Gsamples per second, a user programmable FPGA fabric, and multi-core Zynq ARM processing subsystem.
The VP431 maximises I/O channel density and reduces the RF signal chain complexity, says Abaco. It was developed in alignment with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) technical standard to help reduce development and integration time and reduce acquisition and lifetime costs.
The system is built for rapid migration from the lab to deployment and is available in either an air-cooled version or a fully conduction cooled and rugged configuration.
Xilinx’s latest Zynq Ultrascale+ RFSoC Gen3 technology enables the VP431 to capitalise on heterogeneous processing capabilities for streaming signal processing within an FPGA fabric and also a general purpose processing, in a single module. The VP431 is intended to meet the increasing signal processing requirements of radar and electronic warfare systems, which continue to require increases in channels and bandwidth, with processing and data offloading abilities.
The VP431 serves as an economical solution to RF systems with multiple channels. As a solution, it increases the channel density and reduces size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements through eight channel inputs and eight channel outputs. By reducing the RF signal chain complexity and delivering better performance while using fewer system slots, the VP431 progresses the development of systems for MIMO, beam forming, communications, sensor processing, radar signal processing and electronic warfare.
According to Pete Thompson, VP of product management for Abaco Systems, the VP431 “expands our line of SOSA standard aligned products while providing a cost-effective solution which will enable our customers to be the first to deployment”.
Engineering samples of the VP431 will be available until June 2021, at which time production silicon for the Xilinx RFSoC will be made ready to outfit the VP431.
