GE Energy Management’s Intelligent Platforms business today announced the SBC328 GE Rugged 3U VPX single board computer (SBC). Based on 6th Generation Intel Core technology (“Skylake”), it is designed to deliver optimum performance in a range of demanding high performance embedded computing (HPEC) applications in harsh military/aerospace environments such as electronic warfare, radar/sonar, command and control, ISR and signal processing. The SBC328 also offers an outstanding solution in challenging industrial and commercial deployments such as energy exploration and transportation.
The new SBC features the latest Intel Xeon E3-1200 v5 family processor operating at 2.8GHz which delivers substantially higher performance than previous-generation processors. With integrated graphics and memory controller all in one device, and coupled with the CM236 chipset, this provides an upgraded level of I/O bandwidth for both on-board and off-board functions.
Also notable is the enhanced support the SBC328 provides to enable customers to implement advanced security capabilities such as anti-tamper and information assurance. This support includes an inherently secure FPGA solution, and support for Intel’s Trusted Execution Technology.
In line with GE’s strategy of maximizing the long term value of customer investments, the SBC328 offers board level compatibility with its predecessor, the SBC326, enabling a straightforward, cost-effective upgrade path that will deliver increased processing power, I/O bandwidth and functionality.
The SBC328 benefits from its support for GE’s AXIS Advanced Multiprocessor Integrated Software development environment which enables the rapid creation and testing of sophisticated HPEC applications, reducing risk, cost and time-to-market.
“A significant proportion of new programs in the defense and aerospace market are choosing 3U VPX because of its ability to deliver significant processing power in environments that are highly constrained in terms of size, weight and power,” said Richard Kirk, Director of Core Computing at GE Intelligent Platforms. “The SBC328 is the optimum response to that requirement with its unmatched combination of performance - enabled by Intel’s latest processors - functionality and GE Rugged robust reliability.”
“6th Generation Intel Core technology is enabling companies like GE to develop exciting new products, such as the SBC328, that deliver the levels of processing performance that demanding customers need for their most challenging applications," said Samuel Cravatta, product line director, Internet of Things Group, Intel. "Beyond that, 6th Generation Intel Core™ technology integrates new functionalities that enable new generations of smaller and lighter embedded computing solutions that can be deployed in environments that were previously unthinkable."
In addition to a comprehensive range of onboard I/O features, the SBC328 also offers an on-board mezzanine expansion site for enhanced system flexibility. Memory resources include 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM, up to 32 GB NAND Flash (SSD), 32 MB BIOS Flash and 16 MB BIOS backup Flash.
A rich software choice is planned for the SBC328, including AMI UEFI with support for BIOS Guard for signed image execution; FSP* enabled coreboot (Open Source bootloader); Open Linux (Fedora), Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Wind River Linux, VxWorks 7, Windows® 10; comprehensive Deployed Test Software: FSP* enabled BIT (PBIT function), and BCS (CBIT and IBIT function); P2P (PCI Express Peer-to-Peer protocol) for VxWorks and Linux.
The SBC328 is available in five build levels from benign environment (air cooled) to fully rugged (conduction cooled).
