Extending OpenVPX Systems for Enhanced Capabilities

Efforts to future-proof defense systems often focus on modularity. While it plays an important role, modularity alone is not enough to keep pace with the exponential growth in demands for Artificial Intelligence (AI), sensor fusion, and edge processing.

OpenVPX illustrates this point. The baseline modularity of the standard has been invaluable in supporting the evolution of defense systems over many years. However, OpenVPX’s true advantage lies in its capacity for dynamic reconfigurability, enabling systems to respond to unforeseen workloads such as quantum-resistant encryption and neuromorphic computing.

This level of adaptability hinges on the ability of hardware and software to evolve together. Instead of treating hardware as a fixed asset and software as a layer that merely runs on top, OpenVPX systems increasingly treat both as flexible elements that can be tuned, updated, and reconfigured over time. This approach allows platforms to absorb emerging technologies without requiring complete system redesigns.

Beyond Slot Swapping: Architectural Flexibility

The architectural flexibility of OpenVPX extends far beyond simple slot swapping. A prime example is the software-defined backplane concept described in VITA 67.3. This transforms the passive backplane into an actively managed resource.

This approach enables dynamic lane allocation between protocols, shifting from PCI Express (PCIe) Gen5 x16 to 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) via FPGA-controlled switching as mission needs change. For instance, a system can reallocate bandwidth from radar processing to AI inference during different operational phases without hardware reconfiguration.

Thermal capabilities have evolved similarly, with VITA 48.5 extended Air Flow Through (AFT) cooling enabling modules to handle 500W or greater power loads. This thermal headroom is crucial for transformer-based AI models and other compute-intensive workloads. Complementing this is adaptive power sequencing for hybrid compute elements (such as Altera Agilex FPGAs paired with RISC-V cores) that ensure optimal power delivery across heterogeneous processing resources.

Figure 1: The VITA 48.5 specification includes air flow-through cooling. (Image source: VITA)

I/O as a Service: Beyond Connector Upgrades

Another way to make OpenVPX future-proof is through “I/O as a service.” The traditional von Neumann architecture reaches its limits when high memory bandwidths and tight latency requirements are required, which is precisely what signals intelligence (SIGINT), AI, radar processing, and sensor fusion demand. OpenVPX addresses this with several key technologies:

1. Compute Express Link (CXL) 3.0 is based on PCIe 5.0/6.0, enabling extremely fast, coherent memory sharing across multiple OpenVPX modules without large data transfers or copies.
2. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) ensures stable, low-latency and prevents network jitter while allowing prioritisation of critical data streams for better real-time performance.
3. VITA 49.2, or VITA Radio Transport (VRT) Version 2, standardises RF data transmission. It adds metadata, real-time control, and interoperability across SDR, radar, SIGINT, and RF sensors. This enables precise control, time-stamping, and easier integration with orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.

Figure 2: VITA 49.2 is used for the standardised transmission of RF data. (Image source: )

Software-Defined Hardware: The Silent Revolution

While hardware flexibility is essential, the software layer enables what is referred to as “software-defined hardware,” a silent revolution in OpenVPX capabilities.

Partial reconfiguration allows FPGA-based systems to transform their functionality without full system reconfiguration. This means an SDR can be reconfigured into an AI accelerator mid-mission, switching from signal processing to object recognition without system shutdown. Tools like Altera Quartus and AMD Vitis enable this dynamic hardware adaptation based on mission needs.

Post-quantum cryptography represents another crucial application. As quantum computing threatens traditional encryption, OpenVPX systems can implement quantum-resistant algorithms through firmware updates and partial reconfiguration, thus providing cryptographic agility without hardware replacement.

The AI middleware stack further enhances adaptability. TensorFlow Lite for VxWorks enables onboard model training and inference with significantly lower latency than cloud solutions. When combined with Data Distribution Service (DDS) and Robot Operating System (ROS) 2 frameworks, these tools create a bridge between tactical edge computing and cloud analytics, ensuring resilient, real-time communication across distributed defence applications.

Cutting-Edge Enablement from Sundance & Etion Create

To facilitate the software and hardware integration of aerospace and defence applications, manufacturers such as Sundance/Etion Create offer future-proof platforms based on OpenVPX.

The VF365 single-board computer (SBC) integrates Altera’s Arria® 10 FPGA system-on-chip (SoC), offering custom instruction acceleration for AI and ML workloads. It features dual 40 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) KR4 backplane links, enabling zero-copy data transfers from sensors to AI processors, essential for real-time situational awareness. Compatibility with DDS, ROS 2, and edge analytics makes it ideal for modular, scalable deployments.

Figure 3: The VF365 can accelerate AI workloads. (Image Source: Etion Create)

Complementing this, Sundance’s Polar-VPX 3U VPX module features Microchip’s PolarFire SoC FPGA, which combines a power-efficient FPGA fabric with a hardened RISC-V processor subsystem. With sub-10 W operation, the module supports advanced onboard computing in size- and power-constrained platforms such as UAVs.

Figure 4: Polar-VPX is an innovative 3U OpenVPX form-factor SOSA-aligned device that uses the Microchip PolarFire SoC FPGA, which combines a low-power FPGA with a 64-bit, Linux-capable RISC-V processor. (Image source: Sundance)

Figure 5: PanaTeQ’s VPX3-VERSA2 is a 3U OpenVPX module based on the VERSAL Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) GEN1 device from AMD. It supports the Prime series VM1502 or VM1802. (Image source: Sundance)

OpenVPX as an Innovation Catalyst

The true value of OpenVPX lies in accommodating tomorrow’s as-yet-unforeseen applications. While the standard has evolved significantly, its greatest strength is providing a foundation for innovation that supports evolving requirements.

Organisations partnering with Sundance/Etion Create gain access to this forward-looking approach through platforms that combine advanced technologies with the interoperability benefits of open standards. This combination delivers systems that adapt to changing mission needs without wholesale redesigns.

See how for yourself. Get in touch with our experts now!