In the field of embedded systems, standardizing technologies is essential to guarantee compatibility, durability and equipment performance. SOSA™ (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) and OpenVPX are two key standards, particularly used in defense and aerospace.
But then, what are their differences and how do they work together?
What is the SOSA™ standard?
SOSA™ (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) is an initiative developed to standardize embedded system architectures, mainly in the defense and aerospace fields. Its aim is to make systems more open and scalable, by defining hardware and software profiles that guarantee total interoperability between suppliers.
SOSA™ imposes a precise technical framework. In particular, it specifies standardized interfaces for data exchange, power supply and thermal management, so that modules can be integrated without requiring complex adaptations. Based on VPX architecture, it defines strict rules for communication interfaces, power supply and connector layout, guaranteeing compatibility between boards and systems, and facilitating their integration into modular platforms. This approach facilitates the integration of new technologies, simplifies maintenance and reduces long-term costs.
Our AV153 board, a SOSA™-aligned VPX board, is a perfect example. Designed according to the requirements of the standard, it enables seamless integration into open systems while offering performance tailored to mission-critical applications, such as real-time signal processing and high-speed communications.
What is the OpenVPX standard?
The OpenVPX standard defines a modular architecture based on VPX, designed to deliver high performance, enhanced interoperability and long-term scalability. Unlike VPX, which only specifies hardware aspects such as connectors and card formats, OpenVPX establishes complete system profiles, standardizing communication interfaces, power management and data flows between modules.
The main aim of OpenVPX is to guarantee seamless integration between boards from different suppliers, while ensuring performance tailored to the most demanding applications, including defense, aerospace, signal processing and high-speed communications. By defining precise configurations for serial interconnections (such as PCIe, Ethernet, or Serial RapidIO), OpenVPX optimizes bandwidth and reduces data exchange latency. It also takes into account essential criteria such as thermal dissipation and mechanical robustness, making it perfectly suited to embedded environments subject to severe constraints.
At reflex ces, we offer several OpenVPX-compliant boards designed to meet the needs of mission-critical applications, from high-speed signal processing to advanced communications. Find out more about our VPX solutions here.
SOSA™ and OpenVPX: understanding their differences and complementarity
SOSA™ and OpenVPX might seem redundant, even competing. Yet they meet different levels of requirement and often fit into the same design logic.
OpenVPX is first and foremost a hardware standard, defining how VPX modules communicate physically and electrically with each other. It provides a robust basis for building modular systems, but leaves plenty of room for interpretation, which can lead to inconsistent implementations from one vendor to another.
This is precisely where SOSA™ comes in: by building on existing standards such as OpenVPX, SOSA™ comes to restrict, clarify and formalize a number of technical choices in order to guarantee true interoperability. Where OpenVPX allows several options for the same function (connectivity, protocols, power supply…), SOSA™ imposes standardized profiles, called SOSA™ module profiles, to avoid ambiguity. So it doesn’t replace OpenVPX, but frames and specializes it in a context of open, scalable, multi-vendor systems.
Which standard to choose between SOSA™ and OpenVPX?
The choice between SOSA™ and OpenVPX depends on your objectives, your application domain and your level of interoperability requirements.
If you’re developing a proprietary embedded system, or need flexibility in your choice of architectures, OpenVPX may suffice. It offers a good modular basis and broad industry compatibility.
On the other hand, if you’re working on a military or government program requiring solutions that are open, scalable and interoperable with other suppliers, then the SOSA™ standard is the way to go. It guarantees compliance with a rigorous framework, validated by US defense agencies, and promotes the sustainability of developments.
More and more market players are designing “SOSA-aligned” products, meaning compliant with the requirements of the standard while keeping a degree of integration flexibility. This is notably the case for reflex ces, which offers the AV153 board, a high-performance 3U VPX solution perfectly aligned with SOSA™ architecture. By combining modularity, interoperability and processing power, this board illustrates the compromise sought between technological innovation and open standardization, at the service of critical applications such as electronic warfare, signal processing or radar systems.