Vital Hardware Corporation's QMC Modules and Transport Boards Now Accessible for Purchase
Acromag Unveils Compact VITA 93 QMC Mezzanine Cards for Unmanned Vehicles
Acromag has announced the release of a new line of VITA 93 QMC small-form-factor mezzanine cards, designed to meet the increasing demands for smaller form factors and higher performance in unmanned vehicles and narrow payload tubes.
The VITA 93 QMC modules include the QMC350 (analog input module), QMC440 (digital input module), QMC450 (digital output module), QMC510 (octal serial communication module), QMC520 (quad isolated serial communication module), QMC730 (multifunction I/O module). These modules are engineered to provide high-density I/O and high-speed data interfaces in a compact, scalable form factor, ideal for integration in small spaces like narrow payload tubes of unmanned aerial or ground vehicles.
The VITA 93 QMC standard, an open standard supported by a number of vendors and backed by VITA, defines four different, compatible form factors. The standard also outlines the layout for both mezzanine cards and carrier boards, ensuring seamless integration. The wider modules provide more bandwidth and more I/O connections.
The new modules from Acromag fit in a Single QMC slot. They feature a pair of connectors that provide a x4 PCI Express Gen 4 interface and 20 differential or 40 single-ended I/O ports with multiple ground lines for clean signals. The connectors are available in 9-, 11-, 14-, and 16-mm stack heights, offering flexibility for various applications.
Each module has four mounting holes for bolting to the carrier board, which is critical for applications with shock and vibration. The carrier boards with multiple slots can handle different combinations of mezzanine modules, allowing for modular expansion and versatility in system design.
The I/O connections are organized as five I/O pipes, and the modules also have an I2C interface that supports the intelligent platform management interface (IPMI). This design enables efficient system management and monitoring, crucial for unmanned vehicles.
Acromag has also released a half-length PCI Express carrier card with a single QMC slot, providing a convenient solution for integrating these high-performance mezzanine cards into various systems. The VITA 93 QMC connectors are based on the AcceleRate HD Ultra-Dense Slim Body Array connectors from Samtec, ensuring reliable and high-speed operation.
In summary, the key applications of VITA 93 QMC cards in unmanned vehicles and narrow payload tubes center on their ability to deliver rugged, high-performance computing and I/O capabilities within extremely compact footprints suited for shock/vibration-prone and space-constrained environments. These mezzanine cards are ideal for sensor processing, AI co-processing, communication interfaces, and control systems in unmanned aerial, ground, or marine vehicles.
[1] Acromag Press Release: "Acromag Introduces VITA 93 QMC Mezzanine Cards for High-Performance, Rugged I/O in Small Form Factors," link [2] VITA Technologies: "VITA 93 QMC Standard," link [3] Samtec: "AcceleRate HD Ultra-Dense Slim Body Array Connectors," link [4] Acromag Product Page: "VITA 93 QMC Mezzanine Cards," link
Technology advancements in data-and-cloud-computing have made it possible for Acromag's VITA 93 QMC mezzanine cards to facilitate high-speed data interfaces and high-density I/O, suitable for small, shock/vibration-prone environments like the narrow payload tubes of unmanned vehicles. These compact modules, engineered with the latest technology, are crucial for various applications such as sensor processing, AI co-processing, communication interfaces, and control systems in unmanned aerial, ground, or marine vehicles.
