Abaco Systems Launches its First VNX+ Product

Abaco Systems has introduced the VNX382, marking the company’s initial entry into the VNX+ small-form-factor product class. Aligned with the VITA 90 and VNX+ open standards, the single-board computer leverages an NXP i.MX95 system-on-chip to deliver edge computing performance within a low-SWaP footprint. The hardware is engineered to support tactical edge computing, secure communications networks, unmanned autonomous vehicles, flight control systems, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensor payloads without degrading processing safety margins.

Multicore Processing, Edge AI, and Hardware-Enforced Security
Processing tasks are managed by six lockstep-capable Arm Cortex-A55 cores paired with a dedicated Arm Cortex-M7 core that serves as an isolated safety domain. This separation allows the hardware to run diverse real-time operating systems (RTOS) across functional safety-critical defense applications. Local artificial intelligence workloads are handled by an onboard Arm Mali graphics processor and an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) providing 2 TOPS of inference capacity, running local sensor fusion and situational awareness algorithms without latency overhead from external host processors.

Integrated hardware security utilizes the NXP EdgeLock Secure Enclave, providing cryptographic isolation, inline memory encryption for data at rest and in transit, and post-quantum cryptographic primitives. Hardware resource partitioning guarantees operational segregation between certifiable flight control sequences and lower-security tactical software routines.

Standards Alignment and Modular Packaging Options
Ratified by ANSI in 2026 after joint technical development across VITA and the Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Consortium, the VNX+ framework migrates VPX architecture into small-envelope platforms. Peripheral networking across the board includes 1GbE and 10GbE interfaces with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) compliance, along with USB and Controller Area Network (CAN) bus connectivity.

Packaging configurations allow system integrators to specify the SBC as a SOSA-aligned VNX+ module in VITA 90.0 sidewall-conduction-cooled or VITA 90.4 wedgelock-conduction-cooled form factors, or as a standalone mezzanine System-on-Module (SOM) for custom enclosure integrations.

Abaco Systems is demonstrating the VNX382 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting from October 12–14 in Washington, D.C., at booth #751.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications not included in the original news release.

The VITA 90 (VNX+) standard establishes a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) occupying roughly 30 percent of the physical volume of a traditional 3U VPX enclosure while preserving compatibility with modern high-speed serial interconnect fabrics. In VITA 90.4 implementations, wedgelock retention systems conduct thermal dissipation directly from the module heat frame into the chassis sidewall ribs, enabling sealed convectionless conduction cooling rated to withstand mechanical shocks up to 40g and extended operating temperatures spanning −40°C to +85°C. The underlying NXP Energy Flex architecture allows the Cortex-M real-time microcontroller core and peripheral IO blocks to operate on an independent internal power plane, permitting low-power surveillance sleep states and instant-on wake routines without powering up the high-voltage Cortex-A55 application core complex. Inter-module data movement over backplane traces relies on PCIe Gen 3 lanes alongside IEEE 802.1Qbv time-aware traffic shapers embedded directly into the 10-Gigabit Ethernet controller stack, guaranteeing deterministic sub-millisecond latencies for closed-loop flight actuators and distributed sensor telemetry.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.