Epiq Solutions VPX400 Demonstrates MORA 2.4 Compliance

Traditionally RF and digital hardware in the defense industry has followed a siloed architecture, meaning that many pieces of hardware or systems could not easily interoperate with, or even identify, adjacent pieces of equipment. To enable more rapid deployment of new technology, and introduce the ability to mix and match the best hardware from a range of potential vendors, defense industries around the world have been creating open architecture standards for next-generation equipment. Open standardization is now a requirement for many systems within the defense industry allowing for an increased level of flexibility, more rapid deployment cycles, and greater overall levels of system capability. But, compliance with these standards can be difficult, as the standards themselves and the hardware technology are both rapidly evolving. 

Epiq Solutions, through our own internal development as well as our partnerships with companies such as Sciens Innovations, is at the leading edge of SOSA and MORA compliance and readiness. This summer Epiq demonstrated MORA 2.4 compliance with the Sidekiq VPX400 at the Open Innovation Lab (OIL) located at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG). At the OIL demonstration, Epiq Solutions integrated a Sidekiq VPX400 card with a SOSA-aligned processor card in a 3U VPX chassis. A host computer running the Compliance Test Suite (CTS) then ran MORA Device Management Parameters Tests 1, 2, 5, and 7; and MORA Signal Resource Management Interface Tests 1, 2, and 4. 

These tests were validating that the VPX400 was properly acknowledged in the chassis, and that it could broadcast its feature set and capability on the Victory Data Bus (VDB), as well as receive commands from the processor card on the VDB. By successfully completing these tests, the VPX400 has proven MORA and SOSA compliance. Looking to the future, Epiq plans to maintain MORA compliance both on future SDRs as well as future revisions to the MORA standard. 

For those new to the open architecture standards, below is a brief overview of OpenVPX, MORA, and SOSA. 

OpenVPX

VPX is the overarching standard for computer bus technology, and OpenVPX is the attempt to make that standard interoperable across multiple vendors. OpenVPX standardizes the backplane connectors available in a VPX chassis, as well as assigns signals to common connector locations. Epiq Solutions is primarily focused on the 3U VPX form factor, which has a small footprint of 100mm x 160mm, with a typical backplane connector spacing of one inch. OpenVPX will enable a 3U multichannel solution for a range of payloads, such as software-defined radios (SDR), switch modules, single-board computers, and more. 

MORA (Modular Open Radio Frequency Architecture)

MORA is an open standard that is focused on RF SDR, tuner and RadioHead payloads in a VPX chassis. Before standards like MORA, every piece of RF hardware might have had a unique process for identifying the hardware in the VPX chassis, or for controlling aspects of the hardware in the chassis during operating - parameters like frequency, bandwidth, and gain. MORA standardizes both the identification and control of these VPX RF payloads. For the user, this allows for rapid adoption of new technology. A MORA compliant device can be inserted into the VPX chassis and be immediately recognized by the other devices already in the chassis, as well as expose the new RF hardware’s capability to the rest of the chassis. Finally, the new RF hardware can be easily controlled through a standard set of instructions that is common across all MORA compatible RF payloads. This standardization allows for more rapid RF payload integration and system upgrades as new technology becomes available.  

SOSA (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) 

The SOSA consortium establishes guidelines for C4SIR systems (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance). The consortium's objective is to allow for flexibility and to better enable new hardware capability to be introduced in the C4ISR system’s life cycle. This technical standard is meant to help defense and government initiatives scale to meet rapidly evolving threats and requirements.

The Sidekiq VPX400 by Epiq

The Sidekiq VPX400 by Epiq is a new wideband RF transceiver in a 3U VPX form factor. It is a modular solution that enables rapid deployment in SIGINT and EW platforms, while reducing power consumption, total slot count, and integration time. This solution is built for scale with:

• A wider net. Access RF tuning ranging from 1MHz to 6Hz. 
• 4-channel phase coherency. Operates at 200MHz IBW with 4 channels, 400MHz with 2 channels. 
• Power efficiency. From antenna-to-bits, consuming less than 30W of power. 

Built with standardization in mind

Aligned to meet SOSA’s technical standard, the VPX400 is customizable and configurable, allowing for on-the-go configuration with futureproofing as the goal. This means that as time goes by, this SDR won’t be outmoded anytime soon.  

Move forward with confidence

Open architecture isn’t just technology or devices — it’s about the potential it brings to the end user. Epiq Solutions will continue to meet rigorous standardization requirements both on future SDRs and adapting on updates to the specification. 

Potential threats and needs for stronger security come in unexpected forms and we rise to meet them. Through successful testing and proven application in the field, the VPX400 and the rest of Epiq Solutions’ catalog enable more cost-effective and time-efficient security and defense improvements, both domestic and abroad.