Small Form Factor (SFF) Mission System Modularity Enables Choice of Distributed or Consolidated Architectures

System architects for defence and aerospace platforms are tasked to not only fit all required mission electronics payloads onboard their size, weight and power (SWaP) constrained platforms, but also meet reliability, scalability, performance, cost, and schedule constraints. Thanks to advances in modularity of rugged, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), small form factor (SFF) system design, integrators have more options than ever before to tailor embedded platform architectures around open-standards-based technologies that afford flexibility for how mission systems are integrated on a platform. A discrete-function, line replaceable unit (LRU), such as a mission processor, data storage device, Ethernet switch or network router can now be deployed standalone in a traditional distributed subsystem architecture, or combined in multifunction appliances that consolidate LRU functionality. As one size literally does not fit all applications, this white paper will explore some of the use-case considerations and technological advances driving integrators to pursue a distributed over a consolidated system architecture approach, and vice-versa. To find out more, download this free white paper.