Flexible FPGA chip with integrated AFDX protocol for aircraft systems

MEN Micro has released the CS1, an FPGA chip with an integrated AFDX protocol that provides a flexible alternative for communication in aircraft. The customizable CS1 enables users to build AFDX-based communication systems independent of a form factor. The new FPGA can be installed directly on the boards of an AFDX end system. This eliminates the need of an additional module to integrate the AFDX protocols, which send information between avionics subsystems in airborne applications. Specifically designed for the demands of safety-critical avionic applications, the new chip is DO-254-compliant FPGA certifiable up to DAL-A, with a DAL-D certification support package available in March 2015, says the company.