Abaco Systems / SBS VR9 High-Performance, Rugged 6U VMEbus Embedded Computer

The Abaco Systems VR9 is a high-performance, rugged 6U VMEbus embedded computer engineered for demanding industrial automation, medical, scientific, imaging, telecommunication, military, and aerospace applications. This single-board computer delivers functional integration within a single VME slot, offering Intel Pentium M processing up to 1.8 GHz paired with up to 2 GB DDR SDRAM with ECC. The VR9 combines onboard graphics acceleration, dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 connectivity, and dual serial channels with configurable dual-display support—all within a form factor compliant with ANSI/VITA 20-2001 and VITA 31.1 standards.

– Technical Specifications

Processor & Memory
• Intel Pentium M: 600 MHz to 1.8 GHz, 0.13 μm technology
• Up to 2 GB DDR SDRAM with ECC @ 200 MHz
• Low-power design architecture

Graphics & Display
• 256-bit 3D/2D graphics accelerator (version 2.x) or 128/256-bit 3D/2D/multimedia accelerator (version 3.x, RoHS)
• 32 MB onboard frame buffer (66–190 MHz) with dual CRTC simultaneous dual display
• Local DDR memory: 16 MB or 64 MB @ 125–200 MHz
• VGA/LCD output to 2048 × 1536 resolution

Storage & I/O
• Flash drive up to 1 GB
• 2.5″ hard disk support via Ultra ATA/100 (100 MB/sec)
• Dual Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 BaseT) with Intel 82546EB controller
• Two RS-232/422/485 serial ports, 16550-compatible, up to 115.2 kbaud
• Three USB 2.0 ports (one front, two rear)
• VGA/TFT, PS/2 keyboard and mouse interfaces

Expansion & Integration
• Two PMC extension slots: 64-bit/66 MHz + 32-bit/33 MHz
• Three independent onboard PCI buses
• VME64x backplane support via Tundra Universe IID interface
• Real-time clock (RTC 146818 compatible) with Li-battery backup
• 242-byte CMOS RAM, EEPROM

System Management
• Dual programmable watchdog timers: 4.8–76 seconds (0.6 s increments) and 1–255 minutes (1 min increments)
• CPU temperature monitoring: −65°C to +127°C, 1°C resolution; board, heatsink, and card-edge sensors

– Key Features

• Single-slot VME integration with high functional density
• Conduction-cooled thermal design (ANSI/VITA 20-2001)
• Flexible graphics output: dual simultaneous displays to 2048 × 1536
• Mixed-speed PCI mezzanine expansion (64-bit and 32-bit slots)
• Redundant watchdog monitoring for mission-critical uptime

– Typical Applications

Industrial control systems, medical imaging platforms, scientific instrumentation, real-time telecommunications, military embedded systems, and aerospace avionics.

– Compatibility & Integration

IEEE Std. 1101.2-1992, ANSI/VITA 20-2001, VITA 31.1, IEEE P1386/1386.1 (PMC). VME64x backplane architecture enables drop-in integration into existing 6U VME systems.