Whether in aviation, defense or industrial automation: Embedded systems are the backbone of complex electronic systems. However, the way in which data is transferred between components has changed fundamentally in recent decades.
The story begins in the 1940s with the founding of Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC).
Their goal: The standardization of electronic communication in aircraft. ARINC thus became the central driver for interoperable aviation electronics.
The digital transformation has significantly increased the requirements for embedded systems. What used to be analog sensors and simple control commands are now high-resolution cameras, extensive diagnostic data and real-time controls. The consequences:
These requirements led to a technological leap in the physical transmission level.
In the past, coaxial cables dominated as the go-to-solution - robust, electromagnetically shielded and comparatively easy to integrate. But they are coming up against physical limits:
This is where fiber optics took over
The simple integration of these technologies was already supported in the past by standardized units such as board-to-board connections according to VITA 67 (coaxial). However, with the increasing introduction of more powerful glass fiber technology, these standards have also been replaced. The current VITA 66 (board-to-board glass fiber) solutions offered the perfect conditions for replacing the coaxial connections with as little effort as possible.
Due to the considerable advantages of the contactless Expanded Beam Performance technology, it is very likely that the distribution of the VITA 66 variant will also decline in the future to make room for its highly potent successor, VITA 96.
The future belongs to networked, software-defined embedded systems - in the air, on the road and in industry. Glass fiber is becoming a critical infrastructure:
From ARINC 429 to the requirements of modern embedded systems and the insert of fiber optics: Standardization, miniaturization and high-performance transmission are not a contradiction, but a logical development path. Anyone planning embedded communication today should not just focus on yesterday's standards - but actively shape technological change.
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