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

The Abaco Systems VR9 is a, 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

• 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 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.