New computer boards offer high performance, thermal management, and peripherals in a smaller size than 3U VPX, with artificial intelligence (AI) and GPGPU processing.

Aviation cybersecurity mandates by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are coming in the next two years.

Industry experts say open standards are helping drive development in small-form-factor battlefield and aerospace hardware like system-on-chip and single-board computers.

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components are being embraced so the technology can be serviced at the base instead of waiting for specialized parts or sending the system back state-side.

U.S. government and military are taking a lead role in protecting sensitive computers from cyber attack, and solutions finally are on the horizon.

Attacks are getting sophisticated. Examples include Rowhammer, Meltdown, Spectre, and others. System designers need to consider many attack vectors.

The trusted computing task is to apply practical measures that can mitigate the effects of known cyber threats to aerospace and defense systems.

Paul Hart discusses the latest EASA regulations for cybersecurity and DO-326A Airworthiness Security Process Specifications.