{"id":19874,"date":"2024-11-07T14:17:07","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T19:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=19874"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:25:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:25:39","slug":"vin5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin5\/","title":{"rendered":"DY4 Orion V"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        DY4 Orion V\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"dy4-orion-v\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">DY4 Orion V<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin5]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-240x240.jpg\" alt=\"canada logo\" class=\"wp-image-20437\" style=\"width:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-160x160.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The DY4 Orion V was built by DY4 Systems, Inc., a company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. DY4 was known for specializing in rugged and high-reliability embedded computing systems primarily for military, aerospace, and industrial applications. Their expertise in creating durable systems for extreme conditions made them a trusted supplier in these sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"DY4 Orion V\" class=\"wp-image-20991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_131816580-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>DY4 Systems became a notable player in the defense and aerospace industry before being acquired by Curtiss-Wright Corporation in the early 2000s, which continued developing rugged embedded computing systems based on DY4\u2019s pioneering designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: DY4 Systems Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Embedded computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1982<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.05 &#8211; 0.07 (50-70 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    \n    <dl class=\"cu-description cu-component-updated\">\n        \n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-hardware-specifications\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Hardware Specifications\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-hardware-specifications\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor<\/strong>: Zilog Z80 CPU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>: Expandable RAM, typically including 64 KB and up to 256 KB RAM cards (one often used as a RAM disk).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Dual full-size 8-inch floppy diskette drives built into the chassis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: Required external display and keyboard (such as the DY-4 VGT-100)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-operating-system-programming-languages\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Operating System &amp; Programming Languages\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-operating-system-programming-languages\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CP\/M 2.2 operating system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, Pascal, and assembly language, as well as other languages available for CP\/M systems at the time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-notables\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Notables\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-notables\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The DY4 Orion V was designed and manufactured in Ottawa, Canada, by DY-4 Systems Inc., a company founded by four engineers in 1979.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It featured a modular STD-bus architecture and dual built-in 8&#8243; diskette drives, which was unusual for desktop computers of its era.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Orion V could be configured as either a standalone desktop or a rack-mountable system, catering to both laboratory and industrial environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One Orion V in the York University Computer Museum was nicknamed &#8220;Pegasus&#8221; during its use at the University of Ottawa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DY4 products, including the Orion V, were known for their ruggedness and reliability, finding use in harsh environments and critical applications like air traffic control, military command, and aerospace systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Orion V contributed to DY4&#8217;s reputation, helping the company become a global leader in embedded and ruggedized computing, with its technology later used in tanks, submarines, airplanes, and spacecraft worldwide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-donated-by\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Donated By\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-donated-by\">\n            \n\n<p>Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/dl>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>City of Ottawa<\/strong>: DY4 Systems Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Canadian<\/strong>: DY4 Systems Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/City-of-Ottawa-logo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"213\" height=\"105\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/City-of-Ottawa-logo.png\" alt=\"City of Ottawa\" class=\"wp-image-23620\" style=\"width:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/City-of-Ottawa-logo.png 213w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/City-of-Ottawa-logo-160x79.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-160x160.jpg\" alt=\"canada logo\" class=\"wp-image-20437\" style=\"width:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-160x160.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/canada.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DY4 Orion V [Vin5] The DY4 Orion V was built by DY4 Systems, Inc., a company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. DY4 was known for specializing in rugged and high-reliability embedded computing systems primarily for military, aerospace, and industrial applications. Their expertise in creating durable systems for extreme conditions made them a trusted supplier in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[135,90,123],"class_list":["post-19874","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-business-industrial","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19874"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24958,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19874\/revisions\/24958"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=19874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}