Rugged embedded computer system.

Impulse Embedded now supplies the ECX-3000 series from Vecow, a fanless embedded system powered by the latest range of Intel 12th Generation Core ‘Alder Lake’ processors. Featuring breakthrough technologies, enhanced graphics and high speed I/O the ECX-3000 series is perfectly suited for IoT, machine vision, in-vehicle computing, public safety and Edge AI applications.

The 12th Generation Intel Core processor family is Intel’s first to contain two different cores in a single chip design. With up to 8 performance cores and 8 efficient cores the Alder Lake offers users a new intelligent workload optimisation feature called Thread Director.

Thread Director has been designed by Intel with the help of Microsoft to manage resources at a processor level with assigning correct tasks. Low power background processes can be managed by “Efficient” cores leaving “Performance” cores free and available for heavy lifting when needed. This processor optimisation is great for AI and Edge applications where there is a need for the system to be running all the time doing low level monitoring and reporting, whilst occasionally needing to react to an event with a process heavy workload as quickly as possible. In addition to these intelligent workload optimisation features the Alder Lake CPU features Intel UHD 770 graphics, an integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) built around Intel Xe graphics featuring up to 32 execution units which can be used to accelerate neural networks in object identification, processing, and other Edge AI tasks.

Comprehensive I/O and expansion options for a variety of embedded applications The ECX-3000 is packed with high speed I/O including new features such as six 10Gbps USB3.2 Gen 2 ports and up to eight 2.5GbE Ethernet ports with two models (ECX-3071XRT/XFR) supporting even faster 10GbE LAN speeds. Every system has at least one 2.5GbE Ethernet port that supports TSN (Time Sensitive Networking), a crucial step forward in high-speed Edge communication standards, allowing critical information to be transmitted in real-time. Moreover, there are options for up to four 2.5GbE PoE+ ports offering 25.5W / 48V per port power for the latest IP cameras and other PoE powered devices.

In addition to its high-speed I/O options, all ECX-3000 models come with one M.2 3042/3052 B-key socket suitable for 5G modules, one M.2 2230 E-key socket plus one miniPCIe slot for expansion modules. Quad display output support comes via two DisplayPort, one HDMI and one DVI-I interface. For storage there are two SATA III ports, one mSATA connector and one M.2. 2280 M-key (PCIe x4) socket with some models offering easy front access removable storage.

As with all of their embedded computing range, Impulse can fully configure the ECX-3000 to customer’s exact specification in their  engineering facility with a wide choice of processor, memory, storage, peripheral card and operating system.

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EN50155-compliant 3U CompactPCI® processor blade delivers high reliability for railway services!

ADLINK Technology has announced availability of its new 3U CompactPCI® processor blade, the cPCI-3620, which runs on a low power, quad-core Intel® Atom™ System-on-Chip (SoC) carrying up to 4GB DDR3L-1333 ECC soldered memory and providing ample computing power with a thermal envelope of less than 10W. A fanless system compliant with EN50155, the cPCI-3620 features outstanding anti-vibration capabilities, excellent reliability and is well-suited for rolling stock applications, such as Automatic Train Control (ATC) for both wayside and onboard scenarios.

ATC system examples include Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) and Automatic Train Operation (ATO). ATO systems use an onboard controller to collect wayside signals and compute optimised speed curves and braking profiles to enable automated travel between stations with appropriate speed and smooth stops at the correct location in each station. To create an intelligent, automated control process, the ATO system requires adequate computing power, networking functionality, reliability, and remote monitoring and management capabilities.

The cPCI-3620 has been fully tested for the railway operating environment in order to support EN50155 compliance. Other features, such as a fanless design, extra-wide operating temperature range from -40 °C to +70 °C (-40 °C to +85 °C with airflow), EMC/EMI protection, hot-swappability, MIL-STD M12 connectors for GbE ports and DB-9 USB ports, further reinforce the product’s reliability and longevity and make it ideal for railway applications which are prone to shock, vibration and electromagnetic interference.

The cPCI-3620 Series is available in several SKUs to meet a wide range of application requirements. For instance, the cPCI-3620N is designed as a non-front-panel-I/O processor blade; it’s front panel LEDs display the status of rear LAN and SATA drive activity for operators, allowing them to inspect the system from the front without obstruction from cabling. Fewer cables also increase reliability and ease of management.

ADLINK cPCI-3620 supports an ADLINK-developed intelligent middleware called SEMA (Smart Embedded Management Agent), which allows system operators to monitor system health status and handle management tasks. It helps prevent system failure, enabling diagnosis and troubleshooting to minimise system downtime.

Compact, robust, green and intelligent, ADLINK’s cPCI-3620 is not only ideal for developing smart and safe railway systems, but is also suitable for other vertical markets, such as aerospace and industrial communications.