Embedded PCs and Featured Products January 11 - 14

What to Expect from an Embedded PC

Written by
Kathleen Conroy
Published on
January 14, 2022 at 3:29:45 PM PST January 14, 2022 at 3:29:45 PM PSTth, January 14, 2022 at 3:29:45 PM PST


What to Expect from an Embedded PC




What do you think of when you hear the term Embedded System or Embedded PC? I am dating myself here,

but I envision a PC104 stack in a Tri-M Technologies CanTainer. Although there are PC104 stacks out there still doing important work, the world of Embedded Systems and Industrial PCs has come a long way in the last 20 years!






An Embedded PC is a rugged system built with highly reliable, high quality components that will provide years of service. There are a number of off-the-shelf fanless options going by names like Box PCs, Industrial PCs or Fanless PCs, and they range in performance from 486 processors used primarily in legacy systems to high compute power systems featuring the latest Intel® processors and integrated NVIDIA® GPUs used primarily for Edge and Edge AI computing.


These systems deliver tremendous reliability and long life expectancy, as well as long life cycles so that drop in replacements will be available for years. Fanless operation means that less dust, debris, grease, and humidity are pulled into your system. Rugged enclosures protect the systems from dirt and debris, as well as shock and vibration. Extended temperature ranges are available. 


Embedded PCs operate reliably in settings with poor ventilation, limited space, temperature extremes, and harsh conditions. A wide array of processing performance is available, and Embedded PCs provide a wide range of IO to make it easy to interface with auxiliary devices. 



ICOP Box PCs


ICOP manufactures a number of fanless embedded systems, which they call Box PCs. ICOP Box PCs feature DM&P® Vortex86 processors, Intel Apollo Lake and Braswell processors, and NXP® i.MX8M Mini processor. Their most popular x86 versions feature the DM&P Vortex86DX3, a high performance i586 1GHz dual core SOC. The Vortex86DX3 is compatible with 32-bit versions of Windows, Linux, and popular real time operating systems, and supports a wide array of I/O. You will find ICOP Box PCs in POS systems, digital signage, and kiosks, as well as in industrial automation.


We opened our Product-of-the-Day feature this week with the EBOX-i.MX8M from ICOP Technologies. Like all ICOP Box PCs, this product is compact and fanless, and provides extensive IO including serial ports, USB ports, 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet ports, HDMI, and M.2 support. It is currently available at a special price of $219!


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Check out this Box PC from ICOP Technology Inc. featuring the NXP i.MX8M Mini ARM Cortex-A53 processor. Yocto Linux and Android 9 OS support. Quickly develop, test, & deploy systems for industrial control, kiosks, transportation, automation, and more! Use Promo Code CES2022 for special pricing while supplies last. In Stock.



ADLINK Fanless Embedded PC’s


ADLINK’s Matrix Series of embedded PCs includes both low profile all-in-one and expandable fanless systems. Matrix systems are designed for Edge AI and Edge computing applications, and they feature the high compute power of the latest Intel® Xeon®, Core™ and Atom® processors and integrated GPU computing from NVIDIA® GPUs. You will find ADLINK Matrix Systems in AI facial recognition systems, autonomous vehicles, telematic systems, and autonomous mobile robots.

 

We featured the MXC-2300-3S as a Product-of-the-Day this week. With dual-port CAN connectivity, 16-CH isolated DI/O for general industrial control, and 3 PCI/PCIe slots for expansion, the MXC-2300-3S is an ideal choice for industrial automation, facility management, and intelligent transportation systems.


The Matrix MXC-2300-3S from ADLINK Technology is a fanless embedded computer with minimal power consumption, exceptional 3D graphics, powerful media acceleration, rich I/O and abundant features! It is robust and reliable for high performance in compute intensive settings. In Stock!




Embedded Peripherals


Embedded systems require industrial quality peripherals that provide a high level of security and reliability, operate in harsh environments with little or no human intervention, and have long product life-cycles. 


MultiTech is a leader in providing industrial IoT communication solutions. Their products range from LoRaWAN access points and sensors, to cellular and private LTE routers, gateways, and modems. MultiTech specializes in highly durable communication products that are pre-certified for use anywhere on the globe. Although MultiTech offers embedded modems that can be integrated into any system, this week we featured the MultiTech MultiConnect® Cell 100 LTE Cat M1 Cellular Modem because sometimes you need to connect as simply and quickly as possible. The Cell 100 is carrier certified and military and SAE tested for ruggedness. 


The MultiTech MultiConnect Cell 100 LTE Cat M1 Cellular Modem is the reliable and low power solution for connecting to remote assets like fuel tanks and pipelines, kiosks or vending machines. Fully certified and easy to deploy. Ideal for industrial applications with a long lifecycle, durable construction, and reliable performance. In stock.




Innodisk manufactures flash memory, DRAM modules, and embedded peripheral products for the industrial marketplace. The EMPL-G2PI mPCIe to Dual PoE module was a natural choice to round out this week's Products-of-the-Day. 


Like the other products we looked at this week, the EMPL-G2PI features the highest quality components and is characterized by it’s high reliability and performance. The EMPL-G2PI makes it simple to add two extra Ethernet ports to any system with minimal increase in overall system size and power consumption. This module features standard operating temperature and a 4 pin header for power, and is also available in an extended temperature version or with an external DC power jack. Unlike similar products on the market, the Innodisk EMPL-G2PI features 2KV HiPOT and 1KV Surge Protection.



The Innodisk EMPL-G2PI mPCIe Power of Ethernet Expansion Module suitable for industrial systems. Supply electricity to connected devices without an outlet or adapter in sight! Easy installation, highly reliable, cost effective. Ideal for IP security cameras, wireless access points. With high voltage isolation protection. In Stock.


We will be focussing on SMARC modules and carrier boards this week. Remember you can follow us on Social Media (use the links below to the right) or check our homepage daily to see our Products of the Day.