Embedded industrial computer: small body, big brain

Anyone checking the big events in manufacturing will surprisingly notice that machine vision has taken the place. Industry 4.0, a concept brought up in 2015, has vigorously developed and keeps soaring. To keep up, many industrial-related businesses now adopt machine vision for better efficiency. It requires a whole set of machines to work including camera, lens, industrial computer and light source, etc.

Then here comes the question: what is the pearl on the crown? The answer, for sure, is industrial computer which is the head of the whole body. If a set of machine vision system is a human body, then industrial PC is the head. It controls the whole set and outputs results.

Industrial computers can be divided into 3 genre: OPS, HTPC and embedded, and each for specific scenario. Among those, embedded PC is definitely one of the most popular the widest used type in different industries. Embedded industrial computer is a kind of rugged & enhanced industrial computer , which is especially designed for industrial environment where a compact structure is essential.

Here comes the question: what are the advantages of embedded industrial computer?

Embedded industrial computer is small in size and the main hardware of it is concentrated in the chassis, which makes it easily fit into basically any equipment and control cabinet. Taking small room and easy to maintain are the top 2 advantages of embedded industrial computer.

The embedded industrial computer supports various expansion interfaces, providing maximum flexibility for different industrial applications. The high-performance embedded IPC also supports POE ports, allowing data to be transmitted over Ethernet cables, reducing complexity, installation and maintenance costs while increasing network security and reliability.

The chassis adopts a fully enclosed fanless design. The heat dissipation contact surface of the CPU is coated with a layer of thermally conductive silica gel which is in direct contact with the fins of the chassis, transferring the internal heat of the industrial computer to the fins, so that the embedded industrial computer can effectively dissipate heat even though there is no fan placed inside the chassis.

One of the major differences between industrial computer and personal computer is that the working environment. In manufacturing, industrial computers are often challenged by dusty and watery environment. The embedded industrial computer is noiseless and dust-proof, and the heat of the machine itself is dissipated through the fully enclosed alloy chassis, which can not only solve the heat dissipation problem of the industrial computer, but also play a role in preventing dust and moisture.

The embedded industrial computer uses an embedded, low-power motherboard, and many hardware of the machine itself are integrated on the motherboard, so it can well avoid problems caused by various external connections.

The cost is relatively low. Compared with the traditional industrial computer, the embedded industrial computer does not need other complex devices which results in the low cost. Embedded industrial computer is a good choice when some highly complex output results are not required.

With that being said, many may still confused and wonder what are the using scenarios of embedded industrial computers. Where are embedded industrial computers commonly used?

The traditional industrial computer takes up much more space and it cannot fit in a small industrial space. The small and flexible embedded industrial computer shows its irreplaceable use when it comes to a limited space to spare.

It can interact with traditional industrial computers. In some more complex scenarios, the embedded industrial computer is connected to the entire machine vision system as the lower end of the traditional industrial computer. Multiple embedded industrial computers, as the middle platform of traditional industrial computers and machine vision, firstly process and integrate information, and then enter the traditional industrial computers for subsequent processes.

Conclusion

Due to the fact that embedded industrial computers have the characteristics of low power consumption, small in size, fanless and strong stability, they have been widely used in industrial automation, video surveillance, machine vision, rail transit, communications, medical equipment, self-service terminals, in-vehicle equipment, intelligent transportation, financial monitoring, electricity and many other fields. Without doubt, it has become one of the mainstream choices of industrial computer.