Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft), Author at CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

Flow Browser, a Raspberry Pi optimized web browser for HMI

Flow Browser Raspberry Pi Optimized web browser

Most people will use Chromium on Raspberry Pi boards simply because it’s now the default browser in Raspberry Pi OS. But the performance may not be optimal, and UK-based Ekioh has developed the Flow Browser optimized for performance on Raspberry Pi with multi-thread support and 3D accelerated graphics. There’s a caveat though, as the Flow Browser has been developed from the ground up, i.e. not based on Webkit or Mozilla Engine, with human-machine interfaces (HMI) in mind, rather than individuals browsing the web, and that means that while performance will be better, site compatibility does suffer at this point in time. Key features in Flow Browser Before going into benchmarks and other tests, let’s check some of the key features listed for Flow Browser: HTML & CSS3CSS – Animations and Transitions, CSS Transforms (2D and 3D), CSS Flexbox, Bi-directional text layout Graphics – Web Fonts – Canvas, SVG & WebGL […]

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

ClearCore – An Arduino compatible Industrial I/O and Motion Controller

Teknic, a US-based manufacturer of servo motion control components, has designed ClearCore, a Microchip SAME53 Arm Cortex-M4 based industrial I/O and motion controller that can be programmed with the Arduino IDE for quick prototyping, or Atmel Studio 7 with a more advanced C++ API for more complex projects. ClearCore offers four motion axes, 24-volt compatible analog and digital I/O, support for I/O expansion modules, as well as serial and/or Ethernet connectivity via RJ45 ports. Multiple ClearCore can also be daisy-chained for larger applications. ClearCore key features and specifications: MCU – Microchip SAME53 Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller clocked at up to 120 MHz, with 512 KB flash, 192 KB of SRAM Storage – MicroSD card slot Connectivity 1x 10/100M Fast Ethernet RJ45 port Support for Xbee modules for wireless communication (WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, DigiMesh, 802.15.4, etc.) I/Os 2x RJ45 serial ports for SPI or UART devices (5V output) 3-pin terminal blocks with […]

March 17, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

ECS LIVA M300-W industrial mini PC is powered by Rockchip RK3399K SoC

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is mostly known for its x86 motherboards and mini PCs, but earlier with year, ECS LIVA Q1A Arm mini PC was introduced with either Rockchip RK3288 or RK3399 SoC, and support for Linux and Android operating systems. But the Taiwanese company has now unveiled a new Arm-based industrial-grade mini PC with LIVA M300-W powered by Rockchip RK3399K processor that allows for either higher 2.0 GHz frequency at commercial temperature range, or the usual 1.8 GHz frequency in a wider (-20°C to +85°C) temperature range. ECS LIVA M300-W specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3399K hexa-core processor with two Cortex-A72 up to 1.8GHz/2.0GHz, four Cortex-A53 up to 1.4GHz, Arm Mali-T860MP4 GPU System Memory – 2GB/4GB DDR3L Storage – 32GB or 64 GB eMMC flash, internal Micro SD slot Video Output 1x HDMI 2.0 port up to 4Kp60, CEC support 1x DisplayPort 1.2 port up to 4Kp60 Audio – 1x […]

March 16, 2021March 17, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

UP Squared Pro SBC gets more I/Os, 3x M.2 sockets, TPM 2.0 security chip

UP Squared Apollo Lake SBC was launched in 2016 via a crowdfunding campaign with a price starting at just 89 Euros for the model with 2GB RAM 16GB storage, and a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor. AAEON has now announced an update simply called UP Squared Pro with many of the same features, but greater expandability and I/O features, for example, to add 5G modules and AI accelerators through one of the three M.2 sockets, as well as improved security via a TPM 2.0 chip. UP Squared Pro (UPN-APL01) specifications with highlights in bold or strikethrough in comparison to the UP Squared specifications (in 2016): SoC (one or the other) Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz with 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 650 MHz (6W TDP) Intel Pentium N4200 quad-core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.5 […]

March 16, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3 Arm eFPGA board launched in Crowd Supply

SparkFun Electronics is a well-known electronics retailer that usually sells its in-house developed or third-party boards through its own online store. But this time around, the company decided to launch “Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3” through Crowd Supply crowdfunding platform. The board is based on QuickFeather board designed with the same Quicklogic EOS S3 Arm Cortex-M4 plus embedded FPGA SoC, but follows Sparkfun’s Thing Plus form factor with a Qwiic connector and a different mix of sensors. Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3 (QTPLUS-1.0) board specifications: SoC – QuickLogic EOS S3 MCU + eFPGA SoC with Arm Cortex-M4F Microcontroller up to 80 MHz, up to 512 Kb SRAM, and an embedded FPGA (eFPGA) with 2400 effective logic cells, 64 Kb RAM Storage – 16 Mbit SPI NOR flash (GigaDevice GD25Q16CEIGR) Sensors STMicro LIS2DH12TR accelerometer Digital pulse density modulation (PDM) microphone with Wake-on-Sound (WoS) feature: Vesper VM3011-U1 Expansion […]

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

Onlogic industrial Raspberry Pi CM4 based mini PC to offer dual GbE, USB 3.1, M.2 SATA socket

Onlogic Raspberry-Pi CM4 mini PC Dual GbE

Yesterday, we covered two Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier boards with dual Ethernet ports, including one from Seeed Studio with dual Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.1 ports, and another from MCUZone with Gigabit + Fast Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 ports, plus a 4G LTE modem. But Onlogic will soon add another option with a complete Raspberry Pi CM4 based industrial mini PC with dual Gigabit Ethernet, teased as “One Tough Pi”, as well as USB 3.2/2.0 ports, M.2 SATA storage, and more. Onlogic “One Tough Pi” mini PC preliminary specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 module with up to 8 GB LPDDR4 memory, 32 GB eMMC flash storage Storage – M.2 2280 SATA SSD support Video & audio output – 1x Micro HDMI port up to 4Kp60 Connectivity – 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports USB – 3x USB ports include 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, and 2x USB 2.0 ports; 1x […]

March 15, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

NORVI ENET DIN-Rail ESP32 Industrial Controller adds Ethernet port

Announced in 2019, NORVI IIOT industrial controller features an ESP32 WiFi and Bluetooth module, a choice of OLED or TFT Display, 24V DC input, and several analog and digital I/Os all housed in a DIN Rail enclosure. Sri Lanka-based ICONIC DEVICES has now announced an updated version with NORVI ENET DIN-Rail ESP32 industrial gateway based on a similar design, but with the addition of an Ethernet port using W5500 SPI to Ethernet controller. NORVI ENET (AE06) specifications: Wireless Module – ESP32-WROOM32 with ESP32 dual-core processor @ 160 MHz, 520 Kbytes SRAM / 4 Mbit Flash, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 Storage – MicroSD card slot Display – Built-in 0.96″ OLED display Communication – 10/100M Ethernet via W5500 controller, WiFi, Bluetooth, optional LoRa or NB-IoT module I/Os 8x 24V digital inputs for rotary encoders, sensors AE06-R model only – 4x 5A relay outputs for solenoid valves, contactors AE06-T model only – […]

March 15, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

Raspberry Pi CM4 boards offer dual Ethernet, 4G LTE

Since the launch of Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM4Lite systems-on-module last October, we’ve seen carrier boards bring their own set of features including industrial communication interfaces, a stereoscopic camera, four SATA ports to build a NAS, a DIN-rail based industrial controller, and more. But so far, I have not seen a Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier board with dual Ethernet ports. Seeed Studio’s “Dual Gigabit Ethernet Carrier Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4” was brought to our attention this morning, but there’s another one with 4G LTE connectivity, Fast+Gigabit Ethernet ports, and extra I/Os courtesy of MCUZone’s CM4-4G IO board. Let’s have a look at both of them. Dual Gigabit Ethernet Carrier Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Specifications: Supported SoMs – Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM4Lite with up to 8GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash, optional WiFi & Bluetooth Storage – MicroSD card slot to load OS on CM4Lite […]