industrial News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

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

Zidoo M6 preview with Android 11

I’ve now had more time to play with Zidoo M6 Arm mini PC powered by a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor. I intended to review the device with Ubuntu, but I misunderstood, and Android 11 was pre-installed on the device. I was also told since this model is mainly for industrial control, I might want to focus on performance and connectors rather than how well all functions work. So this will not be a review, but rather a preview of Zidoo M6, since as we’ll see below there’s still more work do to fix all issues. As an industrial platform. some features like Google Services may not be needed or even desirable. First boot and Settings I’ve connected a USB keyboard for screenshots, MINIX NEO A2 Lite air mouse, an HDMI cable to my 4K TV, and the power supply to get started. I also add two AAA batteries to […]

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments

IBASE launches 3.5-inch SBC with AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 processor

We’ve covered plenty of AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 SBCs in the past, but it appears IBASE IB952 might be the first 3.5-inch SBC with a Ryzen V2000 processor for the industrial and IoT markets. The board supports up to 64GB RAM, offers two SATA III ports for storage, dual Gigabit Ethernet networking, four display outputs with DisplayPort, eDP and LVDS interfaces, USB and serial ports, as well as expansion through two M.2 sockets. IBASE IB952 specifications: SoC – AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 with Radeon Vega graphics System Memory – DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM, up to 64GB with ECC support Storage 2x SATA III ports M.2 M-Key socket for NVMe SSD Flash for AMI BIOS Video Output 1x DisplayPort 1.4 port up to 4Kp60 1x DisplayPort 1.2 port via USB-C port up to 4Kp60 1x 24-bit dual-channel LVDS up to 1080p60 1x eDP (embedded DisplayPort) up to 4Kp60 Four independent display support Audio […]

October 9, 2021October 11, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

Iono RP – An industrial PLC with a Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU

Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU has been used in many boards, but I think I had seen the dual-core MCU in a PLC, or even any industrial products just yet. Sfera Labs Iono RP is a compact I/O module (PLC) with a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller that’s programmable in C/C++ and MicroPython, or even the Arduino IDE. The DIN-Rail mountable, RP2040 based industrial PLC offers digital and analog input and output lines, power relays, and an RS-485 interface, supports power input from 12V-24V with all signals accessible through terminal blocks. Sfera Labs can also provide some optional options such as an RTC or an earthquake sensor module. Iono RP PLC specifications: MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ @ 133MHz with 264kB on-chip SRAM Storage – 16MB SPI flash, optional microSD card slot Communication interface – standard RS-485 interface with electrostatic discharge protection Inputs/Outputs via terminal blocks 4x power relay […]

October 7, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

PICMG IoT.1 firmware specification targets IoT sensors and effecters

The PICMG consortium is better known for COM Express and COM HPC standards for x86 industrial computers-on-module, but last year they started catering to the IIoT sector with the introduction of the microSAM System-on-Module (micro Sensor Adapter Modules) standard for microcontrollers and IIoT sensors. The consortium has now ratified the IoT.1 firmware specification defining a communication standard between sensors/effecters and local IoT controllers such as microSAM specified by PICMGs IoT.0 specification. The PICMG IoT.1 standard, developed in collaboration with the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), defines a vendor-agnostic firmware interface and low-level data model that builds upon the Platform Level Data Model (PLDM) low-level messaging system, and adds features specific to industrial automation and control use cases. If like me, you’ve never heard about PLDM, PICMG explains: The PLDM is a low-level messaging system that supports topologies, eventing and discovery and runs over a variety of system level buses such […]

October 6, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Portenta H7 Lite Connected brings back WiFi & Bluetooth

Arduino has launched another Arduino Pro board! Well, sort of. Let’s not get too excited. The Portenta H7 Lite Connected is based on last month’s Portenta H7 Lite that itself was a cost-optimized version of Portenta H7 board without a wireless module, USB-C video output, and only fitted with the lower cost Microchip ATECC608 secure element. Portenta H7 Lite Connected is exactly the same board, except it brings back the Murata 1DX module with 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n WiFI 4 and Bluetooth 5.1 BR/EDR/LE connectivity, plus the related u.FL antenna connector. Portenta H7 Lite Connected specifications: Microcontroller – STMicro STM32H747XI Cortex-M7 @ 480 MHz + M4 @ 200 MHz MCU with 2MB dual-bank Flash memory, 1 MB RAM, Chrom-ART graphical hardware accelerator System Memory – 2MB SDRAM (upgradeable up to 64MB) Storage – 16MB QSPI NOR Flash (Upgradeable up to 128MB) Connectivity 2.4GHz WiFi 802.11b/g/n up to 65 Mbps and Bluetooth 5.1 […]

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

M5Stack TOUGH – A weatherproof ESP32 Industrial IoT controller

M5Stack TOUGH weatherproof ESP32 display

M5Stack has launched several ESP32 WiFi & BLuetooth IoT controllers with an integrated display such as M5Stack Core2. The latest model, M5Stack TOUGH, is a little different as it is rugged and waterproof/weatherproof with a UV resistant enclosure sealed with o-ring, and offering waterproof M12 connectors. With protection against solid objects, dust, sand, dirt, and water drops, as well as variety of installation options such as screw mount, rolled strip, magnetic and adhesive back, the M5Stack TOUGH is suitable for more demanding environments from kitchens to factory floors, and outdoor data acquisition. M5Stack TOUGH specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP32-D0WDQ6-V3 dual-core processor @ 240 MHz with 520 KB, 2.4 GHz WiFi, and dual-mode Bluetooth Extra RAM – 8MB PSRAM Storage – 16MB Flash, MicroSD card slot up to 16GB Display – 2-inch color LCD with multi-touch capacitive screen, 320×240 resolution, 853nit brightness; ILI9342C display driver and CHSC6540 chip Audio – NS4168 […]

September 29, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Nicla Sense ME – Arduino PRO meets Bosch SensorTech’s motion and environmental sensors

Arduino is going full steam ahead with its Arduino PRO family of boards for industrial applications. After the announcement of the Portenta H7 Lite board earlier this month, the company has now introduced the Arduino Nicla Sense ME designed in collaboration with Bosch Sensortec. The Nicla Sense ME (Motion & Environment) board comes with a range of Bosch Sensortec sensors notably a 9DoF smart motion sensor and a 4DoF environmental sensor with AI capabilities, and targets industrial IoT applications either for research projects, rapid prototyping, or commercial products. Arduino Nicla Sense ME specifications: MCU – Nordic Semi nRF52832 Cortex-M4 microcontroller @ 64 MHz with 512KB Flash, 64KB RAM, Bluetooth 4.2/5.0 LE connectivity (via U-blox ANNA B112 module) Storage – 2MB SPI flash for storage; 2MB QSPI dedicated for BHI260AP Sensors BHI260AP motion sensor system with integrated AI, “Fuser 2” 32-bit Synopsys DesignWare ARC EM4 core with RISC FPU BMM150 magnetometer […]

September 28, 2021September 28, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Data acquisition SBC offers PCIe/104 and mPCIe expansions

DIamond Systems’ Saturn is a rugged Intel Atom x5-E3940 powered SBC with an industrial analog and digital data acquisition subsystem, as well as PCIe/104 OneBank and mini PCIe sockets for I/O expansion. The Saturn SBC is also equipped with either 4GB non-ECC or 8GB ECC RAM, SATA, two Gigabit Ethernet networking interfaces, two HDMI video outputs, multiple USB and serial interfaces, and more… most available through positive latching connectors that comply with the PCIe/104 standard, which also allows for stacking multiple expansion boards through the PCIe/104 Onebank connectors. Saturn SBC specifications: SoC – Intel Atom x5-E3940 quad-core Apollo Lake processor @ up to 1.6GHz / 1.8 GHz (burst with 15-year lifecycle System Memory – 4GB non-ECC or 8GB ECC RAM soldered Storage – SATA port and M.2 2242 SATA socket up to 1TB Video Output – 2x HDMI interfaces, LVDS Audio – ALC622 audio codec; Line Out, Line In, and […]