Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2022 - 24

EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINTS
uniquely positioned for rugged, small form factor applications
that incorporate custom development.
Because all customization is designed into the system's
carrier board (rather than the COM itself), systems
can perform over technology generations using a
range of CPU cores, for example, swapping out one for
the next. As a result, COMs work well for devices that
not only require scalability from generation to generation,
but also within a single generation. These design
characteristics add longevity that strongly aligns with
HME long life cycles.
COM Express modules support a holistic strategy in
which a single high-performance system can handle a
diverse slate of data-driven applications. Fleet operators
can avoid investing in multiple technologies that
become unique to each vehicle asset, and instead
maintain familiarity with a single solution that is applicable
to all types of rugged end-use cases.
Systems driven by standards-based COMs also address
the expectation that a " connected, intelligent
vehicle " includes high startup costs, or even a rip-andreplace
of costly fleet assets. The high cost and long
service life of HME mean that the most effective way
to deploy new technology is as an aftermarket solution
installed into currently owned vehicles, naturally
well-suited to small form factor COM Express-based
systems. Aftermarket solutions are customizable, reusable,
vehicle agnostic, affordable and can be expanded
to incorporate new use cases as the needs of fleet
operators change or grow.
On this design landscape, when system replacements
are required, costs are minimized. Upgrades are
inherently manageable: when scalability or performance
advancements are needed, the module can be
swapped for the next processor generation while still
capitalizing on the customization and capital investment
of the original supporting carrier board. Product
longevity is also protected with close partnership between
chip suppliers and system manufacturers - this
includes extended lifecycle management, which capitalizes
on embedded roadmap products and priority
access to processors and components.
Readymade platform vs. building blocks
COM Express platforms offer two distinct development
paths for data-intensive applications in construction,
agriculture, trucking and mining industries. An optimized
system can be illustrated by Kontron's EvoTRAC
- a validated, application-ready platform with built-in
capabilities for in-vehicle AI, deep learning and highperformance
embedded computing (HPEC).
Deployable as a rugged, ready-made solution for applications
onboard heavy-duty mobile machinery, the
platform features an Intel Xeon D processor, Intel Dual
24 June 2022
Kontron's EvoTRAC platform can be paired with the IP67-certified EvoTRAC-G103
Gateway, incorporating Kontron's hardened Type 6 COM Express CPU module and
featuring an Intel Atom processor coupled with a ruggedized carrier board. The
gateway integrates dual Gigabit Ethernet and dual CAN bus interfaces that support
2.0 A and B, along with two USB 2.0 interfaces, and Wi-Fi, 4G Advanced Pro+ for
wireless connectivity.
10GbE network adapter card, and multiple GPU options for machine
learning and AI workloads.
It is specifically designed to accelerate time to market and leverages
the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit to enable high-performance
computer vision and inference applications that can be more customized,
optimized and more readily deployed. Built-in AI and machine
learning capabilities help operators quickly capture and analyze relevant
data and develop new processes. The solution also delivers increased
automation in compliance with safety regulations. Kontron
and Intel offer a safety mezzanine proof-of-concept option, allowing
manufacturers to implement functional safety to their specifications.
Alternatively, the same platform can act as a building block to give
developers a head-start on their own customized systems for autonomous
applications. Application developers can tap into the inherent
versatility of COM Express but develop their own carrier board
and resulting full solution.
Once retrofitted, HME can readily access the processing power to
capture, monitor and use data from other technology-equipped machines
for greater insight into equipment operations. Workflow can be
synchronized among machinery using the cloud, empowering both
teams and equipment - safely and efficiently - for greater productivity.
The shift to greater automation has global impact on diverse, infrastructure
industries. Autonomous mining machinery improves operations
and safety, now manageable from a single remote location. This
translates into steady improvements in productivity gains and return
on investment. In agriculture, wireless connectivity empowers farmers
to retrofit and automate existing equipment, handling field-specific
fertilization and synchronizing autonomous tractor operations
for harvesting and crop loading.
In construction, predictive data enables proactive maintenance,
allowing operators to accelerate performance and more easily coordinate
groups of machines for improved scheduling and fueling. Such
a landscape brings both opportunity and challenge for the embedded
developers behind this new generation of connected, autonomous
machines. Managing complexity is crucial, as is taking smart
steps to automate for broad competitive value.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
KONTRON
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2022

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