Embedded Computing & IPC - The winners

Products of the year 2024

Andrea Gillhuber, 08.04.2024, 07:00

Embedded Computing & IPC - The winners

A 'classic', a 'scene product' and a 'pragmatic approach' convinced the readers of Computer&Automation in the 'Embedded Computing & IPC' category.

Images

The winners of the 'Embedded Computing & IPC' category (from left): Stefan Lorenz (Beckhoff), Christoph Müller and Tobias Lehmeier (NXTGN Solutions), Ekkehard Krebs (Kunbus).

3rd place - Beckhoff: CX82xx Embedded PC family

3rd place - Beckhoff Automation

The new Embedded PCs from Beckhoff Automation can be used as compact controllers. The CX82xx Embedded PC family is a further development of the 'CX81xx' series. Its members are equipped with an ARM Cortex-A53 processor, which offers a 64-bit architecture, a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz and two CPU cores. In addition, there is a 1 Gbit/s Ethernet interface and double the RAM with 1 Gbyte LPDDR4 RAM. The CX9240 Embedded PC is a compact, DIN rail-mountable Ethernet controller, also with a 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, and is a further development of the 'CX9020'.

Stefan Lorenz from Beckhoff with trophy and certificate for 3rd place in the 'Embedded Comuting & IPC' category.

In this case, the even more powerful quad-core version of the processor is used. This embedded PC has two independent 1 Gbit/s Ethernet interfaces. With 2 Gbyte LPDDR4 RAM, the main memory has been doubled compared to the predecessor device.

2nd place in the Embedded Computing & IPC category

2nd place - Kunbus: RevPi Connect 4

2nd place - Kunbus

Kunbus presents the RevPi Connect 4, the fourth generation of the 'Revolution Pi' and the first to be based on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4). The device has a modular design, is suitable for industrial use and uses the Broadcom BCM2711 processor, a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A72 with up to 8 Gbytes of RAM. The increase in RAM has a positive effect on container applications or motion applications. The eMMC memory with up to 32 Gbyte is available as a storage medium.

Second place went to Kunbus. Ekkehard Krebs accepted the award.

Ekkehard Krebs accepted the award on behalf of Kunbus.

There is also the option of WLAN and Bluetooth connectivity via the internal or an external antenna, which is connected to the new SMA socket. A new feature is the option to connect ten instead of five I/O expansion modules to the base module via plug-and-play. There are two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, two USB 3.2 Gen1 interfaces with transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s, as well as client and server capabilities for the common Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP protocols.

Raspberry Pi is particularly popular in the maker scene, but is also used for research and development and is finding an increasingly large target group as a basis for industrial applications.

1st place in the Embedded Computing & IPC category

1st place - NXTGN Solutions: Edge controller I.MX8MAX.PLUS

1st place - NXTGN Solutions

IIoT sensors can be connected to the I.MX8MAX.PLUS edge controller from NXTGN Solutions, the recorded data can be pre-processed and forwarded to corresponding IT solutions via an integrated IIoT interface. An IO-Link wireless interface for over 21,000 different sensors is available for this purpose. There are also 2× RS485 for Modbus RTU and local I/Os. Southbound communication is realized via Ethernet/4G or WLAN. Thanks to the performance of the I.MX8MAX.PLUS and up to 64 GB of RAM, Docker from Logiccloud - a virtual IEC1131 PLC, Coligo - an embedded AI - or Grafana or Nodered can also be installed on the CM007 HLK.

NXTGN Solutions was delighted to take first place. The picture shows Christoph Müller and Tobias Lehmeier.

The integrated 4G modem not only transmits the process data, but also enables remote maintenance of the controller, HMI or camera system connected to the Ethernet port. Such recorded data can then be visualized in the NXTGN Cloud or made available to other IT solutions via REST API / OPC-UA or MQTT Sparkplug.