Reliable Operation in Harsh Environments, Application Across Diverse Fields

DigiKey Plays Hub Role Connecting Processors to Complete Products

There is no nightmare worse than a production line coming to a halt. It wastes everyone's time and money. When unexpected operational shutdowns occur, manufacturers lose an average of $260,000 per hour.

As industrial automation, edge computing, and AI-based applications continue to expand, the demand for reliability in single-board computers (SBCs) is increasing to prevent such costly losses. Industrial SBCs integrate all essential computer elements onto a single board, implementing processing power and connectivity in a compact form factor, making them ideal for demanding industrial environments.

In a recent video discussion, experts from Raspberry Pi, Gateworks, NXP Semiconductors, and EDATEC explored in detail how the role of industrial SBCs is becoming increasingly important in modern embedded and edge computing systems.

■ The Rise of SBCs

With the growth of industrial automation and edge computing, SBC usage is surging. Industrial SBCs provide flexible and scalable platforms for various applications including soft programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and machine vision.

The scope of SBC applications is not limited to factory floors. These technologies are frequently used in embedded and edge computing systems such as medical devices, oil and gas field control equipment, power grid monitoring, railway systems, and other applications where reliability is critical. Furthermore, these technologies are also found in more forward-looking applications such as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, space exploration, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) solutions.

One of the greatest advantages of industrial SBCs is their ability to operate in environments where conventional electronic devices struggle. Due to their superior durability, they are becoming an ideal option for harsh industrial environments where temperature, humidity, and dust can threaten electronic device performance. They are designed with reliability as the top priority to withstand these conditions. For example, fewer components mean a lower likelihood of failure even if one component fails. SBCs handle power fluctuations better and are designed for continuous operation.

As edge computing grows, demand for these attributes—which enable applications to process information in real time for faster decision-making and efficiency—is also increasing.

■ Overcoming Real-World Design Challenges

While SBCs offer many advantages, the challenge engineers face is transitioning SBCs from prototypes to actual deployment systems. When introducing SBCs to large-scale applications such as edge AI, there can be various constraints including memory, heat dissipation, and cost.

To handle time-sensitive workloads, computing must be closer to the data collection point. This includes machine vision for quality assurance and predictive maintenance, providing actionable insights through AI-based analytics rather than raw data alone. To meet these requirements, engineers need processors such as those provided by NXP that balance computing performance, connectivity, and energy efficiency.

Dave Lee, Chief Sales Officer at Raspberry Pi, said, "As edge workloads become increasingly demanding, memory has become a critical consideration."

"Currently, there is an unprecedented shortage of memory and RAM in the market, primarily because cloud providers are consuming high levels of memory bandwidth."

For SBCs where data moves from the CPU to auxiliary and peripheral devices, memory can face greater stress in intensive edge applications. In response, Raspberry Pi is pursuing an extensive multi-vendor strategy for DRAM and storage memory. One solution, called the clamshell approach, is to place two DRAMs on the board instead of one. For example, for those who need hard-to-find 4GB memory, Raspberry Pi enables mounting two 2GB memory modules on the board.

Power supply stability in industrial environments is another critical issue. Power supply interruptions can lead to data corruption, storage device damage, and expensive downtime. EDATEC addresses these issues through component selection that precisely considers the amount of electromagnetic interference an SBC can withstand, its resistance to electrostatic discharge, and whether the system uses optical or capacitive isolation. For example, 80V-rated components are used on 24V input/output terminals, far exceeding required specifications to ensure better reliability. Additionally, power loss prevention solutions such as supercapacitor backup are provided, allowing operators to safely shut down systems without risking memory or long-term non-volatile storage damage.

Environmental sustainability is also a top priority. Gateworks has designed robust power supplies to enable devices to withstand extreme industrial environments where they may not be connected to a power supply or lack thermal management devices like fans. These power supplies operate seamlessly in all environments, from mines where heavy tractors cause strong vibrations, to factories in hazardous or extreme temperature environments, to defense applications, and even space.

These examples well illustrate the industry-wide requirement to move beyond focusing solely on processing power in industrial computers and instead adopt the ability to operate consistently in the harshest environments as the benchmark for success.

■ Implementing Next-Generation Edge Computing

SBCs represent the future of industrial systems, and as a result, competition in this industry is expected to become far more intense in the coming years. In an intensifying competitive environment, collaboration across the entire technology ecosystem becomes increasingly important. No single vendor can meet all edge computing requirements. Rather, success depends on processor manufacturers, board designers, system integrators, software developers, and distribution partners collaborating to accelerate innovation.

Through this type of collaboration, products can reach the market much faster than before. Those who previously relied on conventional methods are already beginning to consider switching to SBCs. SBCs offer faster prototyping and scaling, greater flexibility, and a wider range of price points. By leveraging validated hardware solutions, engineers can reduce development time by up to six months while maintaining the freedom to customize solutions for specific applications.

DigiKey plays a crucial role in this collaborative ecosystem by connecting customers with the technologies, vendors, and resources they need. Whether engineers are evaluating NXP processors, prototyping with Raspberry Pi, or deploying industrial solutions from Gateworks and EDATEC, DigiKey provides access to both the components and complete system products needed to move projects forward.

Industrial SBCs are expected to play an important role in the future of automation, edge computing, and AI. With significant advantages in reliability, performance, and flexibility, these technologies are expected to be widely integrated into diverse applications going forward. By integrating the entire ecosystem of SBC manufacturers, DigiKey enables engineers to navigate the complexities of modern industrial system design and move from prototyping to production.

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※ Contributor