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Raspberry Pi computer targets industrial tasks
OnLogic, the industrial computer manufacturer that specialises in IoT edge applications, has announced a computer based on the low-cost Raspberry Pi platform that is aimed at industrial and IoT applications. The tiny device (measuring 102.5 x 129 x 38mm) will use a Rasperry Pi Compute Module 4 mounted on an industrial-grade carrier board, and will incorporate a variety of I/O. It will allow the popular Arm-based computing platform to be deployed in factories, warehouses and IoT applications, and is expected to become commercially available later this year.
“This isn’t going to be just another off-the-shelf Raspberry Pi enclosed in an inexpensive case,” says OnLogic solution architect, Johnny Chen. “Our system will offer a unique opportunity to prototype solutions on Raspberry Pi architecture and then rapidly deploy to the factory floor or within a stacked solution.
“The established Raspberry Pi maker community has built an incredible foundation on which new innovations in the Industry 4.0, Scada, and IoT spaces are now possible,” he adds. “With many engineers looking to apply their experience building passion projects on Raspberry Pi to solve challenges they’re faced with professionally, we wanted to provide a piece of true professional-grade hardware.”
Most of the external surface of the computer consists of an aluminium heatsink which provides efficient fan-less cooling as well as protecting the internal components. Provisional specifications include:
• an Arm-based Raspberry Pi CM4 SOM processor;
• up to 8GB of onboard LPDDR4 memory;
• up to 32GB of onboard eMMC storage;
• support for M.2 2280 Sata storage;
• two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports;
• two USB 3.2 ports and one USB 2.0 port;
• an RS-232/422/485 terminal block;
• a micro-HDMI port; and
• a micro-USB port for OTG (on-the-go) uses.
“By utilising each element of the design for multiple purposes, we’re able to create an incredibly effective device in a small form factor,” explains OnLogic’s head of design, Dave Lovegrove. “We’ve carried our expertise in passive cooling, and the iconic design language from our Helix Series into the development of our Raspberry-Pi-powered device, meaning there are no moving parts, greater reliability, and protection against the ingress of particulates. The goal from the start was to help make Raspberry Pi a scalable option for industrial users – and our first device of what we expect to be multiple devices does just that.”
OnLogic announced its industrial Raspberry Pi computer on Pi Day, the annual celebration of the mathematical constant.
The company, founded in 2003 as Logic Supply, has operations in the US, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Malaysia. It operates a “unique” direct-to-customer business model that combines vertical integration, modular product design, and an online platform. It builds computers to order, and delivers them within “days”.
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