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Development kit drives down cost of integrating sensor pipeline, says Excelfore

Wed, May 27, 2020

To accelerate time to market for connected systems in automotive and industrial applications, Excelfore has introduced the software development kit (SDK) for the eSync standard data pipeline. It allows developers to connect embedded systems to their preferred cloud platform to launch over the air (OTA) and data aggregation programmes, said the company.

Aimed primarily at automotive manufacturers and suppliers of electronic control units (ECUs) and smart sensors, the Excelfore eSync SDK shortens development cycles by enabling a working model of how software is delivered OTA. It provides custom policies, delta compression and end-to-end security for software delivery and updates.

The SDK comes with two compact Raspberry Pi computing devices and all necessary power supplies and cables. One Raspberry Pi serves as the gateway, providing a Wi-Fi wireless connection and hosting the pre-installed eSync Client software. The second serves as the external edge device to be updated. eSync Agents are pre-installed on both devices, enabling new software to be installed on either or both.

eSync is a multi-company specification promoted by the eSync Alliance, which defines a software platform with interoperable server and embedded software to build a secure bi-directional data pipeline between the cloud and electronic end devices in vehicles. eSync can deliver and update software and firmware OTA, while collecting real-time operational data from in-car devices including ECUs, domain master ECUs, network gateways, and smart sensors.

The eSync data pipeline and its global network of co-operating suppliers, helps vehicle manufacturers avoid costly and inconvenient vehicle recalls, and enables vehicle software and features to be updated in the field, said Excelfore.

The SDK simplifies and accelerates the development, prototyping and testing of eSync-compliant devices and facilitates incorporation of legacy devices into eSync OTA-enabled networks. It also supports evaluation of eSync in-network and cloud software by IT professionals at OEMs and suppliers.

Excelfore will also provide two optional expansion kits in addition to the SDK. The first is a CAN-bus expansion kit, provides cables, connectors, instructions, and an eSync Agent template. Users can use this expansion to integrate AutoSAR ECUs and other CAN-bus devices into the eSync SDK. The second expansion kit is a vehicle status emulator. This provides a load-board with a CAN-bus interface. Users can change the state of variables of vehicle status that affect OTA policies, such as whether a vehicle’s ignition is on, or whether the vehicle owner has given consent for an update to proceed.

The Excelfore eSync SDK is available for delivery to corporate customers.

http://www.excelfore.com

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Microchip releases latest version of 5G timing software

Wed, Apr 22, 2020

Microchip has released Version 2.1 of its TimeProvider 4100 timing grandmaster, equipped with gateway clock and what is claimed to be the fastest high-performance boundary clock to enhance 5G mobile network phase protection.

It is designed to help 5G mobile providers, cable operators and utility providers ensure phase delivery, protection and synchronisation even when the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is offline, jammed or spoofed.

The TimeProvider 4100 is a 1588 grandmaster with support for the latest ITU-T G.8275.1 and G.8275.2 1588 phase profiles. There is also an extensive port fan-out for PTP, network time protocol (NTP), SyncE, and E1/T1.

This software release builds on earlier versions by adding key software enhancements providing a virtual primary reference time clock (vPRTC). Virtual PRTC provides the ability to design a redundant precise time distribution architecture for phase protection over an optical network.

The main source of precise time is the Global Positioning System (GPS) and regional constellations that comprise the GNSS. Deployment of GNSS, however, can be expensive, due to the cost of upgrading to GNSS-capable receivers and antennae as well as increasing densification of end points. Telecomms, cable and utility operators deploy vPRTC where GNSS dependency is reduced or eliminated.

Using vPRTC leverages the existing optical network, thus avoiding expensive dark fibre expenses, it also uses a dedicated lambda to transport time precisely and securely and provides a redundant source of time through enhanced PRTC (ITU-T G.8272.1). It also allows bi-directional, precise time flows (east and west) and links together high-precision, multi-domain, high-performance boundary clocks that meet T-BC Class D, as defined by ITU-T G.8273.2.

Microchip’s vPRTC multi-domain architecture provides a high-performance, redundant, sub-five nanosecond distribution of precise time over regional and national networks.

Release 2.1 also introduces Network Time Protocol daemon (NTPd) with Message Digest (MD5) security algorithm.

TimeProvider4100 2.1 meets PRTC-B performance standards (per ITU-T G.8272) and supports 1G and 10G, NTP and PTP in a single form-factor system.

It is available now for both new and already deployed systems.

http://www.microchip.com

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Sub-compact board has desktop system flexibility, says Aaeon

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

Powered by eighth generation Intel Core processors, the Gene-WHU6 is the latest compact board from Aaeon. It is built for full-sized applications, says the company, with full-sized functionality and is able to deliver the flexibility of a desktop system in a compact form factor.

The GENE-WHU6 is powered by eighth Generation Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and Celeron processors (formerly Whiskey Lake) and combines this processing power with up to 32Gbyte of DDR4 SODIMM RAM.

It is designed for full-sized functionality, with a full set of I/O features, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and up to two COM ports supporting RS-232/ RS-422/ RS-485. The Gene-WHU6 also offers flexibility with display ports, featuring HDMI 2.0, VGA and LVDS. A full-sized mPCIe slot and two M.2 slots (one 2280 B Key and one 2230 E Key) allow for expandability. The Gene-WHU6 supports artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator modules, such as Aaeon’s Kneron KL520 NPU modules or the AI Core X family featuring Intel Movidius Myriad X.

The Gene-WHU6 is built to power embedded applications and is designed for tough conditions, says Aaeon. It has a wide voltage input (9.0 to 36V) and a wide operating temperature range (0 to 60 degrees C). These attributes, combined with the compact 3.5-inch form factor, the Gene-WHU6 can be deployed in smart manufacturing and intelligent safety and security applications.

Aaeon can provide customers with custom configurations and end-to-end project support.

Established in 1992, Aaeon designs and manufactures intelligent IoT computing platforms, including industrial motherboards and systems, industrial displays, rugged tablets, embedded controllers, network appliances and related accessories, as well as integrated solutions. Aaeon also has the hardware and services for premier OEM/ODMs and system integrators worldwide.

As an Associate Member of the Intel Internet of Things Solutions Alliance, the company offers customised services from initial product conceptualisation and board product development to mass manufacturing and after-sales service programmes.

http://www.aaeon.com

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Aetina integrates InnoAge to Jetson edge computing

Mon, Mar 30, 2020

World-leading out-band management for edge artificial intelligence (AI) devices, is claimed by Aetina as it unveils how it has integrated Innodisk’s InnoAge into its Jetson edge computing platform.

Management is critical in edge devices used in vertical applications, says Aetina.

It has integrated what is believed to be the industry’s first out-of-band management solid state device (SSD) InnoAge with the Aetina Jetson edge computing platform. The result reduces the cost of manually repairing the edge device and primarily reduces the downtime of the equipment, says Aetina, for convenient control of edge devices.

The integrated system effortlessly restarts and restored in the event of the edge device crashing, reports Aetina.

Its Jetson edge computing platform has a small form factor and low power consumption, making it suitable for embedded edge devices.

To maintain numerous edge devices, in-band management could be limited if an unpredictable issue occurs which makes it more expensive in terms of labour costs as well as possibly extending the downtime of edge devices.

InnoAge SSD equipped with an Azure Sphere chip can cut a separate space in the solid state hard disk and install a separate operating system. InnoAge connected with Azure Cloud and the system of the device can automatically be stored in the solid state hard disk. Once the operating system or software of the edge device crashes, the user can reset or restore the system of edge devices through the management platform on Azure Cloud. The real-time status of edge devices can also monitor the cloud management platform, which facilitates remote control and management of many edge devices.

Aetina says that the Azure Sphere provides the world’s premier data security ability, making the inference results of edge AI computing secure for uploading to the cloud database without security risks.

Aetina was founded in Taiwan in 2012. It provides support for general purpose graphics processing units (GPGPU) and Jetson edge AI computing solutions for embedded applications.

http://www.aetina.com

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Development kit drives down cost of integrating sensor pipeline, says Excelfore

Microchip releases latest version of 5G timing software

Sub-compact board has desktop system flexibility, says Aaeon

Aetina integrates InnoAge to Jetson edge computing

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