Industrial edge inference server is ready for rapid deployment

Powered by Nvidia’s A2 Tensor core GPU, the HPC-6240+ASMB-622 industrial edge inference server has been designed for rapid deployment, management, and scaling of AI and inference workloads in the hybrid cloud, says Advantech.

The HPC-6240+ASMB-622, powered by the soon to be available Nvidia A2, has a depth of 20.5 inch (520mm) depth and multiple expansion slots. 

Enterprises can confidently deploy hardware that securely and optimally runs accelerated workloads while using the Nvidia AI platform for inference, explained Advantech. Nvidia AI for inference includes software such as Nvidia Triton Inference Server and Nvidia TensorRT.

The server is therefore suitable for industrial equipment manufacturers (IEM), robotics, retail, intelligent video analytics (IVA), and other applications of AI at the edge.

The Nvidia A2 GPU’s compact size and low power requirements exceed the demands for edge deployments at scale, said Advantech. Combined with the HPC-6240+ASMB-622, it can deliver up to 20x higher inference performance versus CPUs and 1.3x more efficient IVA deployments than previous GPU generations, at an entry-level price point, added Advantech. 

The HPC-6240+ASMB-622 is a 2U, short-depth compact edge server with dual third Gen Intel Xeon scalable processors. It provides eight expansion slots and multiple PCIe for flexible GPU, network interface controller (NIC), frame grabber card and motion control card integrations. Four PCIe x16 design supports up to four Nvidia A2 GPUs for AI and high performance computing (HPC). 

The low power budget, compact size and multiple expansion capability with four A2 GPUs enables the server to be used for complex AI auto-optical inspection and manufacturing equipment applications.

The thermal management system increases airflow and pressure to enable high computing workloads at the industrial edge by cooling GPU cards and reducing noise output. 

The HPC-6240+ASMB-622 server is able to scale out from a single-GPU node to multi-GPU nodes when needed in industrial applications, especially for AOI, voice recognition and translation.

The HPC-6240+ASMB-622 is available now.  

Advantech specialises in IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. To embrace the trends of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence, it promotes IoT hardware and software solutions with the Edge Intelligence WISE-PaaS core to assist business partners and clients in connecting industrial chains. 

http://www.advantech.eu 

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Tool suite upgrade increases LoRa network capacity and robustness

A software upgrade for LoRa ICs and gateways significantly increases network capacity, robustness to interference and enables a low power and reliable direct data links from sensors to satellites, says Semtech. The software enhancement can be leveraged by second generation LoRa ICs to enable the LoRaWAN standard new data rate, long range frequency hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS), which has been recently ratified by the LoRa Alliance.  

The suite of tools will be specifically enabled on Semtech’s LoRa transceivers: SX1261, SX1262, LoRa Edge platform and the V2.1 gateway reference design. For LoRaWAN networks where V2.1 gateways are deployed, operators can enable the new capability with a simple gateway firmware upgrade, advises Semtech. In addition to expanded capacity, LoRaWAN networks will be more robust in harsh radio conditions (deep indoor) and in some regions will offer the possibility to increase terrestrial coverage.

“As the smart cities trend continues to proliferate globally, the new capability is a step for Semtech’s LoRa platform toward massive IoT deployments in densely populated areas,” said Marc Pégulu, vice president of IoT product marketing for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “In addition, the enablement of direct IoT to satellite services revolutionises the industry with affordable ubiquitous connectivity for remote areas, ultimately creating a smarter and more secure planet,” he adds.

Semtech’s LoRa device-to-,cloud platform is a long range, low power solution for IoT applications, that has been adopted around the globe, explains the company. It enables the rapid development and deployment of low power, cost efficient and long range IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products and IoT services worldwide. 

Semtech’s LoRa technology provides the communication layer for the LoRaWAN standard, which is maintained by the LoRa Alliance. The open IoT alliance for low power wide area network (LPWAN) applications has been used to deploy IoT networks in over 100 countries. Semtech is a founding member of the LoRa Alliance. 

Semtech supplies analogue and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for infrastructure, high-end consumer and industrial equipment. 

http://www.semtech.com

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Cloud-enabled robot is powered by Nvidia Jetson AI

Software development teams and hardware teams can work in parallel to develop robotic systems, cutting development time by up to 80 per cent, using the Nimbus software, says Cogniteam. The company has announced that the cloud-based robotics development and deployment platform now supports Nvidia Jetson edge AI technology.  The Nimbus’s packaging of field-tested software, such as sensors and AI capabilities, accelerates development time, with rapid up-time for cameras, spatial awareness sensors, and other advanced technologies, which can now be instantly uploaded to assets via the cloud.

The latest Nvidia Isacc release includes support for the Robot Operating System (ROS) developer community, where Nvidia has released new Isaac GEMs, hardware-accelerated software packages to build AI-enabled robots on the Jetson platform. Software developers can install advanced AI algorithms from Nvidia Isaac ROS GEMs and standard ROS packages in just a few clicks, says the company. 

“Pulling from open source to commercial libraries, developers can work harmoniously to test AI algorithms without the worries of compatibility hassles,” said Cogniteam’s co-founder and CEO, Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah.

Nimbus is easy to use, meaning that basic programming can be achieved with minimal experience, according to the company. “This allowed us to begin addressing complex development challenges nearly immediately, without reinventing the wheel,” said Gal Frenkel, co-founder and CEO of RoboDeck. “We worked with Cogniteam to implement their industry-tested sensor technologies with Nvidia’s advanced algorithms and ROS capabilities. Nimbus gave us a powerful investor-ready prototype way ahead of schedule, getting us better prepared for production.”

Customers can use Nimbus to take advantage of their Nvidia integrations and simulate tests for the robots in various environments. Once deployed, teams can remotely update drivers and firmware. In other words, a single platform can be used to deploy a scalable fleet of robots, says Cogniteam. 

http://www.cogniteam.com

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Quartet board streams four USB3 cameras simultaneously

Capable of streaming four high performance USB3 board level cameras, the Quartet TX2 Embedded is the latest carrier board from Teledyne Flir.

The cameras can stream simultaneously and at full bandwidth. By eliminating peripheral hardware and host systems, it is suitable for space constrained applications. It is pre-integrated with the company’s Spinnaker software development kit (SDK) and offers scalable performance options.

The Quartet TX2 carrier board combines power and data transmission over a single cable per camera in a compact footprint of 138 x 92 x 18.2mm. It enables developers to create compact vision systems using Nvidia’s established TX2 computing module, integrating a powerful single board computer (SBC) into vision systems with limited space.

The Quartet TX2 carrier board can be used with up to four Blackfly S USB3 board level cameras. The Nvidia Jetson deep learning hardware accelerator also allows for decision-making system on a single, compact board. 

Teledyne Flir is a Teledyne Technologies company, specialising in in intelligent sensing solutions for defence and industrial applications. The company was founded in 1978.  

Teledyne Technologies provides sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defence electronics and engineered systems. Teledyne’s operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. 

http://www.teledyne.com

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