Tag: transportation

Smart Vision Secures Cities and Services

Posted on by Mark Scantlebury

Editor’s Note: insight.tech stands in support of ending acts of racism, inequity, and social injustice. We do not tolerate our sponsors’ products being used to violate human rights, including but not limited to the abuse of visualization technologies by governments. Products, technologies, and solutions are featured on insight.tech under the presumption of responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence and computer vision tools, technologies, and methods.

 

Vision systems can fill many roles in the modern city. They can help optimize traffic and pedestrian flow, secure infrastructure and facilities, and even provide first responder “man down” alerts.

Cities began using surveillance cameras decades ago, but the emergence of intelligent vision systems is quite recent. Rapid advances in video analytics, the falling cost of high-resolution cameras, and the ubiquity of communications infrastructure are all contributing to dramatic changes in vision system capabilities. And the availability of high-performance, low-cost video processing and storage systems are making advanced systems practical for a wide range of applications.

Situational Awareness

A good example of an intelligent vision system is the LiveCast Sentinel from IoT Smart Systems, Inc. (Figure 1). The Sentinel software allows a city to track first responders both visually and with telemetry to get full situational awareness. Plus, the application enables two-way communication with field personnel via monitoring and retransmission of video and audio streams, corresponding IoT sensory telemetry, and streaming documents and pictures.

Figure 1. Livecast Sentinel allows a city to track first responders both visually and with telemetry.

Sentinel also offers bandwidth-efficient streaming optimized for UAVs and drones. This feature is invaluable for first responders trying to assess an emergency situation. For example, the streaming UAV video could be used to give an entire fire department a shared bird’s-eye view of a disaster recovery effort.

Video Analytics

Cities are also gaining new insights into quality-of-life issues through video analytics. Video analytics has progressed far beyond simple motion detection and image capture. Today, pattern recognition and deep-learning algorithms can identify objects and safety hazards, detect behaviors like loitering, and compensate for noise such as rain and fog (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Video analytics filters out irrelevant information and identifies objects and actions of interest.

These advanced algorithms require equally advanced processors like the sixth generation Intel® Core™ processors. These processors incorporate powerful graphics engines that can run vision algorithms using the OpenGL and DirectX APIs, as well as video engines for real-time encoding and decoding of IP video streams.

For example, the Intel® Core™ i7-6700K processor starts with four cores running at up to 4.2 GHz, with 8 Mb of cache. It then adds the Intel® HD Graphics 530 engine running at up to 1.15 GHz with 64 Gb of memory.

The sixth generation Intel Core processors’ capabilities are integral to the design of the Sabot SFF1 video analytics system from EmbedTek (Figure 3). The hybrid system accepts both analog and IP cameras so it is backward compatible with installed infrastructure, while providing an upgrade path to future technologies.

Figure 3. The Sabot SFF1 from EmbedTek uses sixth generation Intel® Core™ processors.

The chassis measures 9 x 13 x 3.5 inches. The motherboard and chassis were sized to accommodate an optional video capture card, while a custom small form factor optimizes airflow in higher-temperature environments.

Balancing local and cloud video storage

For municipalities or the companies serving them, deciding where and how to store the video so it can be accessed readily for analysis and reference provides a unique opportunity to innovate. Defaulting to a closed-loop, local-storage solution seems simpler, faster, and more secure. But a cloud-based solution offers more flexibility and scalability, as well as access to higher-level IP video analytics.

For designers and developers who may want the best of both worlds, Infortrend developed the EonStor GS3000 family, with unlimited cloud storage and high-performance local storage (Figure 4). This allows a municipality to easily expand a storage area network (SAN) or network attach storage (NAS) application into cloud services.

Figure 4. The EonStor GS family of storage servers from Infortrend Technologies rely upon the Intel® Xeon® processor D-1500 family.

This requires high-end processing, communications, and protocol support, for which the EonStor GS3000 family uses the Intel® Xeon® processor D-1500 family, with either two or four cores.

In total, the EonStor GS family supports 4 x 1-GbE and 4 x 10-GbE ports, with a maximum RAM of up to 256 GB. Infortrend’s “smart algorithms” allow data to be optimally allocated between the system and the cloud, which can be any private or public service, including Amazon, Microsoft* Azure*, and Google.

Infortrend lets users take full advantage of the cloud with options like Cloud Tiering, Cloud Cache, and Cloud Backup. Given the importance of security, it’s worth noting that the EonStor GS family provides AES 256-bit encryption for data-in-flight and data-at-rest, as well as self-encrypting drives (SED) compatibility, ensuring data is always protected from malicious threats. Furthermore, with integrated SSL, links between server and client are also encrypted.

In case of disk crashes, the system features integrated backup functions such as Intelligent Drive Recovery (IDR), snapshot, local replication, remote replication, and file-level synchronization.

These are just a few examples of the elements that developers can use to implement a smart city IP video security and surveillance system. For more examples of key IoT video elements—many designed for specific use cases—check out the Solutions Directory.

A Rugged SBC for High Data Demands on the Rails

Posted on by Gunther Graebner

Today’s rolling stock depends on increasingly complex embedded systems to run and monitor onboard equipment, increase safety and reliability, enhance passenger comfort, and deliver new services. Train designers and operators must install and maintain multiple systems throughout a train to meet these needs. These systems must process massive amounts of data under space and power constraints in harsh environments. They must meet high system reliability requirements and stringent industry regulations.

This article considers the advantages of consolidating operational functions on a robust, cost-effective 3U CompactPCI Serial single board computer (SBC). We discuss the challenges of designing an SBC for running virtualized solutions on rolling stock. We examine how a manufacturer like MEN Mikro Elektronik meets these challenges with a rugged SBC design. We investigate how the latest members of the Intel® Xeon® processor D-1500 product family enable these SBCs to deliver the scalability and performance required to securely virtualize multiple workloads. And we look at how these processors support secure, high-speed data transfer.

The Advantages of System Consolidation for Rolling Stock

Modern trains depend on multiple embedded systems. These systems must run a variety of applications simultaneously and in real time, many of which are critical to safety and passenger comfort (Figure 1).

Modern trains depend on a variety of applications that need to run simultaneously, require real-time performance, and are critical to safety and passenger comfort

Figure 1. Modern trains depend on a variety of applications that need to run simultaneously, require real-time performance, and are critical to safety and passenger comfort.

Examples of these applications include:

  • Communications
  • Advanced braking control and signaling
  • Passenger information systems (PIS) and entertainment
  • Internet wireless access points (WAP)
  • Video surveillance
  • Diagnostic and preventive maintenance
  • Electronic ticketing

Running each application on a separate system requires mounting space, mountings, cabling, power, and security for each individual unit. It also means maintaining multiple systems with multiple architectures – an IT nightmare that often results in replacing entire units to keep up with system advances.

Using virtualization to create a layer of abstraction between computer hardware systems and software enables train system designers to consolidate multiple application workloads on fewer physical systems. This consolidation saves space and reduces equipment, energy, and management costs.

Advantages of virtualization for rolling stock include:

  • Improved utilization of compute resources (compared to multiple systems operating at fractional capacity)
  • One platform instead of many to manage and secure
  • Easier and less expensive upgrades than always replacing the “box”
  • Ability to separate critical operations from less-sensitive applications
  • Less complex, more affordable implementations of redundancy

Designing a Consolidation Platform for Trains

Embedded systems in trains need to fulfill extensive and specific requirements that go far beyond those in general-purpose IT infrastructures. For instance, life on the rails is much different than the consistent conditions of a server room. Rolling stock embedded systems must withstand shock, vibration, and temperature variances, plus accommodate an environment where power and space are at a premium. In addition, since trains are responsible for the safety of hundreds of passengers, system security and availability are paramount. Finally, to deliver essential services, virtualization solutions running on these systems must ensure that their functions and code have the dedicated compute, memory, and network resources necessary for reliable performance.

A Rugged, Safe SBC for Transport

MEN Mikro’s latest platform for rolling stock, the G25A 3U CompactPCI Serial SBC, meets all these requirements (Figure 2). The SBC features a rugged design complete with M12 connectors and soldered components for exceptional shock and vibration resistance. Optional conformal coating provides extra protection from moisture, dust, and chemical contaminants.

The MEN Mikro G25A 3U CompactPCI Serial SBC offers a choice of RJ45 or M12 connectors. The latter is recommended for rolling stock.

Figure 2. The MEN Mikro G25A 3U CompactPCI Serial SBC offers a choice of RJ45 or M12 connectors. The latter is recommended for rolling stock.

An extended operating temperature range enables the G25A to handle harsh environments. Ordering the G25A with a heat sink and conductive cooling frame enhances reliability under heat.

The SBC complies with essential environment regulations for rolling stock, including EN 50155, the international standard for railway applications. In fact, MEN Mikro is one of less than 10 companies worldwide certified according to the quality management systems EN 9100 (transportation) and International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS), in addition to ISO 9001. Train manufacturers associated with IRIS commit to using only IRIS-certified subcontractors.

Designed for Performance

The G25A’s ability to meet performance requirements starts with its form factor. Intended as an industrial standard for mobile and stationary applications in control and monitoring, 3U CompactPCI Serial uses fast serial point-to-point connections to deliver extremely high bandwidth, making it particularly well suited for high-speed data communication applications. With no switches or bridges required for a typical configuration of one system slot and up to eight peripheral slots, the form factor reduces complexity and cost. As with the original CompactPCI specification, CompactPCI Serial supports hot swapping for fast component replacement.

Within a chassis, the G25A provides PCI Express links, SATA/SAS, USB, and Ethernet interfaces, plus signals for general system management (Figure 3). Each companion slot can support additional Ethernet interfaces to build a full-mesh interconnect without an external switch. All interfaces are accessible at the same time. For very intensive computing tasks, designers can cluster up to four G25As in a single system.

Within a chassis, the G25A provides PCI Express links, SATA/SAS, USB, and Ethernet interfaces, plus signals for general system management

Figure 3. Within a chassis, the G25A provides PCI Express links, SATA/SAS, USB, and Ethernet interfaces, plus signals for general system management.

The Right Fit for Many Applications

As the SBC within a train computer chassis, the G25A can reliably perform mission-critical tasks, mechanical system monitoring, video surveillance tasks, passenger infotainment needs, and data and voice transmissions between the vehicle, wayside equipment, and the control center. The SBC’s high compute density, 32 GB DDR4 DRAM capacity, extensive I/O, and processor-based Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT-x) make it an ideal platform for consolidating a wide mix of rolling stock system functions (Figure 4).

The Men Mikro G25A's combination of high compute density, up to 32 GB DDR4 DRAM, extensive I/O, and processor-based Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT-x) make it an ideal platform for system consolidation

Figure 4. The Men Mikro G25A’s combination of high compute density, up to 32 GB DDR4 DRAM, extensive I/O, and processor-based Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT-x) make it an ideal platform for system consolidation.

Typical network-attached storage (NAS) systems, RAID setups, or Internet access systems can be easily realized. Designers can combine the functionality of multiple systems in one rack – each block controlled by one G25A.

As an example, designers could combine a passenger entertainment server, PIS, electronic ticketing application, and door control system on one G25A. On a second G25A, they could combine a network video recorder system and an Internet access system performing vehicle-to-land communication and diagnosis data transfers. Other slots in the chassis enable the addition of peripheral cards for adding storage, interfaces, and switches.

Availability, Security, and Reliability

To increase system availability, designers can use a virtual machine monitor (VMM) to control two G25As connected via Ethernet cables. According to needs, the complete system could run as redundant systems or as a single system providing double capacity.

The G25A addresses security through processor-based solutions and inclusion of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for cryptography. Error-correcting code (ECC) memory, a baseboard management controller (BMC), and a watchdog timer contribute to the SBC’s high reliability.

A Processor Family for Virtualization and High-Speed Data Transfer

Train system integrators can order the G25A with either the Intel® Xeon® processor D-1577 (16 cores) or D-1539 (8 cores). The more cores, the greater the system’s potential for workload consolidation.

Both processors provide built-in hardware virtualization through Intel® VT-x to enable dynamic provisioning of services (processor cores, memory, and I/O) for isolated workloads and simultaneous operation of real-time and non-real-time applications. By providing hardware assistance to the virtualization software, Intel VT-x reduces the software’s size and complexity, enabling more economical, efficient, secure, and powerful virtualization solutions.

Intel VT-x consists of technology components that support virtualization of Intel® processor-based platforms, enabling running different operating systems and applications in independent partitions. Each partition behaves like a virtual machine (VM) and provides isolation and protection across partitions. This hardware-based virtualization, along with appropriate virtualization software, enables true workload isolation.

Like many Intel® Xeon® processors, the Intel Xeon D processor product family includes Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel® VT-d). Instead of being in the chipset, it is built-in.

Intel VT-d helps VMMs better utilize hardware by improving application compatibility and reliability, and providing additional levels of manageability, security, isolation, and I/O performance. With Intel VT-d hardware assistance, VMMs can directly assign devices to specific VMs to ensure high-speed data transfers and availability (Figure 5). Hardware accelerators enable this secure assignment of I/O devices, decreasing the load on the processor and accelerating data movement.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel® VT-d) enables direct assignment of devices to specific VMs to ensure high-speed data transfers and availability.

Figure 5. Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel® VT-d) enables direct assignment of devices to specific VMs to ensure high-speed data transfers and availability.

Intel VT-d improves system reliability by containing and reporting errant direct memory access (DMA) to software. It enhances security by supporting multiple protection domains under software control and providing a foundation for building trusted I/O capabilities.

A Powerful Processor for Constrained Environments

The Intel Xeon processor D-1500 product family brings the performance and advanced intelligence of Intel Xeon processors into a dense, power-efficient system-on-chip (SoC) – see Figure 6, two integrated 10 Gigabit Intel® Ethernet ports, and a thermal design power (TDP) of 20 W and 45 W, respectively. The processors can run the same instruction set as more robust Intel Xeon processors to provide software consistency from a data center to a moving train.

The Intel® Xeon® processor D-1500 product family brings the performance and advanced intelligence of Intel® Xeon® processors into a dense, power-efficient system-on-chip (SoC).

Figure 6. The Intel® Xeon® processor D-1500 product family brings the performance and advanced intelligence of Intel® Xeon® processors into a dense, power-efficient system-on-chip (SoC).

These SoCs offer exceptional node performance, up to 24 MB of last-level cache (LLC), and high-speed DDR4 memory support. The included Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 dynamically increases processor frequency to deliver an extra burst of speed when needed and increased energy efficiency for less demanding tasks. In addition, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) supports two processing threads per physical core, giving a G25A equipped with the Intel Xeon processor D-1577 the ability to run up to 32 threads simultaneously.

In addition to these capabilities, the Intel Xeon processor D-1500 product family includes advanced server-class capabilities such as:

  • Enhanced reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features supporting ECC memory and platform-level error management and resilience
  • Intel® QuickData technology for offloading memory accesses to the SoC for fast data movement with low processor overhead
  • Intel® Platform Storage Extensions to enable smarter and more cost-effective storage solutions that accelerate data movement, protect data, and simplify data management
  • Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) to strengthen security while reducing performance impact
  • Intel® Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) to accelerate data encryption and decryption

The SBC for Virtualization in Motion

Combining rugged design, a 3U CompactPCI Serial form factor, and an Intel® Xeon® processor D with up to 16 cores, the MEN Mikro G25A offers a compelling solution for system consolidation in rolling stock. With the growing complexity of multiple embedded systems throughout a train and the need for high data transfers, such a solution offers designers a solid platform for delivering much-needed savings in equipment, energy, and system management to transit companies.

 

Combating Driver Fatigue with Mobile Surveillance

Posted on by Mark Scantlebury

Driver fatigue is a leading cause of traffic accidents, especially for heavy-duty vehicles such as mining trucks, excavators, bulldozers, cranes, cargo trucks, and commercial buses. Drivers of those vehicle types often face long shifts and may fall asleep at the wheel for short periods when drowsy or fatigued (Figure 1). According to data from Australia, England, Finland, and several other European nations drowsy driving is a factor in 10 to 30 percent of all crashes.

driver-fatigue

Figure 1. A typical drowsiness-related accident in which a driver confirmed falling asleep and was fortunately only slightly injured. (Image from European Accident Research and Safety Report 2013.)

An intriguing solution for helping prevent accidents from driver fatigue comes from Lanner Electronics, a global hardware provider for advanced network appliances and rugged industrial computers. Their in-vehicle surveillance platform enables using a camera to monitor drivers for fatigue. This platform performs as a gateway PC, analyzing the video in real-time and providing alerts and communications with the control room. Communications can include driver alertness over time, vehicle location, and other data.

The Cause and Extent of Driver Fatigue Accidents

According to estimates from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. These crashes result in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg since it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness. Many driver-fatigue accidents may not be identified as such. The bottom line here is that driver fatigue accidents have an enormous economic impact – and this is just in the United States.

Data from a 2009 Massachusetts state study, “Asleep at the Wheel,” indicates that those most susceptible to incidents of drowsy driving include young men aged 16-29, drivers with untreated sleep disorders, night-shift workers, commercial drivers, and persons working long shifts and long weeks. A 2016 report from the National Academy of Sciences on the approximately 4,000 U.S. fatalities due to truck and bus crashes each year estimates that 10 to 20 percent involve fatigued drivers. According to a study by Volvo, the majority of accidents resulting in truck driver injuries are single-vehicle incidents in which the truck drives off the road.

Long-distance truck drivers on overnight or early morning routes are particularly susceptible to the effects of sleep deprivation because of disruptions to their natural sleep patterns when working nights or long and irregular hours. A study by researchers in Australia demonstrated that being awake for 18 hours produced an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of.05. This goes up to .10 after 24 hours (.08 is considered legally drunk).

A Challenging Problem

Unlike intoxication, there is no breath analyzer for drowsiness. Self-reporting and self-monitoring are unreliable. Consequently, an increasing number of companies using heavy-duty service vehicles seek in-vehicle solutions that can detect driver alertness. These companies recognize that lowering accident rates and damages could help them better protect drivers and the public. It could also help them avoid lawsuits and reduce insurance rates.

A Simple Solution

Lanner’s heavy-vehicle driver fatigue management system solution is a video surveillance system that monitors driver eye behavior such as closing eyelids, and frequency and duration of blinking. When abnormal behavior occurs, like distraction or longer-than-expected closed eyes, the system alarms the driver and sends video images to the dispatchers. The system can also activate systems such as a seat vibrator and/or an audio speaker – it can literally shake and wake the driver.

The key component is the Lanner LVR-2010 in-vehicle PC platform. This tough mobile computer functions as a video analytics system and IoT gateway. The platform runs the driver-fatigue management software, and with its wireless network connectivity connects dispatchers with data from infrared sensors, cameras, and alarms. Figure 2 shows the main components of the solution and their function.

Figure 2. The Lanner LVR-2010 in vehicle PC platform provides the video analytics and gateway functions for a driver-fatigue management system.

The LVR-2010 is well suited to a life on the road. The fanless, aluminum-cased, power-efficient PC offers wide temperature support and rich connectivity with shake-proof M12 connectors (Figure 3). It is EN50155-compliant and MIL-STD-810G-certified, meeting multiple endurance standards for withstanding shock, vibration, humidity, and extreme temperature ( -40°C ~ 70°C).

Figure 3. Front (top photo) and back (bottom photo) views of the Lanner LVR-2010 show all its IP-67-rated M12 connectors.

The unit’s design ensures reliability in motion, even when aboard heavy-duty mining and excavation equipment bumping over rocky, pothole-ridden grades. To protect the PC from potential dust, liquid splash, and hard jolts, the LVR-2010’s the M12 connectors are IP-67-rated. These connectors include three COM ports, two USB ports, two LAN ports, CAN bus, two video ports, audio port, modular input/output (MIO) port, and DC power input. These ports all offer foolproof connectivity for peripherals such as alert devices and IP cameras. A 2.5″ drive bay delivers ample storage capacity.

A GPS and G-sensor built into the LVR-2010 allows location tracking and acceleration measurement. For display functions, the LVR-2010 features both VGA and HDMI.

A Rugged Unit Starts with a Rugged Processor

The reliable, application-proven, power-efficient Intel® Atom™ E3845 processor gives the LVR-2010 all the processing power it needs and more. Written about extensively in past issues of Embedded Innovator magazine, it’s a four-core system-on-a-chip (SoC). The 64-bit, 1.91 GHz SoC uses Intel’s 22 nm process technology to deliver outstanding compute, graphical, and media performance at just 10 watts (TDP). Designed for ball grid array (BGA) socket, the processor enables a permanent, shake-proof mount.

Particularly important for the driver-fatigue management system, the processor’s integrated Intel® HD Graphics save the expense and power cost of a graphics card. Graphics capabilities include Intel® Quick Sync Video – a hardware-based video transcode engine that handles decoding and encoding functions to free up processor cores for applications. Intel® Atom™ processor cores also implement the same x86 Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) 4.2 instruction set as Intel® Core™ processor and Intel® Xeon® processor families. This enables developers to directly port existing video analytics algorithms, such as algorithms for monitoring eye movement and closure, from server-centric solutions.

With all these features, the Intel Atom processor processor easily handles the driver fatigue management software, video analytics for monitoring a driver’s eyes, and all the associated communications and alarm functions of the system. With processing power to spare, designers of fatigue management systems may even add additional safety and communication features.

Helping Keep Eyes Open and on the Road

Featuring its versatile, rugged design, the Lanner LVR-2010 in-vehicle PC makes a reliable choice for driver fatigue management on any vehicle. For a look at all the rugged mobile platforms available from Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance members, see our Solutions Directory.

Putting Digital Signage in Motion

Posted on by Mark Scantlebury

There’s nothing like mass transit trains and buses for providing a captive audience for advertising. In fact, many transit systems depend on advertising revenues to supplement their tight budgets and help hold down fare prices. But do transit companies need a dedicated media player on a train or bus to deliver advertising? Or is it possible to give them more for their money by offering multi-function telematics solutions that can perform other important tasks?

Digital signage manufacturers and system integrators looking to offer such a versatile product would need a unit that can deliver powerful compute and graphics capabilities while operating within the power constraints of a bus or train. In addition, this unit would need to meet all the environmental challenges of life on wheels and rails – from temperature extremes to vibration.

Portwell recently introduced such a rugged, multi-function solution for handling mobile digital signage and more (Figure 1). Their PCS-8311P telematics system is a tough embedded computer offering four Power over Ethernet (PoE) M12 ports. These ports enable the system to perform as a digital signage media player and a network video recorder (NVR) by providing data transfer capabilities and power to smart displays and onboard surveillance cameras over a connection that can withstand serious shock and vibration. The ports can also solidly connect and power other LAN peripherals, such as door sensors or ticket printers.

Figure 1. The Portwell PCS-8311P telematics system makes a versatile onboard media player that can handle NVR duties and a variety of other transit tasks.

Overall, the PCS-8311P is a textbook example of versatility. It is designed for use in commercial and municipal vehicles in applications such as in-vehicle infotainment, digital signage, mobile communications, navigation, onboard surveillance, and fleet management.

Let’s take a look how its design, extensive I/O, powerful but low-power-consumption processor, and other features make it so well-suited to on-the-road digital signage applications and more.

Rugged Design

The PCS-8311P meets MIL-STD-810F standards for vibration, shock and crash hazards, as well as EN50121 standards and EN50155 certification for railway applications (Figure 2). The unit’s tough aluminum-alloy enclosure includes cooling fins and wall- and VESA-mounting options, enabling the system to operate in harsh environments. The unit supports a wide operating temperature range (-40°~70°C), allowing use in almost any climate – cold, tropical, and desert. Its M12 ports enable unshakeable connections. And dual hot-swappable SATA storage with options for SSDs and RAID 1 (as well as RAID 0) provides redundancy and fast drive replacement to keep vehicles in service.

Figure 2. The Portwell PCS-8311P meets MIL-STD-810F standards for vibration, shock and crash hazards, as well as EN50121 standards and EN50155 certification for railway applications.

Built for Vehicle Power and Communications Limitations

Buses and trains generally operate on 24/28-volt systems, and their electronic components face input voltage power variances during operation. In addition, embedded computers for transit need to incorporate ignition-sensing power control systems to ensure their digital signage and other applications operate only when the vehicle is running. This prevents battery drainage when vehicles are garaged. Equally important, transit embedded systems must perform sequenced shutdowns so that when a bus or train is shut off, the signage solution’s operating system does not crash and introduce errors in the software.

The PCS-8311P is designed to run on a wide range of DC power – from 9V to 36V. Its intelligent power ignition control provides power management for smart startups and shutdowns. It even includes short-circuit protection through an auto-recovery function. The four IEEE802.3af PoE interfaces deliver up to 15.4W per port – enough to power surveillance cameras, smart displays, and even self-contained (all-in-one) digital signage systems.

As for communications, the PCS-8311P offers an excellent array of choices for connecting on the move. The unit supports up to three wireless modules, including LTE, 3.5G (with SIM card), and WLAN (Wi-Fi). It also offers GSM/GPRS and Bluetooth*, plus GPS Dead Reckoning. Savvy developers can use the GPS Dead Reckoning to offer timely location-based advertising and information. For instance, when the bus or train is approaching a stop with a restaurant, pre-arranged advertising for that restaurant could display a special for transit riders.

Wide Range of Essential I/O

Rich COM I/O interfaces, including support for optional CAN 2.0B, help transit companies maximize their investment in legacy devices and equipment. The unit includes three RS-232 (two with RS-485 and Auto Direction Control), two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, four in and four out DIO ports, one line-out audio, one microphone port, and one SIM card socket (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Of course, there are also the aforementioned M12 Ports for GbE PoE, as well as three display connections (DVI-I, DisplayPort, and VGA).

Figure 3. The Portwell PCS-8311P provides a rich selection of I/O on both sides of the unit.

A Processor Designed for Efficient Compute and Graphics Performance

With a thermal design power (TDP) rating of 15 W, the 5th generation Intel® Core™ i7-5650U processor brings all the performance you expect of an Intel® Core™ i7 processor to applications requiring low power consumption and stunning images and video. Now you can put on wheels and rails the same Ultra HD 4K graphics as advanced indoor systems.

The 5th generation Intel Core i7-5650U processor profits from Intel’s 14nm technology, 2nd generation 3D tri-gate transistors, and latest architectural enhancements. The processor combines a powerful dual-core CPU with a platform controller hub (PCH) to create a single multi-chip solution. The result is a PC-class processor for space- and power-constrained embedded applications that delivers solid compute performance, HD graphics, and high quality sound.

The integrated Intel® HD Graphics 6000 engine uses an improved architecture and an additional VDBOX unit (multi-format video codec). For digital signage applications, this combination delivers smoother visual quality, extremely fast media-transcode performance, and outstanding HD media playback. Intel® Clear Video HD technology and Intel® Quick Sync Video 2 add visual quality and color fidelity enhancements that enable eye-catching video quality. Codec support includes VP8 and HEVC/H.265. The processor supports the latest APIs as well – DirectX 11.2 and OpenGL 4.3.

For cases where the PCS-8311P is used both as a digital signage media player and an NVR, the 5th generation Intel® Core™ processors deliver faster video conversion compared to the previous generation. Video conversion to compressed formats can make a big difference in how many hours of video can be saved onboard the unit’s two drives.

Make a Compelling Case for Your Digital Signage Solution

The Portwell PCS-8311P is an excellent platform to build on for offering a transit digital signage system that can do double duty and even triple duty as an NVR and a mobile communications, management and navigation system. In addition, manufacturers can visit the Solutions Directory to find other rugged digital signage systems.