IoT is a fantastic way for businesses and service providers to evolve. While we still haven’t reached the levels of completely automated systems just yet, we can still use IoT devices as additional eyes and ears for what’s going on.
Recently, Northumberland Water used IoT to help monitor its water supply. It’s not totally automatic, but it’s a lot more convenient than sending out plumbers!
While IoT devices act as great sensors, they can’t do much by themselves. They need to communicate to a central PC to deliver the results of their measurements. The PC can then collate this data and present it to humans in a way they understand.
There’s a problem with this setup, however. Typically, the IoT sensors find themselves in areas humans can’t easily access. This situation makes it tricky for people to get to the collected data. Sometimes the sensors can beam their results to a central hub, but what if this isn’t possible?
In this situation the solution is to put a PC in the area. That way the sensors have something nearby they can talk to and relay their data. While this sounds great on paper, what if the conditions are so bad that it’s dangerous even for computer hardware?
Where the Rugged PC Comes In
That’s the solution that Logic Supply aims to tackle with the announcement of their new PC, the Karbon 300. They’re calling it a “rugged PC,” which gives away a lot about its design with just the name alone. It’s built to withstand physical wear and tear where a regular PC might falter.
“Computing at the edge is increasingly at the core of today’s Industry 4.0 and Industrial IoT solutions,” says Murat Erdogan of Logic Supply. These devices are being deployed in environments that would quickly destroy traditional computer hardware. The builders and creators we work with require a careful combination of connectivity, processing, and environmental protections.
“With Karbon 300 we’re providing the ideal mix of capabilities to help make the next generation of industry-shaping innovation a reality and enable innovators to truly challenge what’s possible.”
What’s in It?
Just how rugged is this piece of kit? It’s being tested to withstand shock and vibrations, which are particularly deadly to PCs, as they can jostle the moving parts. It can operate between temperatures of -25C (-13F) to 70C (158F). It’s also designed with automotive power capabilities, so it can be used within a vehicle.
The PC even comes fanless, so there are minimal moving parts that can jam up and cause overheating. This means the Karbon 300 has to depend on passive cooling in order to stop its components from burning up.
Rough Computing
With the demands of IoT moving into hostile environments, it’s important that the hardware storing the data can withstand the worst. With rugged PCs entering the market, the world of IoT can venture into previously-inaccessible terrain.
Where do you see rugged PCs being used in the IoT world? Let us know below.
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