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intel atom for embedded: hardware and software news... ... |
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Intel recently acquired Wind River Systems, sparking massive speculation and debate about what this means for Intel's strategy, Wind's customers, and the "future" of the embedded systems ecosystem. That news is too fresh for practical engineering commentary, but Intel's big push to promote the Intel Atom as a low power embedded processor and platform for the "Embedded Internet" is ready and robust. This month we take a look at the Intel Atom and its many ecosystem partners, with some cool hardware and software news.
contents:
- intel atom: the big picture
- intel atom: hardware news and new products
- intel atom: software news and new products
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MEN Micro’s New ESMexpress® Standard: XM1
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MEN Micro’s new XM1 ESMexpress® System-On-Module, based on the new ANSI-VITA 59 (RSE Rugged System-On-Module Express) computing standard in development, brings the cost and time savings of computer-on-modules (COMs) technology to rugged, harsh and mission-critical environments. The XM1 features the first-generation Intel® Atoml® processor (Z530 at 1.6 GHz or Z510 at 1.1 GHz) based on 45-nm technology.
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intel atom: the big picture
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Remember the Intel Chopper? That marketing blitz tried to wow us, and convince us, that smart consumer products like large motorocycles would be a huge market. It was very cool, but somewhere on the way to reality, Intel discovered that there are billions - literally billions - of devices connected to the Internet. That's a much larger market than the market for intelligent motorcycles.
The centerpiece of this effort to get "designed inside" the burgeoning market for small, portable, Internet-connected devices is the Intel Atom. You can read all the product specifications, here, but suffice it to say that Intel Atom is small but powerful. Beyond netbooks and notebooks, the product takes aim at mobile, connected devices... It's not quite ARM territory, because ARM focuses more on mobile phones, whereas Atom seems to be targeting connected devices that are "almost" PC-like (think small form factor computing). But you can think of it as ARM moving "up" from mobile phones to smart phones to appliances; and Intel moving "down" from PCs to notebooks to mobile appliances. The good news for developers is that Intel is pouring money and effort into Atom, and jump-starting its already robust x86 ecosystem partners to get on the bandwagon.
For embedded systems folks, here are some pointers to the most useful Atom-for-embedded websites -
Finally, for a sample of Intel's mindset about getting the Atom into everything, check out their news release on four unique versions of processors and two new system controller hub additions to the Atom. They include industrial-temperature options, as well as different package-size choices better suited for in-car infotainment devices, media phones, eco-technologies and other industrial-strength applications. Got the concept? See the vision?
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intel atom: hardware news and new products
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Fortunately for Intel, a massive group of vendors primarily those who sell small form factor single board computers has bandwagoned on Atom. Taiwan-based Lanner Electronics, Inc., for example, has released their Lanner LUGE LEC-2010 - a small form factor, fanless embedded system based on Atom. It provides a PCI or PCI Express expansion slot, along with extensive I/O features such as six USB 2.0 ports, six serial ports and 8 digital I/O lanes. It also provides SATA and CompactFlash storage support, and VGA and DVI-D video output. Dual gigabit LAN ports ensure solid connectivity and the system accepts wide range power input from 9V to 36V DC in a slim 65 mm height form factor. Digital signage and mobile video are its target applications. (News, here).
Germany-based MEN Mikro Elektronik has a new ultra-small form factor, ESMini™. Its first ESMini module MM1 with Intel Atom and high-performance graphics targets applications in commercial vehicles, railway, avionics, medical engineering and industrial automation.
The COM module offers huge advantages: Processor frequencies of up to 1.6 GHz combined with a power consumption of only 5 to 7 Watts, extended temperature range, extremely space-saving design and seven years minimum availability with an advantageous price/performance ratio. The chief attraction of the MM1: The electronics is completely enclosed which means that it is thermically coupled to the system via conductive cooling as well as 100% EMC-protected.
(News, here).
Finally, Italy-based Eurotech has released a development board to help designers get started with Atom-based designs. "For less than the price of a high performance laptop, OEM engineers can develop their applications on Eurotech embedded computer platforms so they can bring their devices to market more quickly and more cost-effectively," says Arlen Nipper, President and CTO of Eurotech Inc. "By giving customers Windows Embedded Standard, Windows CE and Linux operating systems with each development kit purchased, we offer instant flexibility." Price is between $995 and $1995. (News, here).
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intel atom: software news and new products
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The embedded Intel Atom, however, is not all about about hardware, however. Software vendors are also jumping on the bandwagon. VirtualLogix has announced that its VLX virtualization software solution supports the Intel® Atom™ processor Z530 platform for embedded applications. This brings some of its high reliability virtualization prowess into Intel's embedded initiative. (News, here). For Windows lovers, TenAys has released support for the Intel® Atom™ processor Z5xx series with their real-time Windows virtualization solutions. "We are thrilled with Intel's continued advancement in and commitment to embedded processor technology," stated Kim Hartman, VP of Marketing for TenAsys, "Using our INtime and eVM products on Atom-based systems gives our customers even more options for building small, inexpensive real-time Windows platforms."
On the bios front, Insyde Software, a provider of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) based firmware has released their InsydeH2O™ UEFI firmware solution for the extension of the Intel Atom processor Z5xx series platform. (Release, here). Competitor Phoenix Technologies announced that their Embedded BIOS® supports the latest options for the Atom processor Z5xx series and the Intel System Controller Hub (SCH) US15W, including an industrial temperature range and larger footprint versions with 1.0 mm ball pitch. So even here one can see the green shoots of a robust ecosystem for the Atom, at least in industrial single-board computers and related software. (Release, here).
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