New Boards Target Industrial Linux and Control Systems
The new Ezurio Carbon AM62 board features a Texas Instruments Sitara AM62x SoC, which combines a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 for running Linux with Cortex-M4F and R5F cores for real-time tasks. In a similar vein, the FMC367 platform utilizes a Xilinx Zynq SoC for general-purpose, reconfigurable computing at the edge. These platforms exemplify the trend of hybrid architectures for industrial automation and data acquisition.
- The Texas Instruments Sitara AM62x SoC integrates a dual-core Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) alongside its Arm Cortex cores, allowing for deterministic, low-latency I/O control suitable for industrial protocols. This heterogeneous architecture enables running Linux and multiple real-time operating systems (RTOS) concurrently on dedicated cores without contention. The AM62x family is designed for a sub-1W power envelope, making it suitable for power-sensitive applications like portable medical equipment and smart gateways. - The Ezurio Carbon AM62 board is built to the Open Standard Module (OSM) 1.2 specification in the medium form factor (MF), measuring 45 x 30mm. It supports operating systems like Yocto Linux, Buildroot, and Debian on the Cortex-A53 cores, with FreeRTOS available for the Cortex-M4F and Cortex-R5F microcontroller cores. For security, the platform includes a secure enclave, encrypted boot, and secure file storage. - The Xilinx Zynq-7000 series combines a dual-core Arm Cortex-A9 processor with 28nm Artix-7 based programmable logic (FPGA fabric) on a single chip. This integration provides over 3,000 interconnects between the processing system and the programmable logic, enabling I/O bandwidth up to 100Gb/s. This architecture is leveraged in applications requiring hardware-software co-design, such as industrial motor control, machine vision, and medical imaging. - The FMC367 platform's use of a Zynq SoC highlights the advantage of reconfigurable computing, where the FPGA fabric can be programmed to accelerate specific tasks or create custom peripheral interfaces, a key benefit for specialized industrial equipment. This contrasts with the application-specific cores (like the PRU in the AM62x) which are designed for more defined real-time functions. - A key driver for these hybrid architectures in industrial settings is the need to combine high-level operating systems for complex applications and networking with deterministic, real-time control for machinery. This approach allows core control functions to remain localized on robust, segmented factory networks while non-critical data can be sent to the cloud for analytics and AI model training. - The Sitara AM62x is aimed at applications including Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), EV charging stations, and driver monitoring systems. It supports dual displays with resolutions up to 3840 x 1080 and includes an Imagination GPU for 3D graphics acceleration. - Connectivity on the Ezurio Carbon AM62 includes optional Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 via a Sona TI351 module, dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with TSN support for time-sensitive networking, and two CAN-FD interfaces. - The use of hybrid architectures reflects a broader industry trend of IT/OT (Information Technology/Operational Technology) convergence, where data from industrial processes are integrated with enterprise systems. However, securing these converged systems is critical, leading to the development of hybrid Security Operations Centers (SOCs) that combine IT and OT security expertise.
