If you work on The Edge, you probably have felt overwhelmed by all the computer options offered in the market and by intended use statements from non-technical users in your organization. As a result, you probably have struggled to decide and to prove to C-Level executives and managers the importance of choosing the appropriate computer for your application. Let us guide you to conquer the Edge.
What is the intended use? When sourcing computers, non-technical users rarely think about the specifics. Usually, they look for a computer to run software. In other words, they focus on the intended use. For example, when, around Christmas, your child asks for a computer to play Minecraft. But your child will unlikely ask for a PC with at least 4 GB memory RAM, an Intel Celeron J4105 CPU, and a Hard Drive with a minimum of 25 GB supporting Windows 10. The average PC user will try to solve their immediate necessity. In this case, it is playing Minecraft.
Even if the intended use is clear, how do you determine which computer will be the best for said software? This is not a straightforward answer for any computer but especially for industrial hardware on the Edge. If you want to read more about this process, you can check out this blog. But if you don’t have time to read the post, here is a summary. We need to consider several variables, for example: program architecture, intended performance, and geographic location. Engineers will rely on design methodologies to set all requirements, starting by establishing specs.
In fact, the first step to mastering The Edge is differentiating between minimum system requirements, soft system requirements, and hard system requirements (To learn more, read our blog about the difference between Minimum and Hard System Requirements). This applies to all hardware but especially to computers in The Edge because environmental variables vary greatly.
We included below some important questions to guide the journey of determining the environmental variables:
- Is there limited power?
- Will equipment work under extreme temperatures?
- Would the computer have to perform in a dusty/abrasive environment?
- Will you be performing AI operations?
- What type of connectivity, scalability, and security concerns will you need to address?
We can give you a quick guide to help you select the best Edge computer for your application:
High data volume and intense processing applications: for intense processing applications, like retraining AI models, you would prefer an edge server or workstation. In general, this type of application is usually closer to the main data center and requires some specialized cabinet or office space with unlimited power and a semi-controlled environment.
High data volume and semi-intense processing applications: in these cases, data volume is large, but processing might partially happen in the computer. You will likely choose a fan box computer. These computers can handle processing high data volumes, and temperature CPU restrictions are not a problem thanks to active cooling features. Also, these computers offer some flexibility by allowing you to add Digital I/O cards, Analog I/O cards, image processing cards, or AI cards.
Restrictive Edge Applications: these applications present specific challenges both in terms of data processing and physical limitations. These are usually dusty/hot environments in which size matters. For instance, for robotic applications in factories (You can read our Robotic Blog series here, https://landing.contecamericas.com/robotic-blog-series). In those cases, you will probably prefer to install a box computer with passive cooling (or fanless) with remote monitoring features. These ones are trickier because they will cascade negative effects all the way to revenue if not designed correctly into your application since the beginning. We suggest you consult with your Hardware Manufacturer, as they will be best equipped to provide advice on how to develop the software thinking about the hardware platform. We hold your ladder to success!
If you want to continue reading about Embedded Computers, check out this page.