Definition

An pc fanless, or small industrial pc for short, is a type of computer specifically designed for industrial environments. It is able to operate stably and reliably in harsh industrial conditions, such as complex industrial sites such as factory floors, mines, outdoor facilities, etc.

Hardware features:

Rugged and durable housing：

• The shell of industrial computers is usually made of metal, such as aluminum alloy, etc., which has good anti-electromagnetic interference (EMI) and anti-radio frequency interference (RFI) capabilities. This is because in the industrial environment, there are a large number of motors, inverters and other equipment, which will produce electromagnetic interference, and ordinary computers are easily affected and malfunction, and the shell of industrial computers can effectively shield these interferences.
• It also has a high degree of protection, which can generally reach IP65 or even higher. For example, in food processing plants, pharmaceutical workshops and other environments, it is necessary to prevent dust and liquids from entering the computer, and the high protection level of the shell can ensure that the computer can work normally in a humid and dusty environment.

Reliable motherboard and components

• The motherboard of Industrial Computer is designed to pay more attention to stability and reliability. The electronic components used are typically selected to industrial standards and can withstand a wider temperature range, generally operating in a temperature range of -20°C to 70°C or more. This allows it to operate stably in environments such as high-temperature metallurgical workshops or cold outdoor base stations.
• Memory, hard disk and other components also have the characteristics of shock resistance and impact resistance. In industrial sites with mechanical vibrations, such as automated production lines, ordinary hard disks may damage data due to vibration, but solid-state drives (SSDs) or special shock-resistant hard disks used in industrial computers can effectively avoid this situation.

Performance characteristics:

• Powerful computing power and data processing ability：Industrial computers need to process a large amount of industrial data, such as sensor data collection on automated production lines, complex algorithm operations in industrial control systems, etc. It is usually equipped with a high-performance processor, such as the Intel Core series or the Celeron series of industrial-grade processors, which can process this data quickly and accurately, providing efficient computing support for industrial automation.
• A variety of communication interfaces:Industrial computers have rich communication interfaces, including but not limited to Ethernet interfaces, RS-232/485 interfaces, USB interfaces, CAN bus interfaces, etc. These interfaces enable industrial computers to be easily connected to a wide range of industrial devices such as PLCs (programmable logic controllers), sensors, actuators, and more. For example, in the intelligent warehousing system, it is connected to the temperature and humidity sensor through the RS-485 interface, and the data interaction with the warehouse management system is carried out through the Ethernet interface to realize the real-time monitoring and management of the storage environment.

Software system features:

• Real-time operating system support:Industrial computers often run real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, QNX, etc. These operating systems can ensure that specific tasks are completed within the specified time, and can provide accurate time control to ensure the stability and reliability of the system for tasks with high real-time requirements in industrial control, such as robot motion control, high-speed automated packaging, etc.
• Industrial control software compatibility:The industrial computer can be well compatible with various industrial control software, such as SCADA (data acquisition and supervisory control system) software, HMI (human-machine interface) software, etc. These software can realize the functions of monitoring, parameter setting, alarm processing and other functions of industrial processes on the industrial computer. For example, in the chemical production process, the SCADA software installed on the industrial computer can monitor the temperature, pressure and other parameters of the reactor in real time, and alarm and control according to the set threshold.

Fields of application

• Manufacturing automation:In automobile manufacturing plants, industrial computers are used for automatic control of automobile production lines. It can control the robot to weld, paint and other operations of auto parts, and collect quality inspection data on the production line, such as the dimensional accuracy detection of parts, etc., to achieve efficient, accurate and intelligent automobile production.
• Energy industry:In power substations, industrial computers are used for monitoring and control of power systems. It can collect the voltage, current, power and other parameters of the power grid, transmit the data to the power dispatching center through the communication network, and control the opening and closing of circuit breakers and other equipment according to the preset instructions to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid.
• Transportation:In the urban rail transit system, the industrial computer is used for the control system of the train. It can handle tasks such as speed control, signal reception and transmission of trains, and ensure the safe and punctual operation of trains. At the same time, industrial computers also play an important role in the toll station system of expressways, used for vehicle information recognition, toll calculation, etc.