PC/104 in Transportation

by PC/104 Embedded Consortium

Introduction

Modern transportation is heavily dependent on embedded electronics for everything from engine control systems to transportation infrastructure. Electronics are used in virtually every mode of mechanical transportation from bicycles to space craft, if it moves you can bet you will find electronic components. The dependency on electronics only grows with each generation of transportation vehicles and systems.

Adding electronics has many advantages. Electronics in vehicles is lighter than equivalent mechanical systems so fuel consumption is reduced, saving on fuel costs. Electronics can improve accuracy and response, improving safety; take for example automated brake systems that can respond much faster than the human driver to changing road conditions. Electronics can improve safety by enabling vehicles and infrastructure to communicate between themselves, leading to safer sharing of route information.

Intelligent infrastructure systems today provide electronic toll collection, emergency vehicle notification systems, automatic road enforcement with red light and speed cameras, variable speed limits, collision avoidance systems, dynamic traffic light sequencing, and many other capabilities. Electronics is exceptional at improving the monitoring and control of transportation routes on land, air and water. Intelligent byways will one day reduce or in many cases eliminate the need for human operators.

Computers in Transportation

Vehicles and transportation infrastructure use all types of electronic computational components; application specific standard processors (ASSPs), systems-on-chips (SoCs), single board computers (SBCs), and fully integrated large scale systems. The choice is dependent on many variables but is primarily driven by size, weight and power.

Computer board and system level products are most often used in larger vehicles such as ships, trains, planes, or heavy trucks. They are also used widely throughout various parts of the supporting infrastructures and intelligent highway systems. Table 1 highlights some of the many onboard vehicle applications and infrastructure applications using board and system level computers.

Transportation Requirements

Vehicles and infrastructure systems often present difficult challenges for embedded electronics. There are varying degrees of requirements for environmental considerations. Equipment needs to operate from sub-zero Arctic temperatures to scorching desert heat. The electronics can encounter vibration ranging from none in a stationary position to extreme in heavy vehicles bouncing across rugged terrain. The operating environments are often extreme and reliability is at the top of most lists of requirements. Challenging power and size constraints are applied to embedded transportation electronics making it even more difficult to select the right solutions.

What should a designer look for when selecting board level electronic modules? Consider the following issues:

Backplane versus motherboard: Factors to consider include I/O management, expansion, cooling, and ruggedness. Many of the newer backplane solutions, commonly called blades; use serial networking interconnects so that single boards can operate in physically separated boxes or in a larger chassis with several boards together. Larger systems that require a lot of expansion capability tend to lean toward the backplane choice. Smaller, more constrained applications use a motherboard of some style. Backplane-based systems tend to be used in large vehicles or large stationary infrastructure devices.

Size: Most applications are very space constrained especially if the system is mounted within a vehicle. Every square centimeter is prime real estate, and its use must be optimized.

Table 1: Typical applications for board and system level computer products

Chassis/Enclosure Choices: Most applications require the electronics to be enclosed in a housing of some type. Chassis and enclosures supporting varying degrees of environmental conditions are available. Be sure that the form factor you select is supported with enclosures that meet your needs.

Functionality Expansion: Will you need to add more functionality later? How that decision is answered can dramatically influence the form factor choice. Does the board use a standard interface that already has a large selection of add-in options, or is it proprietary or limited in choices? Some expansion options take a large amount of valuable real estate while others are low profile and space efficient. Be sure to check how well the expansion option is accepted if you think you may need to expand features in the future. Expansion options are a great way to add functionality to an already deployed system, improving chances to gain revenue from upgrades.

I/O Management: Some form factors are better than others with I/O management. Improvements in the location, number, and type of I/O have shaped the evolution of motherboards. As new types of I/O such as USB, flash cards, SATA, and PCI Express have taken over the serial and parallel connections of the past, board designers have made appropriate changes in the way I/O is managed by the board. Small form factor boards have even more unique choices better suited for embedded transportation applications.

Power: Something seemingly as straightforward as getting power to the board can be a huge obstacle. The best solutions allow designers to use commonly available power supplies and connectors.

Thermal Management: How does a particular form factor handle cooling? For some applications, this is a minor concern, but the majority will have some issues to consider, especially if you are using high-end processors for the project. Some form factors have the option of air, conduction, or even liquid cooling. Some are built into the board specification while others require some creative mechanical design and plumbing.

Ruggedness: Into what type of environment will your product be deployed? Standard PC boards and systems do well in benign home or office environments but are not suitable for transportation applications. Some form factor specifications have shock and vibration options over a range of environments. Form factors designed specifically for embedded applications tend to do a much better job managing rugged requirements.

Standards: Form factors endorsed and managed by a standards organization can be very important to many applications. A standards-supported form factor is more stable, well thought out, qualified, and usually has a planned evolution path. All this can help you manage future life-cycle issues as you improve and evolve your design. Standards developed by an established organization have the inputs of many technical experts who have had a chance to test and vet the design inputs. Ecosystems for well developed standards tend to be larger and more robust giving you better product choices.

Suppliers and Support: Having choices in suppliers is just as important as choice in form factors. There is less of a risk with one-off products that have a limited life span, but having a solution supported by several suppliers gives you options for prices, support, and life-cycle management.

PC /104 in Transportation

The members of the PC/104 Embedded Consortium have many small form factor boards in a variety of standard form factors to choose from that address the demanding needs of many electronic transportation products.

The PC/104 family of specifications is ideally suited for many of the demanding needs of transportation infrastructure and offers a variety of options to OEMs looking for an off-the-shelf system. The specifications cover several form factors and baseline configurations that were written with demanding embedded computing applications in mind. The PC/104 Embedded Consortium governs each of these specifications.

Stackable: All boards in the PC/104 family accommodate a variety of stacking modules. Stackable modules allow quick expansion of your system to suit changing application requirements.

Rugged design: PC/104 eliminates the backplane and replaces it with a rugged pin and socket expansion bus. Boards are held together with a rigid four-corner mounting system. The combination of these features results in an extremely rigid multi-board system that can withstand shock and vibration, making PC/104 particularly popular in vehicle and transportation applications with tough vibration operating conditions.

PC technology: PC/104 is based on popular PC technology, including processors, support chips, expansion buses, operating systems, and software development tools. PC/104 board designers can easily take advantage of the latest and most popular technologies, in turn making these technologies available to PC/104 users. In addition, since most engineers today have experience with PC hardware and software, they are already familiar with the technology of PC/104, so implementing a PC/104 system is relatively fast and easy.

Software: Because PC/104 heavily leverages PC technology, there is a outstanding selection of software choices available. PC/104- based products are available that run the latest Embedded Windows 7, Linux and the most popular real-time operating systems.

Low cost: PC/104 systems are substantially lower cost than other embedded computing standards because of their smaller size and elimination of the backplane. PC/104 makes embedded computing technology accessible to a larger number of cost sensitive applications.

Multi-vendor support: With over 75 companies offering compatible PC/104 boards and accessories, PC/104 provides a reliable platform for embedded systems designers concerned with long product life and availability of features. You can mix and match boards from multiple vendors and upgrade processors to achieve higher performance when needed.

The PC/104 Embedded Consortium consists of members worldwide who have joined together to disseminate information about PC/104 and to provide a liaison function between PC/104 and standards organizations. Members help shape the future of embedded market standards and gain early access to new developments in the industry. The members are dedicated to advancing the PC/104 to utilize the latest breakthroughs in embedded computing technology. For further information, contact the consortium.

PC /104 System Improves Traffic Flow

An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in a heavily congested urban area utilizes a rugged PC/104-based embedded computer system developed by Diamond Systems to provide road network management functions. The system helps to reduce congestion, travel time, and accident rates by enabling the traffic control center to collect data on road and traffic conditions and adjust traffic light timing and control signals in real time. The system also enables messages to be transmitted to roadway signs advising drivers of traffic conditions ahead.

The rugged computer system is based on Diamond’s Athena II PC/104 SBC, featuring fan-less cooling and wide temperature operation, both necessary for this outdoor application in a climate with wide temperature variation and exposure to direct sunlight.

Diamond’s Athena II PC/104 SBC in Pandora enclosure

The system is housed in Diamond’s Pandora enclosure, featuring cable-free assembly for increased reliability as well as reduced size and cost. A panel I/O board with industry-standard I/O connectors provides access to all the needed features and plugs directly on top of the SBC, providing adequate clearance for ventilation.

Railway Surveillance and Analysis System

With the accelerating development of high-speed rail, monitoring and information analysis are becoming increasingly important for the railway security. The system used for this purpose is required to run stably for long periods of time, especially for the data collecting sites deployed along the railway. What’s more, the outdoor environments also impose rigorous requirements on the performance of the system devices, such as operating temperature, operating humidity and EMC performance, etc. These performances also have a direct impact on the timeliness and accuracy of signal acquisition. The system is required to collect accurate data along the railway on a real-time basis and send them back for analysis, so that people in charge can always know the operating conditions of the railway.

The system contains a series of EVOC’s products: panel PCs for human-computer interaction, IPCs for collecting, analyzing signals and sending control instructions or commands, redundant fiber optic ring network and redundant ring network with electrical interface for signal transmission, and EVOC 104- 1841CLD2Ns for acquiring and processing terminal signals (including video signals).

EVOC’s 104-1841CLD2N

The 104-1841CLD2N features low power consumption, high performance and watchdog timer design. Its wide operating temperature and conformal coating design sufficiently ensure the system’s stable and reliable operation in harsh and hostile environments. Its abundant I/O options allow users to expand system functions.

Automatic Block Signaling System with PC /104

Electronic interlocking and Automatic Block Signaling System (ABSS) increases on-time performance, improves transportation safety while significantly increasing the train’s speed and the overall carrying capacity of the railroad. A railroad interlocking control system utilizes a number of subsystems to regulate the flow of train traffic through a track layout. MicroMax has developed a number of subsystems for ABSS including Automated Work Station (AWS) and CAN-registrar. These systems were built on the M-Max 700 series of PC/104-based computers. AWS is used for configuring and testing while the CAN-Registrar is used for recording of all important parameters of the system. Proprietary fanless heat dissipation technology and sealed enclosures allow placement of AWS and CAN-registrars in dusty and humid environments. AWS and CAN-registrars placed in outdoor enclosures can operate 24/7 for 6-7 years due to no moving parts with an operating temperature from -40 ~ 85º C. This greatly reduces maintenance costs of the entire rail system.

MicroMax’s M-Max 700 PC/104-based computer

Monitoring cargo in transit

VersaLogic PC/104-Plus SBCs are deployed in cargo transport systems that enable the DoD and international militaries to achieve significant productivity gains, reduce cycle times, decrease wait time, and increase supply confidence. The integration of AIT/RFID technologies and the creation of a tracking network help these organizations, through near real-time visibility of supplies and material in transit and in storage, scrutinize their logistical processes and supply chains to find ways to minimize the resources required to receive, store, locate, pick, pack and ship supplies. Through this advanced transportation technology, material managers can manage and control assets moving from vendors to depots, through air and seaports, to storage locations, and to the field.

VersaLogic’s PC/104-Plus SBC

Delivering secure data, voice and video communication
for mass transit

King County Metro Transit serves more than 1.7 million area residents, with a daily weekday ridership of more than 380,000 boardings. Eurotech’s DuraMAR is a modular mobile access router used to seamlessly connect vehicles to the agency’s IP network through a 4.9 GHz wireless corridor or an optional integrated cellular modem. This Cisco-based router of the DuraMAR family of products is used to transfer electronic fare payments and other operational data to and from transit buses, provide seamless network roaming for transit signal priority operation and the display of bus departure information on electronic signs along selected corridors, and improve transit security by supporting the expanded use of on-board digital video cameras.