Taiwanese AIoT company Advantech has introduced an embedded edge computer for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

The AFE-R360 is said to meet the evolving demands for vision sensors and performance, integrating MIPI-CSI and GMSL sensor technologies with Intel’s x86 Core Ultra platform. It comes with Advantech Robotic Suite, which includes a ROS2-ready environment and AI tools, to streamline the development process and foster innovation in robotics.

“With support from Intel, Advantech’s AFE-R360, powered by Intel’s Core Ultra processors, offers a powerful edge computing platform for complex robotic applications,” said Rajesh Kurusetty, director of robotics at Advantech. “Featuring an integrated GPU, NPU, MIPI-CSI (direct and GMSL) and Intel RealSense D457 depth camera support, along with the Intel OpenVino toolkit, it delivers exceptional performance, with low power consumption and versatility for AI-driven tasks. This product is an ideal choice for building and deploying cutting-edge robotics.”

To process high-resolution images and conduct AI analysis, it harnesses the Intel Core Ultra processor, which integrates an NPU and GPU, striking a balance of performance and power usage. This makes it suitable for battery-powered mobile robots. The platform overall delivers 32Tops, enabling it to handle AI detection tasks and adapt to dynamic surroundings. For users requiring higher performance to run complex AI models, it also offers AI scalability through an M.2 slot with a Hailo module, or USB4 interface MIOe-UMXM with A4500 MXM GPUs, boosting AI performance by up to four times.

MIPI-CSI and GMSL technologies allow uncompressed, high frame rate input with speeds up to 8Gbit/s for four lanes. In addition, GMSL transmits data over distances of up to 15 metres. It also comes with three USB-C and three Ethernet ports, designed to accommodate lidar, ToF and traditional RGB cameras.

While MIPI and GMSL interfaces provide higher bandwidth and lower latency, they also add complexity to driver development compared with standard UVC camera drivers. Advantech initiated a partner alignment strategy, gathering together top-tier camera technology providers such as Intel RealSense, E-Con Systems, Innodisk and Otobrite to develop camera technology for the AFE-R360.

“Advantech is proud to collaborate with Intel and camera vendors to strengthen our AMR offering,” said James Wang, director of embedded applications at Advantech. “By incorporating MIPI and GMSL interfaces into the AFE-R360, Advantech is committed to providing our customers with cutting-edge technology that meets the challenges of tomorrow. These interfaces not only enhance performance but also enable new possibilities in imaging applications across various industries.”

The AFE-R360DVK offers an efficient user experience as a MIPI and GMSL offering, with bios settings, camera drivers, Ubuntu OS, ROS2 and camera modules pre-installed and fully tested. This makes it suitable for applications such as AMR, patrol robots and smart transportation. The system is set to launch in October 2024.

The AFE-R360 is designed to meet the precise IO needs of AMRs for space and efficiency by integrating necessary IO directly into a compact 3.5in single board computer (SBC).

There are two CAN-FD ports for battery and motor control, four RS-232, 422 and 485 uart ports for various robotic and vehicle sensors, and up to seven USB and three LAN ports to support RGB cameras, lidar and IMU.

Wireless connectivity options come via M.2 E-Key and B-Key, supporting 4G, 5G and wifi. The inclusion of the Advantech AIW module provides support for fast roaming.

The development process for an R&D team can be lengthy and arduous. Advantech aims to accelerate this by offering innovative and seamless software for AMR development teams. Its verified ROS environment, APIs and AI tools streamline key AMR functions such as vehicle control, navigation, SLAM and pallet barcode recognition, allowing users to begin robotic development more easily and quickly. The AFE-R360 (www.advantech.com/zh-tw/products/8d5aadd0-1ef5-4704-a9a1-504718fb3b41/afe-r360/mod_1e4a1980-9a31-46e6-87b6-affbd7a2cb44) is now available for order.

To learn more about AMRs and robotics from Advantech (www.advantech.com), visit campaign.advantech.online/en/AMR-Robotic-Solutions.