Factory Automation System in Package Based on AM335x
Published On: August, 13, 2019 By: Nikhita Gangla
Cloud-connected IoT devices have revolutionized many traditional industries, leading to the rise of Industry 4.0. As part of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), these “smart” factories have accelerated factory automation allowing manufacturers to produce more sophisticated parts at significant cost savings. They do so by enabling efficient, secure operation of manufacturing processes. Today, an estimated 67% of companies in the industrial manufacturing sector have ongoing smart factory initiatives, and early movers report massive reductions in expenditures.
At the heart of the smart factory are intelligent sensors and controllers present on production and assembly lines. These intelligent sensors connect the physical machines to a digital network. Data is collected, used to make automated control decisions and also transmitted to a cloud server for further analysis. For example, vibration sensing can provide a warning when motors, bearings or other equipment needs to be maintained, and can subsequently trigger preventative maintenance on issues thus preventing larger problems. System nodes monitor their own performance and alert operators when things aren’t running at peak efficiency. In order to drive these smart systems, a microprocessor is necessary, such as one from the OSD335x System-in-Package family of devices, based on the Texas Instruments AM335x ARM processor.
Through its low power consumption, performance, and broad peripheral set, the OSD335x family of devices can provide everything needed for the most demanding factory automation system. The OSD335x supports many communication protocols for connecting a variety of sensors, motors, and robotics in any environment. It is also a complete 1GHz embedded Linux Computer in a single IC, empowering the edge components to have finer control, allowing for optimized use and better efficiency. The OSD335x System in Package also has the processing power to make real-time decisions with the data it collects or transmit it to the cloud for further analysis. Finally, developers can utilize the OSD335x AES and SHA accelerators or connect it to a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to create a secure system, preventing sensitive data loss and disrupting operations.
A PDF version of this Application Note can be downloaded HERE.
Powerful ARM Processor
The ARM Corex-A8 AM335x processor running up to 1GHz from Texas Instruments in the OSD335x family enables the features needed in any controller system. It provides enough performance to run analytics locally providing real-time actionable data to optimize the factory automation system.
Interfaces
The OSD335x C-SiP has numerous interfaces like UART, SPI, I2C, and GPIO to connect to any required sensor. It can support long-range RS-485 communication and has two CAN interfaces to easily communicate with local devices and provide real-time control. The Controller Reference Design App Note describes how to implement these interfaces. Leverage the large Open Source Community to quickly implement your solution, for your multiple I/O applications that you may need.
Connectivity
Whether it be Cellular, Satellite, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, or some other communication protocol, you need to get your data to be analyzed somewhere. The OSD335x family easily supports them all.
Performance Analytics
The OSD335x is capable of fast data acquisition and data analytics with support for R, Python, SaS, SQL, and many other languages. Applications that generate useful performance data and insights can be developed.
Secure
The data collected is valuable and needs to be protected. The OSD335x includes hardware accelerators for AES, SHA, and random number generation enabling the encryption of the collected data for storage and transmission to the remote data center. It easily connects to a device like a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and provides Secure Boot, making sure the software running on the device has not been compromised.
Real Time Control
The OSD335x also integrates 2 Programmable Real-time Units (PRUs) for real-time motor control and custom applications. These 200Mhz microcontrollers provide real-time, high throughput custom control and feedback data processing.
Full Linux Support
Leverage the breadth of the Linux community to quickly get your system running. No need to write drivers for different sensors or handle complex networking stacks, let Linux handle it for you. The OSD335x is completely supported in mainline Linux.
Robust Solutions
The OSD335x C-SiP is built to work in the harshest environments. It is rated to work in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C. Also its plastic encapsulated mold makes it able to withstand the highest vibration environments.
Faster Time to Production Floor
The OSD335x makes designing with a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor as easy as working with a Microcontroller. Spend less time on getting the processor to work and more time focusing on developing your application.
Get Started Today
There are a number of open source development platforms available. We recommend BeagleBoard.org® BeagleBone® Blue and Octavo Systems OSD3358-SM-RED as starting points for factory automation controllers. We also highly recommend this Building Automation System Controller Reference Design App Note written by industry specialist Calvin Slater.