Despite the fact that industrial-grade embedded computers share many components with consumer-grade desktop PCs, such as processors (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), RAM memory, and storage devices (SSDs and HDDs), embedded computing solutions still use industrial-grade versions that are tested and validated to operate reliably in challenging environments.

Moreover, resilience is paramount when building industrial-grade options, allowing them to better survive in industrial environments where systems may be exposed to harsh environmental factors such as dust, dirt, vibration, shock, extreme temperatures, and even water.

Different Types of Embedded PCs

Today, we will discuss several types of embedded computing systems, including: rugged industrial PCs, vehicular computers, IoT gateways, embedded automation computers, compact PCs, and panel PCs.

Rugged industrial embedded computers are designed and manufactured to be deployed in the most extreme environments. Every component, from internal components to the casing, is meticulously designed and manufactured for ruggedness and durability. For example, the casing is made from extruded aluminum and heavy metals, making it durable and corrosion-resistant. Additionally, the internal components have a wide operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C, allowing rugged PCs to be deployed outdoors in NEMA cabinets.

For organizations looking to deploy embedded computing solutions outdoors without installing devices in NEMA enclosures, you can use the WCO series of rugged waterproof industrial computers. This is because the WCO series not only has dust and debris resistance but also waterproof functionality, eliminating the need to deploy them in NEMA enclosures for waterproofing.

For instance, rugged industrial computers are ideal for deployment in oil production facilities typically located in the middle of deserts. Oil production facilities use rugged industrial computers to monitor and control oil production and refining machinery. To ensure embedded computers operate in harsh environments susceptible to extreme temperatures and sandstorms, the systems must be rugged and reliable for 24/7 operation.

Rugged industrial PCs are well-suited for such environments as they feature fanless and fully enclosed designs that prevent small particles like sand from entering the system and damaging sensitive internal components. The fanless design and use of wide-temperature range components enable the system to survive in the hot desert environment with temperatures reaching up to 50°C or 120°F.

Additionally, rugged embedded computers are often deployed in remote environments without wired or wireless LAN connections. Therefore, embedded systems typically come equipped with cellular connectivity through dual SIM card slots, allowing rugged PCs to connect to the internet to offload critical mission data to the cloud for remote monitoring and control.

Industrial panel PCs are all-in-one (AIO) computers that combine embedded computers with ruggedized displays into a single solution. Industrial panel computers are often deployed in factories and production facilities as HMI (Human-Machine Interface), allowing people to interact with and control factory machinery.

Moreover, industrial multifunctional AIO panel PCs are commonly used in interactive kiosk machines, industrial control, and inventory management. The primary purpose of industrial panel PCs is to provide people with an easy way to interact and engage with PCs and other machines, especially through the use of ruggedized touch displays.

Industrial panel PCs can be configured with resistive touch screens or capacitive touch screens. Resistive touch displays use pressure as input, while capacitive displays detect a small charge from a human finger to register input.

Capacitive screens can detect lighter touches than resistive screens. However, some organizations with employees wearing gloves still seek resistive displays. Gloves do not work well on capacitive displays but work well on resistive displays since resistive displays rely on pressure to register input, while capacitive displays rely on charge to register input.

Industrial panel computers are typically deployed in factories to control production lines and provide real-time production data to factory operators. Factories and production facilities are often filled with industrial dirt and grime, and temperatures frequently fluctuate to extreme levels, so industrial panel PCs must be able to withstand such environmental challenges.

The advantage of industrial panel PCs is that since AIO panel PC systems are waterproof, they are easy to clean. Workers can wash the systems with high-temperature high-pressure water without adding any additional protection to the system.

Industrial panel computers are rigorously designed and manufactured for use in food processing, beverage manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Industrial panel PCs have IP ratings ranging from IP 66 rated solutions to the maximum IP rating of 69K solutions to provide the highest levels of waterproofing and dustproofing.

Embedded vehicular computers frequently endure shock, vibration, dust, and extreme temperatures while the vehicle is in motion. Therefore, the systems must be rugged, fanless, and have a wide operating temperature range to cope with the challenging environments they are deployed in. The rugged design allows embedded vehicular PCs to resist dust, moisture, shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.

Autonomous vehicles are commonly used in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities to transport goods within these environments. Autonomous vehicles include automated guided vehicles, stackers, and forklifts, providing significant value to organizations by handling labor-intensive and hazardous repetitive tasks.

Additionally, vehicular embedded computers are used to guide autonomous roadway vehicles. This application requires embedded edge computers since processing and decision-making must be executed in real-time to avoid collisions with other vehicles, people, and objects.

This is because vehicles must make decisions in just milliseconds, and embedded edge computers enable them to do so. Relying on the cloud for decision-making is not feasible due to latency issues associated with sending/receiving data to/from the cloud.

IoT gateways are embedded computers deployed at the network edge to collect, process, and analyze data and relay it to the cloud for remote monitoring and control. Furthermore, IoT gateways facilitate communication between connected devices and connect them to the Internet.

IoT gateways bridge the gap between IoT sensors, cameras, and actuators and the Internet, collecting data from these devices, processing it, and sending it to the cloud. IoT gateways typically connect to sensors, actuators, and other devices via wired LAN, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

For example, individuals in the aquaculture industry often utilize sensors and monitoring devices to monitor the environmental temperature of aquaculture sites. IoT gateways need to collect data from sensors and send it to the cloud via the Internet to maintain real-time control over the living environment of livestock.

The sensors themselves can only perceive the surrounding environment. IoT gateways need to process information, analyze it, and then send the analyzed data to the cloud for remote monitoring and control.

Additionally, IoT gateways can be used to automate processes such as air temperature and humidity monitoring and water quality monitoring, creating a fully automated and interconnected aquaculture environment. In other words, IoT gateways can be used in thousands of different applications.

Embedded automation computers are rugged industrial-grade computing solutions that can handle both entry-level and complex automation workloads. Automation computers are used to control processes typically used in manufacturing products, robotics, and factory machinery. Automation PCs can enhance productivity, improve flexibility, and increase the quality of the products produced.

Automation computers are typically located in production facilities to connect and control various sensors, cameras, machinery, and IoT devices located on the factory floor. Automation computers connect computers to other computers, as well as connect computers to the Internet and the cloud for remote monitoring and control.

Additionally, embedded automation PCs can conduct predictive maintenance, allowing factory operators to maintain machines or components before such projects fail, helping production facilities avoid downtime due to failures or breakdowns of factory machines during unplanned times.

Compact mini PCs are frequently used because they occupy very little space, allowing organizations and businesses to deploy them in environments with limited space that require careful handling. Popular uses for small fanless PCs include deployment in self-service kiosks, digital signage, and industrial automation.

Users can configure fanless mini computers with different processing types, ranging from low-power SoC systems to more powerful slot solutions utilizing Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors.

Small fanless PCs can be easily installed on walls, ceilings, cabinets, drawers, and many other types of spaces. With wired, Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth connectivity options, fanless mini computers can easily connect to the Internet.

Furthermore, fanless mini computing solutions come in both fanless and rugged fanless options. Both fanless and rugged mini PCs can be deployed in harsh environments frequently exposed to dust, debris, shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.

However, rugged mini PCs further enhance ruggedness to better withstand the environmental challenges encountered in extreme deployments.

Single Board Computers (SBC) are fully functional computers where the CPU, GPU, memory, I/O, and other functions are built on a single silicon board.

Both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SBCs have RAM slots that allow users to add the desired amount of RAM. Overall, single board computers provide organizations with a simple and cost-effective solution.

The simplicity and fixed structure of embedded single board computers create a reliable computing solution that eliminates errors, conflicts, and other issues that could cause the system to stop functioning normally, resulting in unwanted downtime. Ultimately, due to their simplicity, small footprint, and reliable 24×7 operational capability, SBCs are frequently used.