Parallel to the launch of the 3rd generation Intel Core processors, Kontron has introduced no less than seven embedded computing platforms based on this new technology. Here Norbert Hauser, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Kontron explores how, in line with this, the company has expanded its range of hard- and software services for implementing this latest benchmark processor to become a full service package; with the aim of significantly simplifying and accelerating the design-in of new hardware benchmarks for high-end computing
In terms of development cycles, Intel has more or less overtaken itself with the launch of the 3rd generation Intel Core processors: Following the “tock”, not just a structural reduction, i.e. a “tick” (which in itself is not easily achievable) was carried out but a “tick-plus”, as both the manufacturing process (now 22 nm) as well as the transistor technology (now Tri-Gate) have been altered.
With the introduction of this new architecture, which is also applied in the new Intel Xeon Generation (E5), Intel has once again set a benchmark in high-end computing.
The new benchmark processor
First and foremost, the performance-per-watt of these new quadcore and dualcore processors has been optimised by up to 40 percent, the computing power by up to 20 percent and in particular in terms of graphics this new processor generation is progressing by leaps and bounds.
The support of three independent displays is in itself something, which makes these new systems with this processor generation unique. USB 3.0 and PCI Express 3.0 also provide enormous potential for performance gains in communication with connected peripherals. Also, the 3rd generation of Intel Core processors now also supports OpenCL 1.1 along with OpenGL 3.1 und DirectX 11, so that these systems can be used for general parallel computing tasks within this standard.
With all these improvements this new processor generation is the ideal successor for a whole range of applications in, for example, the fields of medical technology, digital signage, gaming, communication technology, aerospace and defence.
These innovation leaps, with all the new features of this processor class are all well and good, but they do on the other hand put OEMs under a lot of pressure. It is not a simple task for application engineers to keep up with the pace of implementing new processor technology. For example, OpenCL programming is quite new in the embedded segments and multi-processing and virtualisation too needed time before they were incorporated into larger series production for projects.
Everything requires a certain amount of time, and the more complex things become, the more challenging each further innovation becomes in terms of development.
Every innovation means time has to be invested, learning processes carried out and costs have to be considered. These all have to be kept under control or to a minimum so that investment costs for new embedded computing platforms are kept as low as possible while keeping them competitive.
Keeping pace with development
To ensure that customers can keep a pace with new innovations as simply, quickly and as cost-efficiently as possible, embedded hardware manufacturers like Kontron work with a dual strategy: firstly, in regards to standardisation and, secondly, by offering value-added services for implementing new processor technology. The aim being to ensure that customers have little or no worries about implementing the latest processors.
As soon as the technology becomes available it should be possible to implement it to optimise the general system performance. So OEMs should be able to continue experiencing this advantage of x86 technology and of standard form factors despite increasing integration and complexity.
Standards & Individual services
So on the one hand, suitable standard boards and systems have to be made available parallel to the launch of the processors. On the other hand, customers have to receive comprehensive services in order to ensure that their specific requirements are taken into consideration during implementation.
Ideally, this happens prior to the processor launches, so that customers have time to get acquainted with the new processors.
Simultaneous engineering is the vision that more and more manufacturers are putting into practice, so that large OEM customers are in a position to carry out their product launches at the same time, as is the case with IT products in the consumer section.
More than anything this would mean being able to rely on the essential fact that the first boards, modules and systems become available parallel to the processor launch. Kontron, for example, has no less than seven application-ready platforms ready for market coinciding with the launch of the 3rd generation Intel Core processors.
The platforms are available in the form factors COM Express basic, Mini-ITX, Flex-ATX, AdvancedMC, 3U and 6U CompactPCI as well as 3HE VPX so that OEMs are able to launch into their own application development with the platform which is best suited.
Customers also get significant added value thanks to the enhanced hard- and software development services and value-added services which have become an integral part of the products. Examples of this are a uniform cross platform middleware (KEAPI), Hypervisor technologies, protocol stacks or security functions.
By using these products, OEMs can inherently save costs, as due to this type of standardisation, one to two engineering work days are saved.
In line with this the company also offers pre-integrated operating systems including driver licensing or integration of 3rd party component groups.
The demand for services like this is high: In a recent survey of engineers in the field of communication, VDC found out, for example, that hardware integration (48 percent), customer-specific designs and manufacturing (45 percent) as well as technical support (37 percent), are the ‘most wanted’ services that application engineers wish external service providers to fulfil.
All forms of customisation are a key aspect both in terms of hardware as well as software, as hardware integration is often more a question of software than of just pure hardware. For example, when peripherals have to be integrated. The best possible ‘no worries package’ is therefore a mix of cost-saving standards, and a customisation service, which takes care of all hardware and software aspects.
Simultaneous development
The importance of synchronised development of the right hardware, including system integration, is growing and with the integration speed can be pushed so far that customers can even introduce their systems parallel to the launch of the processors.
As, however, OEM customers’ application development can often not keep up with this speed, complementary software services are a further lever which can be used to help application developers upgrade or migrate to new platforms.
This sometimes even entails, for example, standard tasks such as the design of a web-based GUI being carried out so that alongside the hardware-related software development even actual software services can be carried out, letting developers fully concentrate on their core competence.
The main pre-requisites, which have to be put into place are the formation of a powerful software team, that can deal with the software aspects of the corresponding implementations- parallel to the development of the different hardware platforms and systems.
Software teams working together in a global software design centre are a great advantage so that re-usability can really be put to practice, which in the end leads to more development efficiency. The more the software can be re-used, the faster and more cost-efficient customer-specific implementation solutions can be provided.
An example of what can be pre-integrated – independent of the customer – is the implementation of a virtualised automation platform, which combines control and visualisation in a real time-capable VxWorks or RT-Linux- and Windows-based Soft-SPS (see figure 1 left).
This or similar types of integration offer customers the relevant time and cost advantages which they need to get their applications up and running as fast as possible. The same also holds true, for example, for uniform programming interfaces, like Kontron’s Embedded Application Programming Interface KEAPI, which standardises hardware management across all relevant platforms, which can quickly save the developers several days, which they would have otherwise needed for hardware monitoring.
These are admittedly only small steps but in total they pay off in terms of quality and time and ultimately in competitive advantages.
Full service package
If you add the aspects of supply chain and project managements and the Extended Lifecycle Management, customers can get a full service package which allows them to concentrate on their application development.
Partnership in developing is a major issue, which accelerates development synchronisation and can gain customers an increasing competitive advantage, as not only in the high-end area but also in the SFF segment, time-to-market is one of the most important variables in achieving significant market shares.
Pre-integrated platform
Kontron has developed two pre-integrated automation platforms for industrial automation. These reference platforms include function-validated hard- and software components of at least eight different suppliers.
They can be used, for example, as quality control systems with intelligent cameras or as all-in-one solutions for controlling and visualising machines and are especially interesting for a large range of OEMs as the components, which have been used are required in a wide array of industrial applications.
If OEMs have access to this experience in software integration and to the R&D capacities regarding the collaboration of standard components from their supplier, then they save valuable time when realising their own specific systems. In terms of TCO that represents about 10 percent, and in terms of cost-saving up to around 20 percent, compared to if the OEM obtained the components individually and afforded the effort needed for integration.
Kontron AG
