PICO-ADN4

AAEON has introduced the PICO-ADN4, the latest addition to its PICO-ITX board lineup. Designed for Industry 4.0 applications such as industrial automation and assembly line quality control, the PICO-ADN4 is available in standard and wide-temperature range versions, making it suitable for factory use even in challenging environmental conditions. While it supports 12V DC input, an optional DC-DC converter can extend its compatibility to power sources ranging from 9V to 36V, ideal for locations with unstable power supplies.

Notably, the PICO-ADN4 is equipped to host CPUs from the latest Intel® Core™ i3 Processor N-series, Intel Atom® x7000E Series, and the Intel® Processor N-series platform (formerly known as Alder Lake-N). This versatility enables it to handle a wide range of processing needs.

In addition to these features, the board has been upgraded to use LPDDR5 system memory for faster data transmission speeds and features soldered system memory, which is advantageous for applications prone to vibration.

The PICO-ADN4 also includes an advanced Ethernet interface with support for 2.5GbE, enhancing networking capabilities. Physical interfaces on the board include HDMI and LVDS for display output, along with various connectors for communication and control tasks. Expansion options encompass Wi-Fi support, additional storage via mSATA, and BIOS-based expansion features.

Despite its low-power processor lineup, the PICO-ADN4 delivers enhanced graphics capabilities, with Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors providing higher graphics render clock frequencies, as well as the CPUs themselves capable of higher single-core frequencies compared to the previous generation.

Robust, Reliable Operation

The PICO-ADN4 is built for deployment in harsh environments, sporting a fanless embedded design available in SKUs with both standard (0°C ~ 60°C) and wide-temperature (-40°C ~ 85°C) ranges. Further, among its optional accessories is a DC-DC converter that offers extended 9V ~ 36V power input, preventing circuit failure when paired with the unstable power sources commonly encountered in factories to guarantee reliable, continuous operation.

Real-Time Computing at the Edge

A substantial upgrade on previous solutions is the PICO-ADN4's LPDDR5 system memory, which offers higher data transmission speeds for deployments requiring low latency. This pairs well with its real-time task execution capabilities courtesy of Intel® Time Coordinated Computing and Time-Sensitive Networking. Such features are particularly useful for applications like assembly line quality control, given the added vibration-resistance offered by the board’s soldered LPDDR5 design.

Comprehensive Industrial Communication

The PICO-ADN4 is not just rugged, but also pairs performance with efficiency. Available with embedded Intel® Core™ i3 Processor N-series, Intel Atom® x7000E Series, Intel® Processor N-series CPUs, the board offers a low-power, high performance engine with which to run more sophisticated interfaces for machine communication and control protocols, including both 2.5GbE and GbE, timed GPIO support, RS-232/422/485, and SMBus. The board’s display output also facilitates reliable HMI functions via both HDMI and LVDS, making it the full Industry 4.0 package.