The Internet of Things is the basis for connecting intelligent devices with cloud computing. Advantech’s new generation of fanless embedded ARK systems, available through ESIS, are capable of self-management, seamless communication, and self-protection. They also support real-time monitoring and control of connected peripherals by automatically collecting data and reporting abnormal conditions. The advanced software and hardware design allow the “self-sensing” mechanism of ARK systems to be initiated in a variety of application environments and enable users to rapidly implement IoT applications, thereby maximizing the benefits.
Talking about the values of the IoT and the so called “big data” that is collected by IoT, it was, pointed out that with the prevalence of wired and wireless networking, the accumulation and analysis of data acquired from networked devices—be it via the network of a closed intranet within an enterprise or the open internet, or via any kind of communication protocol—can be considered an IoT practice in the broader definition. And the functions and values of big data accumulated from end-devices depend upon how it is analyzed, utilized, and eventually transformed into the most effective commercial values. The results not only help to create maximum benefits for client users but also encourage continual progress on the part of product providers.
The Advantech ARK series is distinguished from other embedded systems in the market by its self-sensing and management capabilities. This new-generation, fanless embedded system family will not only be engaged in data computing but it is also capable of self-diagnosis, reaction, and alarms. It detects and monitors its own system status for temperature, voltage, system loading, networking, etc., as well as the status of connected peripherals—for example, hard disk read/ write cycles and screen health status; when the system or peripheral parameters reach thresholds indicating they are facing End of Life status, the system alerts a user to implement preventive replacement. It also can detect whether OS and applications are operating normally, and automatically make dynamic adjustments according to the user’s settings.
Network security is also an important IoT issue. To deal with this, the ARK self-sensing system provides three layers of protection. The first is McAfee white-list screening, which allows only pre-authorized programs to run in the system, and when countering repetitive attacks by unauthorized programs it issues email or SMS alerts to system administrators.
Secondly, it has a built-in software Security ID, which is an encryption lock that prevents copycats so that our customers can safeguard the yields on their self-developed programs; even if a hard disk is stolen, protected programs will not run in other machines.
Thirdly, it uses open SSL cryptographic protocols for data transport to ensure security over the internet.
With these enhancements, the ARK embedded system can play an independent key role in any IoT application located in any environment, regardless of the presence or absence of on-site support personnel or the conditions of peripheral modules. In addition, to accommodate the range and depth of IoT applications, the whole ARK series of products features a fanless design with resulting high reliability, wide operating temperature, dust prevention, and minimal maintenance costs, as well as computing performance options from low to high end—exactly the features needed for optimizing an IoT system.
The Advantech ARK self-sensing intelligent system is not limited to the traditional embedded system functions of computing and linking peripherals. Now it can implement primary data processing, and send processed data to a backend server instead of merely forwarding raw data collected from the field. In addition, by recording user behaviors, such as system loads, performance efficiency and time of usage, the system can provide important references that optimize future equipment purchases. From a customer viewpoint, the ARK embedded system is different from other traditional controllers in that it offers intelligent management and information feedback. The role that it ultimately plays in the IoT depends on how OEM customers construct their application architecture. In any case, the self-sensing design of ARK helps expand IoT benefits to the maximum.
When ARK is used on a large scale or in an open architecture, there are upper layer units such as MIS or servers on top of it; in these cases ARK simply plays a self-monitoring and data transmission role and hands over the jobs of policy-making to the upper control layers; but when the ARK is embedded in a small, closed system that does not have an upper control mechanism, it can take full advantage of Advantech’s software-hardware integrated designs to implement management policy and at the same time notify responsible persons of the results. This helps to eliminate unnecessary expenditures and reduce human resource requirements. Therefore, the new generation ARK is an ideal IoT solution for small and medium enterprises that only need small-scale systems; it is also suitable for field deployment in remote areas with limited human support.
The new-generation ARK embedded system can manage, adjust and protect itself in a dynamic situation, and is able to implement real time monitoring and control over peripherals. In addition to modular designs and rich peripheral supports, ARK fanless embedded systems also feature a high degree of integration with Advantech’s software products such as SUSIAccess and iManager. All Advantech products, and some third-party peripherals, are provided with an advanced controller chip which takes advantage of Advantech software resources such as SUSI API and SUSIAccess to construct a complete IoT platform, from the front end to the back end; this allows users to obtain more detailed information about the system and its components and thus make more accurate assessments. If the system incorporates non-Advantech products or modules without a similar control chip, it can merely collect basic data via standard interfaces.
The main purpose of the new generation ARK series is to create an IoT-implementing environment based on well-rounded sensing and management, together with seamless linkage from upper layers to the field.
The ARK series contains many different models. Please contact us to discuss which model suits your application best.
(Article courtesy of Advantech)
