COM Express module's designed for robots

By Jonathan Angel
2011-04-25

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New Embedded Technology announced a COM Express baseboard designed especially for robots, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and wearable computers. The "A-Brain" includes two Ethernet ports with RJ45 connectors, two SATA ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, four RS232 ports, VGA output, a Mini PCI Express slot, and a Type II Compact Flash slot, the company says.

Encinitas, Calif.-based New Embedded Technology says its A-Brain baseboard has the same 3.74 x 3.74-inch footprint as the COM Express Type II modules it's designed to support. The board is intended for use in robots, UAVs, and wearable computers where shocks, vibration, and an extended temperature range can be anticipated, according to the company.

The A-Brain may be used with any COM Express Compact module, including those with Intel Atom CPUs as well as others with higher-end, dual-core processors, says New Embedded Technology. The company offers its own COM-CS45 and COM-CA945 modules, which, as we detail later in this story, appear to be previously released Congatec products.

New Embedded Technology's A-Brain
(Click to enlarge)

One side of the A-Brain (above left) merely holds its two COM Express expansion connectors, while the other side (above right) is crammed with ports and slots. Readily visible are two Ethernet ports with RJ45 connectors, as well as a Type II CompactFlash slot and a Mini PCI Express slot.

According to New Embedded Technology, the A-Brain further includes multiple locking Samtec connectors for the following:

eight USB 2.0 ports
four RS232 ports (one of them may be RS422/485 as a factory option)
VGA output
8 digitally buffered GPIOs
external reset and power LEDs

It's said power may be supplied to the A-Brain -- and any module connected to it -- via a locking 12-pin connector that, with a supplied adapter, connects to any ATX power supply. Optionally, an internal power supply the size of a quarter allows the use of 12VDC regulated, 24~28VDC, and 12VDC battery power, the company says.

According to New Embedded Technology, the A-Brain has a -40 to 185 deg. F. operating range. A (presumably more economical) version with a 32 to 158 deg. F range is also available, the company adds.

Compatible COM Express modules

As noted above, the A-Brain is said to be compatible with any COM Express Compact processor modules, on which a system's ultimate speed and operating system support would depend. However, New Embedded Technology does cite several possible partners of its own, which appear to be previously released Congatec products.

Congatec's Conga-CS45
(Click to enlarge)

For example, the COM-CS45 (above) was previously announced by Congatec as the Conga-CS45. It features Intel's GS45 SFF chipset, consisting of the GS45 northbridge and ICH9M southbridge, and is offered with the following 45nm CPUs:

The 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo SL9400, with 17-Watt TDP
The 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo SP9300, with a 25-Watt TDP
The 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo SU9300, with a 10-Watt TDP
The 1.2GHz Celeron 722, with a 5.5-Watt TDP

According to New Embedded Technology and to Congatec, the module accepts up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and has three SATA ports. Further information may be found on New Embedded Technology's COM-CS45 product page or Congatec's Conga-CS45 product page.

Congatec's Conga-CA945

Another module proposed by New Embedded Technology for the A-Brain is its COM-CA945, which in turn is the same as Congatec's Conga-CA945 (above). Featuring the 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor and 945GSE chipset, this module is said to accept up to 2GB of RAM.

The COM-CA945 has gigabit Ethernet, three PCI Express Lanes, eight USB 2.0 ports, and two SATA ports, according to both New Embedded Technology and Congatec. More information may be found on New Embedded Technology's COM-CA945 product page or Congatec's Conga-CA945 product page.

Further information

According to New Embedded Technology, the A-Brain is available in a version with standard lead solder, as well as in a RoHS-compliant one with lead-free construction. More information may be found on the A-Brain product page.

Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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