Save time, effort, and risk with DusunIoT System on Modules based on various powerful SoC in a small form factor, complete with a ready-to-run Linux-based real-time OS, validated drivers, and productive development.
View DusunIoT System on ModulesA System On Module (SoM) is a single physical embedded module integrated into a system function that contains core components including processor cores, communication interfaces, and memory blocks, which may be plugged into a carrier board for the embedded system. It refers to a computer or system bundled into a single module. By simply picking an alternative SoM module from the same pin-compatibility family, the soM-based design allows more scalability.
SOM vs Carrier Board vs Development Board vs Single Computer BoardThe SoM can be replaced or improved without replacing the carrier board. SoM offers a plug-and-play benefit. The SoM and carrier board supply the entire system; they typically incorporate the display, connection, GPIO, and other subsystems in a single computer module.
System on Module Diagram Example:
SOM enables developers to achieve design breakthroughs that reduce not only time to market but also costs. Developing an embedded system can be a time-consuming process that necessitates the design and fabrication of custom circuit boards. SOM reduces the number of steps required to complete a procedure. Simply select a SOM that meets your needs and integrate it into the end system, and you’re ready to go.
The modular design not only enables high-volume deployments but also simplifies product lifecycle management and lowers bill of materials (BOM) costs. SOM is worth investigating whether you are interested in software, hardware, or even AI development.
Edge computing can be used by software developers to process data locally and without latency. SOM does not necessitate extensive hardware knowledge and provides a comfortable and intuitive design environment. SOM’s easy-to-configure, highly flexible sensors will appeal to software developers working on vision applications. To save design time, the best SOMs includes built-in drivers and other software.
Hardware developers must move as quickly as possible to production, focusing limited resources on tasks with the most significant impact. They get the performance and flexibility of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) without the difficulties of PCB design and integration with SOMs. This enables them to complete projects on time and within budget.
AI developers require systems that provide efficient, high-performance performance without requiring them to be hardware experts. Fortunately, thanks to pre-built applications from system providers on the best modules, they can select a SOM that provides the computing power they require while retaining the flexibility to easily obtain AI models.
When large-scale IoT gateway products must be listed as soon as possible, it is recommended to use SoM, depending on the project’s progress. Engineers can reduce time-to-market by starting projects with the most potent SoM modules and then adapting or expanding the SoM based on end-product requirements.
Dusun IoT’s Smart Gateway is built on a diverse range of System on Modules (SoMs) and System on Chips (SoCs) from various vendors, such as Rockchip, NXP, and Nordic. This provides IoT Gateway development with a versatile and convenient platform for creating and maintaining products across multiple industries and applications.
The cutting-edge security camera system fully utilizes the advantages of video analysis, and SOM has contributed. Video analytics-enabled security cameras use machine learning to classify and understand the transactions they see, providing an accurate stream of data in real-time. This would not be possible without edge computing and without cameras and other devices that analyze information on-site.
Image Source: www.cnet.com
The modern economy relies on machine vision for everything from inventory inspection to signature recognition to defect detection. Machine vision requires embedded systems that can both analyze data in the field and provide configurable sensor capabilities. SOM helps developers leverage machine vision at scale while keeping costs low.
Image Source: cognex.com
Smart cities use ubiquitous sensors to collect data to provide decision makers with the in-depth information they need to keep communities functional and alive. SOM primarily powers these sensors, helping city officials keep track of everything from utilities to traffic in real-time without missing a single nuance.
It is critical to understand the need for an embedded application’s processing power. A small-scale SOM is usually sufficient for IoT edge devices, as opposed to an AI-based edge device where the application requires sufficient processing power to do the job.
When designing an embedded system, power consumption and heat produced by the system must be considered. One of the most important criteria in embedded designs is power consumption. A system designed to be connected to a power source, such as mains electricity, can usually ignore power consumption constraints, whereas a mobile design (or one connected to an unreliable power source) may be entirely reliant on power management.
The number of peripherals and the constraints associated with them is also important considerations when selecting a SOM. Hardware developers must understand which peripherals, such as 4G, GPS, card readers, and so on, will be present on the carrier board before selecting a SOM.
Because both Intel and ARM are market leaders in the processor market, comparing software availability and toolchains is difficult. ARM-based devices have the advantage of running mobile operating systems such as Android and Linux. Intel-based devices have the advantage of being able to run virtually any operating system that can be run on a standard desktop PC, including Windows and Linux.
Android/Windows/Linux: Operating systems are critical in the development of smart devices. Building SDKs and supporting multiple hardware variants are heavily reliant on how we manage the BSP (board support package) used to run the system. Available peripheral drivers and module bring-ups are critical factors in selecting the best fit operating system for the embedded system.
The design team should consider the SoM’s lifetime, as manufacturers typically support a product for a set period of time. Because the product is partially dependent on a specific SoM, SoM must be included in obsolescence management criteria.
One of the most important factors for embedded design teams is the budget for building the IoT or smart device, as it affects the final cost of the product. It goes without saying that decision-makers should keep the cost of SoM in mind when preparing Bills of Materials (BOM).
The embedded system development will move toward SoMs. The examples given above are just a tiny sample of the numerous applications available. Home automation is a top priority for many people, especially during the pandemic, and the majority of these embedded devices are made with SoM.
For effective productization, Dusun IoT offers its own line of SoM modules that come with a full software package that includes device drivers and supports several operating systems. Dusun IoT’s SoM may be tailored to meet the needs of product development and supports the SDKs of many platforms. Our system-level modular services and solutions enable customers to start developing their software before it is manufactured and help with quick marketing.
Following are several benefits of System on Module:
System on Module (SoM) may come with an onboard SoC (System on Chip) and is one level higher than an SoC, but not fully functional as a single-board computer. The SOM will typically contain peripheral functionality integrated into the microprocessor SOC.
SBCs provide a ready-to-use embedded development platform for the creation of end products. SBC reduces development costs and technical risks while accelerating time-to-market. However, a System on Module (SoM) is a better option for building embedded products. Its modular design offers better flexibility, allows more scalability, and significantly decrease the development difficulty and time.
This article talks about the differences between Single Board Computer & System on Module, aiming to help your IoT project progress.
Every system-on-module is designed to connect to another board (typically referred to as the carrier board or main board) via a connector. This connection can be made in three possible ways:
SOMs typically need to support a large number of high-speed signals in several interfaces, so the board must be designed using high-speed PCB design best practices. Standard computing and peripheral interfaces like USB and Ethernet are examples of typical interfaces found on an SOM. There may also be MIPI protocols included in SOMs that will interface with a display or camera.
In the industrial automation, medical device, telecom/datacom, military, and aerospace industries, Linux is a popular open-source operating system. As an alternative to proprietary operating systems, it is the operating system of choice for many CPU (Central Processing Unit) architectures. Systems typically come with a Linux kernel, a Linux file system, and a boot-loader (most frequently Das U-Boot). The benefits of using embedded Linux system on module include licensing cost advantages, flexibility of source code access, general familiarity, a stable kernel, and availability of a variety of applications and tools. Learn more about Linux IoT here.
Sold under brand names like Arduino, Udoo, Raspberry Pi and others, hacker boards increasingly are serving as the foundation of technology projects found in IoT, wearables, robotics and portable devices. Starting as low as $15, these boards are part of a new manufacturing trend supported by a community of hobbyists and DIY developers that use low-cost hardware components and open-source software to create mini-computer platforms. As they move up the ecosystem from a hobbyist device to handling more advanced, commercial applications, are hacker boards an economically viable option or a costly mistake?
Here are the factors that lead SOMs to be a better value than hacker boards:
• Support – professional and fast support helps shorten development time and ensures the product will continue to function as designed. Variscite has in-house professional support provided by the R&D team in addition to an extensive frequently updated online documentation center vs. hacker boards that rely on contributions from community forums for troubleshooting.
• Longevity – Industrial products are often in service for more than 10 years. Because community boards use technology based on consumer components that change every 2 to 3 years. Changing critical hardware components requires a complete rebuild of the device and software. Even if the change is minor, the customer will still need to re-certify the product and pass the entire regulatory process. Variscite provides up to 15 years of hardware longevity and keeps the software updated at no extra charge.
• Hardware flexibility – SoM as a concept allow customers to build a carrier board that is designed to fit their product’s size and layout, ensuring that only the connectors and end-product specific features are implemented rather than having extraneous on-board circuits and connectors. On the other hand, most hacker boards are Single Board Computers (SBC), the SBC as a concept doesn’t allow modifications.
Furthermore, hacker boards offer a limited technology and form factor portfolio with no configuration modification options or easy scalability. Variscite offers a broader portfolio based on several CPUs and feature sets and thanks to its in-house manufacturing, allows a wide range of customization to its off-the-shelf platforms. The customization options include removing unused capabilities from the SoM and configuring features like performance, memory, and storage. This customization leads to a price reduction eventually.
• Quality Standards – Originally designed as a platform to teach computing to students, hacker boards were not developed to perform to any guaranteed level or standard. Companies developing products that must conform to special quality standards, such as medical devices, need hardware rated to work without issues for years as well as certified hardware that meet the FDA requirement. These requirements include full component traceability and test logs maintained for 10 years for example.
All Variscite production is performed at fully ISO 13485, 9001 and 14001 compliant facilities and meets strict medical regulatory requirements.
• Temperature – Consumer-level technology of hacker boards typically lack a wider temperature range required for industrial use. Variscite provides several temperature rings that cover the industrial requirements, usually up to -40 to 85 degrees Celsius.
• Industrial functionalities – Hacker boards may lack essential hardware needed beyond the standard order to gain functionality needed for industrial embedded products. Integrating additional functionalities increases development time and risks, and ultimately puts their costs in line with industrial-oriented SOMs.
While these hacker boards have an attractive lower entry price point compared to System on Module / Computer on Module platforms, low cost does not equal better value. Hacker boards simply can’t compete with the standards of fully realized SOMs when it comes to industrial embedded products. Moreover, when taking all of the factors above into account like redesigning the product every 2-3 years and risking long delays due to unpersonal support, you may find the project’s cost above your expectations.
To showcase the differences, we created a comparison chart of different value propositions between our SoM offerings and those from a leading hacker board company:
Company Variscite Leading Hacker Board Price– Starting from $24 for a low-performance SoM
– Customizable configuration allows optimized pricing.
– Starting from $15 for matching performance
– Can go for as low as a few dollars for simpler boards
Longevity and End of Life– 10-15 years longevity guarantee (above the market offer)
– No longevity guarantees
– EOL usually after up to 3-4 years
Software updates– Frequently updated by the company throughout the SOM life cycle.
– Mature products are consistently updated as well
– Frequently updated by community contributors.
– No official updates for mature products
Support– Free personal in-house support by the SoM developers’ team
– Free online documentation and guides
– Free schematic review
– Free production-ready drivers and BSP
– Community support
– Third-party extra charge support
– Free software drivers and BSP
Flexibility– System on Module flexibility advantage
– Vast ARM-based portfolio available with several form-factor options
– Provides customization
– Hacker boards lack true flexibility with just a few industrial-appropriate options
– Minor customization – RAM options only
Manufacturing– In-house manufacturing with complete control of the quality-validation process
– Outsourced production
Temperature grades– Three options:
– Commercial 0 to 70°C
– Extended -25 to 70°C
– Industrial -40 to 85°C
– Limited – 0 to 50°C
Compliance & Standards– Variscite’s production is certified for ISO 13485, 9001 and 14001
– Meets strict medical regulatory requirements
– Partial compliance testing
– Does not meet medical regulatory requirements
Pin-to-pin compatibility– Two pin-compatible product families for easy migration between platforms at any stage of the device’s lifetime
–
No pin compatibility
If pricing is your sole determinate for value, hacker boards may seem like the way to go. But for those looking to build embedded industrial products with the best combination of reliability, performance and price, choosing a high-quality SoM instead of a hacker board ultimately offers the best overall value to customers.
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