Combining Embedded Hardware and Software

Developers have the option of buying or building a single-board computer (SBC). When it comes to building a system, it’s often better to buy the underlying hardware. Today’s system-on-chip solutions and high-speed memory typically require a higher-layer-count printed circuit board (PCB) and they employ high-speed serial interfaces like PCI Express and USB. If your job is to build a solution rather than just build a processor board, then it makes sense to have someone else do it.

Seco USA is a supplier of embedded motherboards and modules, including popular platforms like COM-HPC, COM-Express, Qseven, SMARC, and Pico-ITX (Fig. 1). But hardware is just part of the puzzle; buying some of the software needed for a project can save time and money in the long run. I talked with Rodney Feldman, VP of Product Innovation, about just these issues (watch the video above).

Why Buy Instead of Building Your Own SBC?

As noted earlier, designing, building, and supporting your own SBC is no easy task and one that can distract from addressing your application. Buying hardware allows engineers to focus on configuration, adding application-specific hardware while dropping the support and availability of the other hardware to another hardware-focused company. Stackable systems like PC/104 and its siblings provide compact expansion options.

Modules offer an alternate approach where designers can create a simpler carrier motherboard and relegate the complexity to the module supplier. This also allows developers to change the functionality of their design by using different modules.

Using Frameworks and Cloud Software

Hardware doesn’t run itself and software doesn’t support itself. People need to handle that, and taking time to write, integrate, or support the underlying operating system and frameworks will distract from the software needed for the application.

Rarely do developers write their own operating system and framework. But simply choosing an open-source solution like Linux doesn’t mean developers can ignore supporting it, which is why third-party solutions for proprietary or open-source operating systems and frameworks are better solutions.

Seco’s Clea is a collection of software that addresses this issue. It includes the Linux-based Clea OS and the Clea Astarte IoT framework designed to work with the cloud-based Clea Edgehog fleet management system (Fig. 2).

Also in the mix is the Clea Portal that’s designed to be extensible and usable by your customers. The big advantage of this software is that it’s tested and integrated with Seco’s hardware offerings.