Edge AI Computing

Industrial Computers for Edge and Embedded Applications

Industrial computers form the foundation of modern edge and embedded systems. Unlike commercial PCs, these platforms are engineered to operate reliably in environments where temperature extremes, vibration, dust, moisture, and continuous operation are standard conditions rather than exceptions.

The industrial computers in this category are designed to support a wide range of deployment scenarios, including factory automation, IoT gateways, data acquisition systems, transportation infrastructure, and HMI installations. Available form factors include fanless box PCs, embedded controllers, single-board systems, ruggedized platforms, and touch panel computers, allowing system designers to match computing hardware precisely to application requirements.

Westward Sales offers a comprehensive selection of industrial computers from established manufacturers, including ARBOR Technology and ASUS. These systems emphasize long-term availability, wide operating temperature ranges, flexible mounting options, and extensive industrial I/O, making them suitable for both new system designs and long-term platform refreshes in operational environments.

The Critical Need for Edge-Optimized AI

Deploying AI outside of controlled data center environments introduces constraints that standard commercial hardware is not designed to handle. Edge AI computing platforms must be capable of meeting the following requirements:

Eliminate Latency: For applications such as autonomous navigation or high-speed quality control, even a fraction of a second delay can mean failure. Edge processing ensures millisecond-level responsiveness.
Ensure Reliability in Harsh Environments: Industrial sites are subject to extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, dust, and electrical noise. Our fanless, wide-temperature designs maintain operational integrity 24/7.
Manage Data Locally: Processing data at the source reduces bandwidth consumption and addresses privacy and security concerns by keeping sensitive data off public networks.

The edge AI systems offered by Westward Sales are designed to meet these requirements through the integration of high-performance accelerators within hardened, deployment-ready chassis.

GPU Power: The Engine of Edge Intelligence

The computational foundation of edge AI computing is GPU acceleration. While CPUs manage system orchestration and general-purpose workloads, GPUs provide the parallel processing capability required for AI inference, neural networks, and advanced vision algorithms.

NVIDIA Jetson Systems: The NVIDIA Jetson platform (including the powerful Orin Nano, Orin NX, and AGX Orin modules) is the industry standard for embedded and autonomous AI. These compact systems deliver enormous computational power (up to 275 TOPS in the AGX Orin models) with exceptional power efficiency, making them perfect for deployment in robots, smart cameras, and vehicles. Our products, like the ARBOR AEC-6100 and ASUS PE1100N series, encase these Jetson modules in rugged, industrial-grade enclosures.
High-End GPU Workstations: For applications requiring even more raw processing capability, our robust GPU Workstations (like the ARBOR FPC-9108-L2U4-G3) are designed to support full-sized desktop graphics cards, including high-end models such as the NVIDIA RTX-3090 GPU. This capacity is vital for complex AI training or inferencing with extremely high-resolution, multi-stream video data.

Designed for Deployment in Industrial Environments

Edge AI computing platforms must integrate seamlessly into operational systems while maintaining long-term stability. Key design characteristics include:

Fanless and Wide-Temperature Operation: Fanless thermal architectures improve reliability and allow systems to operate across extended temperature ranges, commonly from –40°C to +70°C, without active cooling.
Extensive Industrial I/O for Sensors and Control: Edge AI deployments depend on connectivity to cameras, sensors, and control systems. Platforms include multiple Ethernet ports, PoE+ support, DI/DO, CAN bus interfaces, and GMSL camera connectivity. For example, the ARBOR AEC-6200 supports up to eight GMSL cameras and multiple PoE+ ports, enabling dense, multi-camera vision architectures.
High-Performance Processing (Intel & NVIDIA): Beyond NVIDIA, specific high-end models utilize the latest 14th/13th/12th Gen Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 processors, often paired with dedicated expansion slots for AI accelerators. These Intel-based systems are often used for scenarios where data preprocessing and security (like TPM 2.0 support) are paramount.
Specialized Certifications: We feature units tailored for specific verticals, such as the ASUS MDS-M700, a Medical Grade AI PC designed to meet the strict standards for healthcare environments and 4K UHD AI imaging applications.

Core Applications Revolutionized by Edge AI Computing

Edge AI computing enables advanced functionality across a range of operational domains, including:

Autonomous Systems: Powering robotics, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and drones with immediate perception and navigation capabilities.
Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA): Real-time monitoring for security, traffic management, people counting, and intrusion detection without relying on cloud bandwidth.
Predictive Maintenance: Analyzing sensor data locally (vibration, temperature) using deep learning models to predict equipment failure before it occurs, minimizing downtime.
Automated Quality Inspection: Utilizing high-speed machine vision to detect tiny manufacturing defects on the assembly line with greater accuracy and speed than human inspectors.

Choosing the Right Industrial Computer for Your Deployment

Selecting an industrial computer involves balancing performance, durability, and integration requirements. Factors such as operating environment, power availability, mounting constraints, I/O needs, and lifecycle expectations all play a critical role in determining the appropriate platform.

Westward Sales supports engineers and system integrators by providing industrial computers designed for real-world edge and embedded deployments. From compact fanless systems to rugged controllers and panel PCs, our team can help identify hardware that aligns with your application, environment, and long-term support requirements.

For assistance selecting an industrial computer or planning a scalable edge architecture, contact a Westward Sales specialist to discuss your system design needs.

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