Advantech’s AFE-R360 is integrated with RealSense cameras and D3’s DesignCore Discovery series. Source: D3 Embedded
While mobile robots are spreading in factories and warehouses, there is still room for their perception and behavior to improve. Advantech Co. this week partnered with D3 Embedded to integrate sense and compute abilities for robots in industrial applications.
The collaboration uses Advantech’s AFE-R60 systems based on Intel Core Ultra and RealSense Depth D457 GMSL2 cameras. It also uses D3’s customizable DesignCore Discovery ISX031 PRO Series GMSL2 cameras to enhance AI-powered object sensing and recognition capabilities.
“At Advantech, we are devoted to enabling more robots in more scenarios,” stated Sandy Chen, senior director of Advantech North America. “Our collaboration with D3 Embedded brings together cutting-edge compute and sensing technologies to empower AMRs with the vision and performance needed for true autonomy.”
The companies said they will expand vision-guided applications for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in warehousing, manufacturing, and retail.
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Advantech helps develop a machine vision platform for AMRs
AMRs rely heavily on sensor accuracy and computing performance in order to run real-time object detection, thereby achieving full robotic autonomy, explained Advantech. Paired with the AFE-R360 and AFE-R760, D3 Embedded’s DesignCore Discovery PRO Series cameras contain the proven Sony ISX031 sensor and IP67 ingress protection.
The “end-to-end” vision system also features high dynamic range (HDR) and LED flicker mitigation (LFM) for high performance in dynamic lighting conditions. In addition, the RealSense Depth D457 cameras enable high-bandwidth stereo depth vision, according to the partners.
Advantech said its AFE-R360, a 3.5 in. (8.8 cm) single board computer (SBC), supports up to 8 MIPI-CSI lanes for low-latency visible camera inputs, and 3 x LAN & 3 x USB-C for depth and lidar sensors. With an Advantech custom-designed camera I/O card, the AFE-R360 can support 6 x GMSL cameras concurrently, which enables the streaming of 360° panoramic views.
Its sister system with a chassis, AFE-R760, supports 4 x GMSL cameras, explained the company. To facilitate the onboarding process, Advantech allows software developers to collect MIPI and GMSL camera data from custom ROS nodes in its Robotic Suite.
Both the AFE-R360 and AFE-R760 are built on the Intel Core Ultra platform, codenamed “Meteor Lake-H/U.” It has an integrated graphics processing unit (GPU) that delivers up to 32 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance. The systems can also connect with external MXM-type GPUs such as Intel Arc or NVIDIA‘s Quadro series.
Founded in 1983, Advantech said it is a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) systems and embedded hardware and software platforms. The Taipei, Taiwan-based company said its WISE-IoT core platform helps business partners connect their production and supply chains. It added that its technologies provide industrial intelligence and that it integrates sensors, controllers, and wireless communications for robotics developers.
Advantech and D3 are integrating sense and compute for AMRs. Source: D3 Embedded
D3 Embedded works to get products to market faster
“D3 Embedded is committed to providing developers with the specialized tools they require to create next-generation AI sense and compute solutions for industrial use cases,” stated Scott Reardon, CEO of D3 Embedded. “By collaborating with Advantech on this AMR package, D3 Embedded can help customers get their unique products to market faster and deploy edge solutions at scale.”
Founded in 1999, D3 Embedded said it accelerates advanced perception for autonomous machines by integrating camera and radar sensors, connectivity, custom embedded electronics, and AI. The West Henrietta, N.Y.-based company said its design services, off-the-shelf and customizable products, and AI development capabilities can be used in the automotive, industrial, robotics, medical, aerospace, and defense (ITAR) markets.
D3 Embedded said its DesignCore platforms and stage-gate development process help customers minimize the cost, schedule, and technical risks of product development for performance-critical applications.
The Intel Gold Partner company noted that it has expertise in autonomous machines and robotics, electrification, sensing, imaging and optics, edge computing and detection algorithms. To support its products and services, D3 offers original design manager (ODM) customization of hardware and software, validation testing, and in-house manufacturing services.
