| Automation device maker taps commercial embedded Linux |
Aug. 08, 2007
 [Updated Aug. 14] -- Wind River has announced another design win for its Linux distribution targeting consumer electronics. AMX, which sells high-end industrial and home automation systems used in the White House's War Room and elsewhere, will switch its "Modero" touchpanels to Platform for Consumer Devices, Linux Edition (PCD-LE).
(Click for larger view of AMX touchscreen)
AMX's systems start at several thousand dollars for a basic system, not including programming, according to Rick Gelling, director of firmware programming. Gelling notes that AMX supplies A/V control systems used in the White House's War Room (Click for photo of Rumsfeld using one). Gelling adds, "We are also in the homes of a who's who of celebrities."
Other markets include high-end hotels and condos, where a single touchpanel can be used to control lighting, audio/video equipment, on-demand pay-per-view movie purchases, and so on. However, the company still makes most of its money in industrial automation, where its equipment provides a central, networked point of control for devices with serial interfaces, including HVAC, elevators, and manufacturing equipment.
AMX controller unit |
The AMX systems comprise a touchpanel that runs Linux, along with a controller device (such as that pictured at right) that runs VxWorks. The controller can also run any of about 20,000 available software modules designed to control a wide range of devices. Gelling commented, "More and more things are going to Ethernet, but we support all kinds of serial devices, RFID devices, RF, Zigbee, and lots more."
AMX offers about two dozen different touchpanels, ranging in size from five inches to 17 inches. Currently, the panels all run AMX's home-grown Linux implementation.
AMX offers about two dozen different touchpanels, all running Linux
(Click to enlarge)
Gelling said he expects switching the touchpanels to PCD-LE to save the company $2 million. Part of that figure reportedly comes from projected productivity gains resulting from putting both VxWorks and Linux engineers on the same development tools platform. Another expected advantage is through faster time-to-market, based on average rates for employing engineers full-time. "We used to spend three months on the BSP [board support package]. With PCD-LE, we were up and running in a couple of weeks," Geller said.
PCD-LE's support for a wide range of embedded processors could also help give AMX a better choice of processors, Gelling's comments suggested. Currently, the Modero touchpanels are based on RMI (formerly AMD) Alchemy Au1100 and Au1550 processors. However, the company would like to produce some panels with better multimedia capabilities, so that users in hotels could switch their pay-per-view content from the TV to the panel itself, and watch in the bathroom or by the pool.
AMX opted to use Wind River's (formerly RTI's) ScopeTools for hardware bringup, along with the "On-Chip Debugging Edition" of Wind River's Workbench tools. Wind River claims the OCD version provides "improved overall efficiency" for development teams.
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed