OnLogic Presents at Edge Field Day 3

The Edge is Just the Beginning – Advancing Edge Computing Hardware with OnLogic

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OnLogic, co-founded by Lisa Groeneveld and her husband Roland, designs and manufactures industrial and rugged computers for edge computing. The company, headquartered in Vermont, has grown from a small operation in a Boston apartment to a global business with locations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Lisa shared the story of how the company started by importing mini ITX motherboards and selling them online, leveraging the early days of e-commerce and Google AdWords to reach customers. Over time, OnLogic expanded its product offerings and built strong relationships with clients by understanding their needs and providing tailored solutions. Today, the company has shipped over 800,000 systems and components, serving industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.

OnLogic’s computers are designed to operate in harsh environments, making them ideal for industries that require high reliability and durability. Lisa highlighted examples of how OnLogic’s rugged computers are used in various applications, such as in the manufacturing processes of companies like Bridgestone and Michelin, and in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. She also shared a case study of Steel Dynamics, which needed computers that could withstand high vibration and extreme temperatures in their industrial setting. Another notable project involved Universal Studios, where OnLogic provided computers for kiosks in their water park, ensuring they could handle wide temperature ranges and outdoor conditions. These examples illustrate the versatility and robustness of OnLogic’s products, which are used in a wide range of industries and environments.

OnLogic’s approach to business is rooted in its core values of being open, fair, independent, and innovative. The company prides itself on transparency, offering open pricing and sharing financial information with employees. This culture of openness extends to their customer relationships, where they provide customizable solutions through a configurator on their website, allowing clients to tailor products to their specific needs. Lisa emphasized that OnLogic’s edge computing solutions are not just endpoints but the beginning of meaningful processes for their customers. One example she shared was a project involving AI systems at the base of wind turbines to prevent harm to migratory birds, showcasing how OnLogic’s technology can contribute to solving global challenges.

Personnel: Lisa Groeneveld

A Look at Edge Computing in Smart Agriculture and Mining Automation with OnLogic

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The Edge conjures images of network architecture diagrams, but for users of edge computers the edge is a physical location. Today’s modern edge systems are deployed well away from carpeted spaces, and users of edge computing have very specific requirements. In this presentation, OnLogic Systems Architect, Ross Hamilton explores specific edge use cases (Smart Agriculture & Mining Automation), what they represent about the changing needs of tech innovators, and what goes into designing solutions that can survive wherever they’re needed.

In this presentation, Ross Hamilton from OnLogic discusses the evolving landscape of edge computing, emphasizing that the edge is not just a network concept but a physical location where computing systems are deployed in challenging environments. OnLogic specializes in creating industrial-grade edge computers designed to withstand harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures, vibrations, and dust. Their product lines, including the Karbon series, are built to meet the specific needs of industries like agriculture and mining, where reliable, rugged computing is essential for real-time data processing and decision-making.

Hamilton highlights two specific use cases to illustrate the challenges and solutions in edge computing. In smart agriculture, OnLogic worked with a company developing robotic food harvesters that needed to operate in environments with fluctuating temperatures, vibrations, and dust. The Karbon 800 series was ideal for this application, offering fanless design, wide temperature range support, and the ability to process sensor data and communicate with motor controllers. The system also supports cellular connectivity, enabling real-time data transmission to the cloud, making it a robust solution for agricultural automation.

In the mining industry, OnLogic’s Karbon 400 series was deployed in a facility in northern Sweden, where temperatures can drop to -40°C. The system needed to operate reliably in these extreme conditions while supporting LiDAR sensors to detect spillage and ensure worker safety in dark, hazardous environments. The Karbon 400 series, with its Intel Atom processor and long lifecycle, provided the necessary compute power and connectivity, including dual LAN with Power over Ethernet (PoE) for cameras and sensors. These examples demonstrate how OnLogic’s rugged edge computing solutions are tailored to meet the specific demands of various industries, ensuring reliability and performance in the most challenging environments.

Personnel: Ross Hamilton

A Look at Edge Computing in Building Automation and Steel Production with OnLogic

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In the second session of his presentation at Edge Field Day 3, Ross Hamilton, Systems Architect at OnLogic, delves into two specific edge computing use cases: steel production and building automation. He begins by discussing the harsh environment of a steel mill, where extreme temperatures, dust, and debris pose significant challenges for technology. OnLogic’s ruggedized hardware, such as the Tacton TC 401 Panel PC, is designed to withstand these conditions. The panel PC offers a user-friendly touch interface that allows workers to manage complex machinery efficiently, reducing downtime and improving reliability. Its rugged construction, fanless design, and wide operating temperature range make it ideal for the punishing environment of a steel mill, where it can be mounted in industrial control panels or used in outdoor settings with UV-resistant displays.

Hamilton then shifts focus to the second use case: building automation in smart buildings, using a real-world example from New York City. He recalls the 2003 blackout and how edge computing could have mitigated some of the issues, such as people being trapped in elevators. OnLogic’s Helix platform is highlighted as a solution for gathering and analyzing data in smart buildings. The Helix platform is designed to operate in rugged environments like mechanical spaces in buildings, offering features such as solid-state construction, extended temperature ranges, and resistance to dust and particulates. It can gather data from various building systems and relay it to a central dashboard, enabling proactive decision-making to prevent issues like power failures.

Throughout the presentation, Hamilton emphasizes the importance of flexibility and resilience in edge computing hardware. OnLogic’s products are designed to meet the unique challenges of different environments, from the extreme conditions of a steel mill to the more controlled but still demanding settings of smart buildings. The company offers modular solutions that can be customized to fit specific needs, whether it’s legacy protocol support in industrial settings or ruggedized power protection for environments with unstable power sources. By providing robust, adaptable hardware, OnLogic aims to help businesses optimize efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve safety across a variety of edge computing applications.

Personnel: Ross Hamilton

Exploring the Network of Experts Required to Design and Implement Effective Edge Computing Solutions with OnLogic

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The presentation by Amber Cobb from OnLogic at Edge Field Day 3 focused on the importance of a collaborative ecosystem in designing and implementing effective edge computing solutions. OnLogic specializes in creating rugged, industrial edge devices that are highly configurable to meet the demands of challenging environments. Amber emphasized that the edge is not just a network boundary but a dynamic and complex place where real-time data and insights are crucial for driving efficiencies. To address these challenges, OnLogic relies on a network of partners, including Intel, AWS, Red Hat, Avassa, and Guise AI, to provide comprehensive solutions that go beyond just hardware. These partnerships allow OnLogic to offer scalable frameworks and innovative products that help customers navigate the complexities of edge computing.

Intel plays a foundational role in OnLogic’s ecosystem, particularly with its embedded lifecycle components designed for long-term edge deployments. Intel’s OpenVino Toolkit is also highlighted for its ability to optimize AI workloads at the edge, enabling enterprises to deploy and scale AI applications effectively. AWS is another key partner, providing cloud services like Greengrass and Kinesis Video Stream, which are essential for managing and deploying edge applications. Red Hat’s Enterprise Linux (REL) is described as a versatile and secure operating system that is ideal for critical workloads at the edge, offering a solid foundation for businesses to build upon. Avassa simplifies the orchestration of containerized applications at the edge, ensuring that even in environments with intermittent connectivity, edge applications remain functional and reliable.

Guise AI addresses the challenges of deploying and managing AI models at the edge, offering a no-code platform that streamlines AI deployments and optimizes performance. This platform is particularly useful for industries like oil and gas, where real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance are critical. Amber concluded by reiterating that the edge is a complex environment that requires more than just hardware; it requires a robust ecosystem of partners. By working with industry leaders and innovative companies, OnLogic is able to provide its customers with the tools and support they need to succeed in their edge computing endeavors.

Personnel: Amber Cobb