🚀 Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Automation: Next-Gen Controller from ASRock Industrial!

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Groundbreaking Solution for Industrial IoT from ASRock Industrial​

ASRock Industrial introduces a new generation edge AI computing architecture designed for industrial automation systems, integrating advanced processor architectures and dedicated neural processing units (NPUs). This technology enables real-time and deterministic control within the Industrial IoT ecosystem.

iEP-7050E Series: The Heart of Smart Automation​

The company has launched the iEP-7050E Series Industrial IoT Controller, a specialized edge platform designed to process machine vision and control data locally. This hardware executes high-density computing workloads directly at the operational source to meet the low-latency and high-reliability requirements of smart automation, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Processor Architecture and Neural Workload Processing​

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  []Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Processors: Built on the Panther Lake architecture.
  
  []Integrated Architecture: Includes a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), and a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for AI inference.
  
  []High Performance: Offers up to 180 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of processing power in total. This provides sufficient bandwidth for complex computer vision and predictive maintenance tasks without the need for cloud connectivity.
  
  []Memory and Data Integrity: Supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory at 7200 MHz and Intel In-Band Error Correction Code (ECC) to prevent data corruption in mission-critical operations.
  

Real-Time Control and Industrial Connectivity​

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  []Deterministic Network Performance: Provides synchronized, low-latency data transmission with Intel Time Coordinated Computing (TCC) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technologies, critical for robotics and automated manufacturing.
  
  []Extensive Connectivity Options: Features three Intel i266-IT LAN ports (one with Intel vPro support) and three Intel i210-IT LAN ports.
  
  []Modular Design: Physical integration is managed through modular SKUs that alter the base dimensions of 60x170x150mm. Specific configurations expand the chassis to 78x170x150mm to accommodate additional hardware such as Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3af) or 5G connectivity modules via M.2 Key B slots.
  
  []Signal Control: Configurable digital input/output interfaces (from 4DI/4DO to 8DIO with 3KV isolation) and dual CANBus interfaces, along with Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) connectors for T1S connectivity, enable direct communication with legacy and next-generation industrial sensors.
  

Environmental Durability and Power Management​

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  []Durable Design: The fanless chassis is designed for continuous operation in a temperature range of -25°C to 60°C.
  
  []Flexible Power Input: Accepts dual wide-range direct current input from 9V/19V to 36V.
  
  []Advanced Protection: Includes embedded protection mechanisms against overvoltage, undervoltage, and overcurrent scenarios, as well as an 80V overvoltage defense system.
  
  []AI Pathfinder Software: The AI Pathfinder software tool is provided to help system integrators tailor specific controller SKUs and AI accelerators to their deployment environments.
  

Competitive Advantages​

While traditional x86-based industrial PCs often require separate graphics cards for AI acceleration exceeding 100 TOPS, which increases physical space, thermal output, and power consumption, ARM-based systems offer approximately 100 TOPS in a compact form factor but require software translation layers for legacy x86 industrial automation software.

This system, achieving 180 TOPS with the Panther Lake architecture and integrated NPU, captures the mid-to-high-end computational output of specialized ARM-based AI accelerators while maintaining native x86 compatibility. This allows facilities to deploy heavy AI workloads within a compact, passively cooled enclosure.