Advantech Leverages e-con Systems' MIPI & GMSL Cameras to Accelerate Embedded Vision Applications

Taipei, Taiwan, August 26, 2024 – Advantech, a global leader in industrial IoT, and e-con Systems, a leading OEM camera solution provider, have joined forces to offer embedded vision solutions that enhance the AI capabilities of various industrial applications like Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), warehouse automation, delivery robots, and more. This collaboration leverages Advantech's Intel x86-based AFE-R360 solution and e-con Systems' expertise in developing advanced camera modules, ensuring high-quality imaging and stable data transmission required for autonomous operations.

“e-con Systems is witnessing a momentous rise in the adoption of MIPI and GMSL cameras, especially in industries like warehouse and logistics robots. Therefore, the collaboration with Advantech marks an exciting milestone. By integrating advanced camera solutions with robust x86-based systems, e-con Systems is taking vision capabilities for industrial applications to the next level while expediting time-to-market for complex applications.” – e-con Systems

AMR products rely heavily on sensor accuracy and computing performance in order to run real-time object detection to fulfill its tasks and achieve full autonomy. AFE-R360, featuring a 3.5" SBC, supports up to 8 MIPI-CSI lanes for low-latency visible camera inputs, and 3 x LAN & 3 x USB-C connections for depth and LiDar sensors. Through an Advantech custom-designed camera I/O card (MIOe-MIPI or MIOe-GMSL) and driver collaboration with e-con Systems, AFE-R360 can support 4 x MIPI-CSI or 4 x GMSL cameras, which enables the streaming of 360° panoramic views. In addition, AFE-R360 is built on the Intel® Core™ Ultra (code name: Meteor Lake-H/U) platform. It features a 16-core processor, Arc™ graphics GPU, and is the first processor to have an NPU integrated, delivering up to 32 TOPs of performance. With Intel® Core™ Ultra and the OpenVINO™ toolkit, the AFE-R360 is perfect for running object-detection AI models, processing immersive graphics, and striking an ideal balance between power consumption and performance. These features make it ideal for AMR development.

Many industrial vision applications face sensor deployment challenges, such as driver integration issues, workforce adaptation hurdles, and more. To address this, Advantech offers AFE-R360, the first x86-based platform supporting the MIPI-CSI and GMSL interface (the current industry standard). By adopting MIPI-CSI and GMSL into robotic sensors, customer can acquire higher-resolution video streaming with less CPU loading, along with adjustable ISP performance, surpassing traditional UVC and IP cameras.  With higher sensor quality comes better AI analysis and more robust robotic autonomy. Advantech’s collaboration with e-con Systems takes this a step further to offer a world-class embedded vision solution. 

e-CAM25_CUR360: This 2MP (FHD) global shutter MIPI CSI-2 solution is based on the AR0234 CMOS sensor from onsemi®. The sensor supports a global shutter which captures full images at a single moment in time, and is well-suited for streaming moving objects. The camera module comes with an I-PEX cable which extends the cable length up to 30cm.

e-CAM81_CUR360: This 8MP (4K) HDR MIPI CSI-2 multi-board solution for the Advantech AFE-R360 development kit is based on a 1/1.7" AR0821 CMOS sensor from onsemi®. The HDR-based camera can operate with the robot under both night and day conditions, and its high resolution is suitable for a forward-facing view of outdoor/indoor robots that rely on tele-operated navigation. The camera module comes with an I-PEX cable, extending the cable length up to 30cm.

e-con Systems also provides global shutter and rolling shutter options to accommodate different motion and lighting scenarios, along with LED flicker mitigation (LFM) to prevent interference from artificial lighting sources. These cameras have HDR technology for capturing details in high-contrast scenes and come with IP67-rated enclosures. They integrate anti-fogging capability, ensuring reliability in challenging environmental conditions. They also support external triggers for synchronized multi-camera streaming for accurate data capture and analysis. 

Advantech has a well-defined AMR roadmap for dedicated product design, software packages, and partner alignment strategies. These solutions offer seamless, integrated experiences for precise robotic automation control. Advantech’s AFE-R360 will be available by August 2024. 

Learn more about e-con Systems’ e-CAM25_CUR360, please visit here. 

About Advantech 

Advantech has the corporate vision to "Enable an Intelligent Planet". The company is a global leader in the fields of IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. To embrace the trends of AIoT and artificial intelligence, Advantech has fully deployed its sector-driven strategy, focusing particularly on seven major sectors. This deployment aims to nurture market sectors and enhance core competitiveness. In the meantime, Advantech integrates its existing product group - the AIoT + Edge computing hardware platform - with the mature WISE-IoT software platform. Together with our industrial AI solutions and business expertise, this integration will form an "orchestrator" model for seamless industrial chain connections, benefiting both our partners and clients. Advantech is also working with business partners to co-create business ecosystems that accelerate the goal of industrial intelligence. (www.advantech.com)

About e-con Systems™ 

e-con Systems™ designs, develops, and manufactures OEM cameras. With 20+ years of experience and expertise in embedded vision, the company focuses on delivering vision and camera solutions to industries such as retail, medical, industrial, agriculture, smart cities, and more. e-con Systems’ wide portfolio of products includes Time of Flight cameras, MIPI camera modules, GMSL cameras, USB 3.1 Gen1 cameras, stereo cameras, GigE cameras, low-light cameras, and more. Our cameras are currently embedded in over 350+ customer products. So far, we have shipped over 2 million cameras to the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and many more countries.

Advantech Media Contacts

Product Director James Wang｜James.Wang@advantech.com.tw  

Product Manager Alicia Lee｜Alicia.Lee@advantech.com.tw   

Business Development Manager Stephen Liu｜Stephen.Liu@advantech.com.tw