Controller & PC in one device

The General Purpose Operating System (GPOS) and the real-time operating system are connected via a virtual network interface. Windows software with a cloud connection could be used to calculate the optimal path for a mobile machine to follow, for example, while the real-time operating system turns that information to specific commands for the drives. Combining two operating systems on one device lowers equipment costs. It also allows for a more compact design and makes more efficient use of available hardware resources.

B&R also offers a new option board for connecting external I/O modules or sensors in combination with hypervisor software. It is equipped with three CAN POWERLINK interfaces and one real-time POWERLINK interface.

There is also an option board with four additional Ethernet interfaces in order to further network the PC within the mobile machine. This way, external devices such as GPS receivers or cellular modems can be connected to the PC. The interfaces are already equipped with the TSN Ethernet extension, making them optimally prepared for the OPC UA over TSN communication standard.

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