technology in context
Figure 1
an unprecedented level of automated precision, including an improved single-frame method and an intelligent alert management system, which independently interprets and filters the conditions automatically detected. For example, the system can recognize and filter out mud, mist or dust, all of which may have triggered unnecessary road alerts in previous systems as they were recognized as smoke, fire or lost cargo. Today’s VBTC only reports events that are relevant, reducing the amount of work required by the control center and all but eliminating unnecessary alerts. In the past, false alarms put control center personnel under pressure and risk, and also reduced the level of acceptance of the system itself. Using CompactPCI systems equipped with multicore CompactPCI boards, VBTC’s precision is rated exceptionally at 99.9 percent. In plain English, the system mistakes only one incident in a thousand that leads to an unnecessary alert. The likelihood that a particularly hazardous situation would fail to be recognized as such is a mere one in 100,000. These remarkable automated results are achieved by using up to eight analog cameras (superior to digital technology due to their greater sensitivity to light) installed in each of the tunnels to be monitored. Each is connected to CompactPCIbased Video Encoding Storage Analysis units via coaxial cable or optical waveguides. The video signal from each camera is recorded and the system stores the streams in a compressed form in a selfoverwriting mode for a defined period of time. If a hard drive ever happens to fail, none of the image data is lost, courtesy of both RAID-5 and RAID-10 technology
The Kontron CP307 is a high-performance rugged Intel Core Duo SBC with 667 MHz front side bus, DDR2-SDRAM expandable up to 4 Gbytes and comprehensive communication interfaces.
employed in various implementations. The units feature a CompactPCI system functioning as the main CPU, processing enormous amounts of data, analyzing video images in real time, and controlling the alert management system in sync (Figure 1).
Why CompactPCI
By incorporating 32nm processor technology along with multicore performance benefits, today’s CompactPCI boards are enabling more compute-intensive applications such as the VBTC example, as well as new prospects in terms of upgrading and extending the life of deployed systems. For instance, an existing tunnel surveillance system that uses 10 CompactPCI PICMG 2.16 single core CPU boards could conceivably reduce the number of boards to just two dual- or quad-core boards. Industrial designers seeking ultra high performance—both scalable and future-proof—may opt for multiple quadcore CompactPCI processor boards for these types of extremely data hungry applications.
CompactPCIbased solutions also benefit from an extensive range of PCIcompatible software—a significant benefit because PCI-based programming is familiar to most software designers. Combined with high bandwidth and reliability, designers tend to recognize this familiar computing model as an ideal solution for demanding data capture and processing applications. CompactPCI is also an inherently rugged and reliable system architecture. Pin-based connectors and locking handles enhance the ruggedness of CompactPCI. Gas-tight, high-density pins and socket connectors, as opposed to card-edge or slot-based connectors, mean PCI signal reflections are minimal based on low induction and controlled impedance. The gas-tight connectors provide a strong and reliable link between the board and the backplane. And with a large number of ground pins (220), designers are assured reliability by providing ample shielding and grounding for low ground bounce and operation in noisy environments. While card-edge and slot-based may both be suitable for non-mobile apps, the high-density pins in CompactPCI allow it to perform in more rugged environments, providing tolerance to the harsh extremes commonly found in non-stop industrial settings such as filling lines or traffic alert management RTC MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2010
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