TECHBASE’s ModBerry Linux based industrial controllers have been around since 2014 with their first model being ModBerry 500 powered by a Raspberry Pi compute module. Over the years, the company has kept adding new ModBerry controllers with now an interesting choice of Raspberry Pi 3 board or compute module, FriendlyELEC’s NanoPi M1 Plus board, or Intel Atom x5 based AAEON’s UP board.
All programmable automation controllers (PAC) runs Linux 4.0 or greater, with Debian or Ubuntu Core rootfs including ready tools and pre-compiled packs including C/C++, JAVA, SQL, PHP, SSH, and VPN support. The firmware is upgradeable over the air, and the controllers can run the company’s iMod control software and interface with iModCloud cloud computing service for telemetry, remote control and data sharing. Typical uses include C-L-V functions with conversion to collect and transmit data over communication interfaces, logging via iModCloud or a SCADA, and visualization via a web browser.
All models share many of the same features, with some models having more I/Os beside the different board, but to get a better idea of the systems, I’ll have a look at ModBerry M700 specifications:
- SoC – Allwinner H3 quad core Cortex A7 @ 1.2 GHz with an ARM Mali-400MP2 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 8GB eMMC flash + micro SD card slot
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4 and 3.5mm jack for CVBS (composite + stereo audio)
- Connectivity
ModBerry M700 – Click to Enlarge - Gigabit Ethernet
- 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE
- Optional Zigbee, LTE/3G, GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth cards
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x 4-pin USB 2.0 host header, 1x micro USB port (OTG/power)
- Expansion I/Os
- 4x digital inputs, 4x digital outputs up to 30V DC
- 1x RS-232/RS-485
- 1x PCIe slot
- Optional 1-wire
- Optional ExCard I/O modules for more RS-232/485 ports, Ethernet ports, PCIe slots, analog input and output, digital I/Os, relays, M-Bus interface, and more
- Misc – RTC with battery, watchdog timer,
- Power Supply – 7~30V DC up to 20-35W
- Dimensions – 106 x 91 x 61 mm (ABS casing with DIN rail enclosure)
- Weight – 300 grams
- Operating Conditions – Temperature: -30 ~ 80°C; humidity: 5 ~ 95% RH (non-condensing)
The ExCard are DIN rail module that plugs into the ModBerry like LEGO’s, and up to 3 ExCard is supported per ModBerry.
Applications for such systems include PLC, telemetry module with data logger, serial port server, protocol and interface converter, programmable controller, MODBUS Gateway/Router, SNMP Agent, Web server with PHP and SQL database support, SMS Gateway, LTE/3G/GPRS router and more.
TECHBase has not released pricing for the controllers, but you can find more details, including detailed PDF product briefs and links to purchase the controllers and expansions (you’ll still have to ask for the price), on the products page.
Via LinuxGizmos
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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LoRa and LTE NB-IoT modules are now available for ModBerry devices. No details provided yet, the new options have just been added to the list of connectivity options.