Aaeon’s Modular Workstation With MXM 3.1 Type A/B GPU Compatibility

As automated equipment becomes increasingly complex and increasingly uses AI across more applications, the industrial world requires workstations that can support these advanced processes while still offering rugged exteriors and compact footprints.

The latest release from Aaeon, a supplier of IIoT and AI edge solutions, is a slim yet rugged IPC designed for heavy computing applications. With its extensive connectivity and I/O, along with support for MXM 3.1 GPUs, the new MEX-BTS is capable of handling a wide range of advanced applications.

The MEX-BTS features a slim build of just 295 mm x 186 mm x 50 mm for installation in space-constrained applications. Image used courtesy of Aaeon

The MEX-BTS Industrial Edge Solution

Designed for industrial workstations, AI-assisted healthcare imaging, and safety monitoring, the MEX-BTS system box supports the 12th - 14th Gen Intel Core family of processors and the Intel Core Series 2 processors. Two SODIMM slots are provided, supporting up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM with ECC support, and two M.2 slots are provided for storage capacity.

The MEX-BTS utilizes the latest MXM 3.1 Type A and B GPU cards and can support either Windows or Ubuntu operating systems. Powering the workstation is easily achieved with a supported wide range of 19 VDC to 24 VDC, a common voltage seen in most industrial applications. These are the kind of features you might be looking for when designing a system that requires an industrial Edge solution to process images or provide predictive maintenance schedules.

Any good industrial computer will have at least USB, Ethernet, and video out. The MEX-BTS has this and more. Each model is fully equipped with six USB, six RJ-45 Ethernet connections, one HDMI (onboard display), two display ports, four serial ports, and a 16-bit GPIO port. All of these connections make the MEX-BTS modular and capable in various applications.

The MEX-BTS includes six LAN, six USB, and four COM ports. Image used courtesy of Aaeon

What Is an MXM 3.1 GPU?

AI and image processing are in such high demand that GPU manufacturers have now engineered GPUs specifically for these applications. The MXM 3.1 is a compact, rugged GPU socket that is commonly found in mobile devices and allows for modular installation of high-end GPUs. The GPUs typically embedded on the MXM socket are designed for industrial graphics processing, accelerated rendering, and AI interfacing. The IPC world has adapted the interface and is taking advantage of the smaller footprint. Both Nvidia and Intel are producing GPUs designed for the industrial market on the MXM 3.1 platform.

Machine Vision Inspection

There are many reasons you might want an industrial computer next to your equipment; one such reason is for machine vision image processing. Machine vision inspection typically consumes a lot of computing horsepower, depending on the image size. Line scanning is a similar process to a desktop scanner and yields very large image files. Inspecting these images for defects, measurements, and feature detection can utilize most of the computer resources. For these reasons, it is best to have a dedicated computer with high-end GPUs, a bill that the MEX-BTS can easily fill.