Mobile LiDAR surveying and mapping is a geospatial data collection method that uses a vehicle and laser scanning technology to capture high-resolution 3D maps of the surrounding terrain. After capturing the precise spatial data, it is processed for deeper geospatial analysis and infrastructure planning. Mobile LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mapping has pushed the boundaries of smart cities and other field industries by providing experts with detailed data to analyze, monitor, and study. However, the effectiveness of mobile mapping relies heavily on edge computing hardware solutions that can process massive amounts of sensor data in real- time while withstanding the rigors of mobile deployment. In this case study, we explore how a robotics company leverages the RCO-6000-RPL Series x86 Super-Rugged Industrial Computer to enable their mobile LiDAR systems.
Company Background
This robotics company specializes in mobile LiDAR solutions and vision AI systems, serving industries such as telecom, utilities, railways, and smart city infrastructure. Their mobile LiDAR systems are designed to revolutionize geospatial data collection, delivering real-time, high-precision insights that enhance efficiency and accuracy in the field. This technology allows their clients to seamlessly collect and analyze complex environmental data to make informed, data-driven decisions.
Challenge
The company previously relied on a legacy Kaby Lake solution that was nearing the end of its lifecycle. They sought out an upgrade that could improve real-time performance while also addressing several key challenges they faced:
- In-vehicle mounting and durability
- Real-time surveying data processing and analysis
- Extensive I/O connectivity to support IoT cameras, LiDAR sensors, and various surveying equipment
- Support for wireless communications
- High-speed, high-capacity data storage
The company needed a modern, rugged, and high-performance computing solution to overcome these challenges while ensuring seamless integration with their mobile LiDAR systems.
Solution
After reviewing all the robotics company’s prerequisites, we suggested the RCO-6000-RPL Series x86 Super-Rugged Industrial Computer for their mobile LiDAR solution. This high-performance industrial computer features a powerful Intel Core TE processor leveraging a performance hybrid architecture and versatile expandability with EDGEBoost technologies. In this deployment, it was configured with:
- 13th Gen Intel Core TE processor with 16GB DDR5
- Comprehensive IoT connectivity on-board
- Modular EDGEBoost I/O expandability for dual 10GbE LAN and M.2 M-Key
- Multiple high-capacity data storage options for NVMe speeds and RAID redundancy
- Ruggedized fanless & cableless design
- World-Class safety standards certifications
With its rugged, fanless design and robust mounting options, the RCO-6000-RPL was easily installed on both wooden and metal platforms within the vehicles, ensuring stable and secure operation even in harsh environments.
Benefits
In addition to an optimized industrial solution, partnering with Premio gave the robotics company additional benefits such as:
- Proactive Sales & Engineering Support
- Faster Time-to-Market Approach
The Challenge: Overcoming Legacy Limitations in Mobile LiDAR Surveying
As the robotics company continued to advance its surveying technology, its previous solution was no longer sufficient. The system, powered by an Intel Kaby Lake processor, was approaching the end of its lifecycle and struggled to maintain high performance with more complex and intensive workloads. During its deployment, several key obstacles had been identified and needed to be addressed in the new solution.
In-vehicle mounting and durability
While the previous system met basic operational requirements, it initially ran into challenges with vehicle mounting. During its deployment, the company found the system performance throttling at higher temperatures and recognized that the system was not built for in-vehicle environments. The company required a rugged computing solution that could be seamlessly integrated into its vehicles and operate reliably in extreme weather conditions.
Latency-sensitive surveying analysis
As the company’s surveying technology evolved, the legacy Kaby Lake processor became a bottleneck. The intensive amounts of data from higher resolution cameras and sophisticated sensors strained the processor to its limits. With the demand for low-latency analysis and optimal performance, the company needed a high-performance computing solution with a modern processor capable of handling real-time surveying analytics.
Extensive I/O connectivity
Mobile LiDAR surveying relies on multiple IoT devices and cameras to capture highly detailed geospatial data. A few key IoT devices include LiDAR, wheel force transducers, IMU sensors, high-resolution cameras, and more. Although the previous solution could support these devices, it lacked scalability options for future IoT integration.
High-speed, high-capacity data storage
Mobile LiDAR solutions generate vast amounts of real-time data, requiring high-speed, high-capacity storage. The system must handle simultaneous data transfers from multiple sensors while ensuring ample storage for in-depth analysis.
The Solution: x86 Super-Rugged Industrial Computer for Real-Time LiDAR Data Processing
After thorough assessment, Premio recommended the RCO-6000-RPL Series x86 Super-Rugged Industrial Computer as it is optimized to meet both the processing power and IoT requirements for mobile LiDAR surveying solutions. It had seen successful deployment in more extreme in-vehicle applications such as autonomous B2B delivery trucks and automated forklifts. Let’s explore how our RCO-6000-RPL Series was configured for mobile LiDAR surveying and mapping solutions:
Real-Time Performance
The RCO-6000-RPL was equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core TE processor featuring performance hybrid architecture, ensuring efficient and high-speed processing of real-time surveying data. With 16GB of DDR5 memory, the system handled intensive AI workloads and data processing with minimal latency, preventing computational bottlenecks.
Comprehensive IoT Connectivity
The RCO-6000-RPL had already provided all the necessary on-board I/O ports required for integrating the various amounts of IoT devices. From high-speed RJ45 LAN and USB ports to legacy serial ports, the RCO-6000-RPL seamlessly integrated the list of surveying equipment needed. However, for higher-resolution sensors like LiDAR, the RCO-6000-RPL leveraged EDGEBoost I/O to meet the high data transfer rate demands. This ensured that all surveying equipment could be efficiently connected and synchronized for accurate data collection.
Modular EDGEBoost I/O Technology
A unique feature of the RCO-6000-RPL is support for modular EDGEBoost I/O (EBIO) technology. This approach to IoT connectivity and compatibility enables optimized customization to meet diverse deployment requirements. LiDAR sensors in mobile surveying are continuously capturing vast amounts of data and are a key component collecting geospatial data. They require a high-bandwidth connection to ensure seamless data collection as bottlenecks can become detrimental to the operation. For the RCO-6000-RPL to meet this requirement, it was configured with an EBIO module featuring dual 10GbE RJ45 LAN ports, providing the necessary speed, connectivity, and reliability for LiDAR data collection.
In addition to EBIO flexibility, the robotics company also required additional NVMe storage for extensive data logging and real-time aggregation. Since the RCO-6000-RPL features two EBIO brackets, an EBIO module with an M.2 M-Key slot was integrated to support an NVMe M.2 SSD.
By utilizing EDGEBoost I/O technology, the RCO-6000-RPL met all IoT connectivity requirements without resorting to costly OEM customization. This modular approach streamlined integration and accelerated time-to-market with a versatile solution for mobile LiDAR surveying.
GPS, GNSS, & Wireless Connectivity
Mobile LiDAR surveying requires GPS and GNSS to provide accurate real-time navigation and positioning data. The RCO-6000-RPL is designed to support these capabilities with the onboard M.2 B-Key and E-Key slots for these wireless modules. With robust connectivity, the RCO-6000-RPL ensures that mobile LiDAR surveying solutions operate with reliable communication and location tracking in dynamic settings.
Ruggedized Fanless Design & In-Vehicle Mounting
Purpose-built for the challenges of in-vehicle environments, the RCO-6000-RPL is engineered to ensures long-term reliability in harsh environmental conditions such as:
- Fanless & cableless design to shield sensitive internal components from dust, debris, and contaminants
- Wide operating temperature range (-25°C to 70°C) prevents performance throttling in extreme climates
- Shock and vibration resistance, compliant with MIL-STD-810G standards, protects the system from frequent movement in rough terrain
- Wide power input range (9~48VDC) and power protection (OVP, OCP, & RPP) for operational reliability in unstable and fluctuating power conditions
Additionally, flexible mounting options allow secure installation on platforms inside the vehicle, ensuring stability and consistent operation regardless of road conditions or environmental challenges.
The Benefits
With a fully optimized x86 super-rugged industrial computer, solidifying a partnership with Premio provided the robotics company value-added benefits in ensuring long-term deployment support and a faster time-to-market.
Proactive Sales & Engineering Support
Premio’s dedicated sales and engineering teams worked closely with the company to ensure a smooth deployment process from initial consulting to final deployment. Our engineers assisted in addressing technical requirements efficiently and minimizing integration challenges.
Faster Time-to-Market Approach
Premio’s fast time-to-market approach helped the robotics company accelerate the RCO-6000-RPL onto their mobile LiDAR surveying solution. Our manufacturing team pre-configured the operating system and BIOS to specification for a streamlined deployment process.
Conclusion
The deployment of the RCO-6000-RPL Series x86 Super-Rugged Industrial Computer transformed the robotics company's mobile LiDAR surveying capabilities through enhanced processing power, comprehensive IoT connectivity, and ruggedized design. Premio's partnership support ensured smooth integration and rapid deployment, enabling the company to deliver more efficient and reliable geospatial data collection solutions for their clients.