Advantech ROM-DB7501 User Manual page 35

Thermal Solution Services
To provide quicker, more flexible solutions for customers' thermal designs, Advantech
offers its thermal solution services, which cover both modular and customized ther-
mal solutions.
Standard thermal solutions

Customized thermal solutions

Embedded Software Services
Advantech offers driver, software integration, customized firmware, root file system,
and Linux imaging support to save customers a substantial amount of time and allow
them to focus on core developments.
 Embedded Linux/Android OS
 Advantech boot loader customization
With the increasing implementation of industrial computing, a wide range of new
applications have been developed, revolutionizing the IPC industry. In the past, sys-
tem integrators were accustomed to completing projects without outside assistance.
But nowadays, the working model has shifted. Because of diverse market demands
and intense competition, cooperation (both upstream and downstream) for vertical
integration has become a more effective way to create competitive advantages.
ARM-based CPU modules were born out of this trend. Concentrating all necessary
components on the CPU module and placing other parts on the carrier board in
response to market requirements for specialization, provides greater flexibility while
maintaining low power consumption.
With many years of experience in the industrial computer industry, Advantech found
that customers typically have a number of concerns (as listed below) regarding the
implementation of modular designs.
General I/O Design Capability
Although customers have vertical integration abilities and sufficient expertise and
core competitiveness in their professional application field, a lack of knowledge and
experience of general power and I/O design presents a potential barrier to integrating
CPU modules into their carrier board.
Information Acquisition
Even sufficient information is acquired to make the right decision for specialized ver-
tical applications, a number of customers struggle with general platform design and
communicating with CPU or chipset manufacturers. This not only increases the risks
and difficulties of carrier board design and extends the time-to-market, but also
results in lost market opportunities.
Software Development and Modification
Compared to x86 architectures, RISC architectures use simpler instruction sets.
Therefore, the software support for x86 platforms cannot be applied to RISC plat-
forms. System integrators must develop software for their system and integrate the
hardware and software themselves. Unlike x86 platforms, RISC platforms have less
support for board support packages (BSPs) and drivers. Although driver support is
provided, system integrators still need to invest substantial effort into integrating the
system core. Moreover, the BSPs provided by CPU manufacturers are usually for
carrier board design, making it difficult for system integrators to find an environment
for software development.
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