COM Express module hosts network development

All-in-one platform for industrial markets leverages Power Architecture technology in the COM Express form factor.

Freescale has developed an all-in-one platform for industrial markets featuring Power Architecture technology and delivered in the COM Express form factor.

Underscoring Freescale's increased focus on the industrial space, the solution speeds and simplifies the creation of intelligent industrial equipment that runs demanding industrial networking protocols and requires precise, highly accurate processing.

The solution's MPC8360E PowerQUICC II Pro processor cost-effectively meets or exceeds the performance of the less flexible ASICs and more expensive FPGAs traditionally used to deliver the highly deterministic performance required for industrial applications.

It supports control and communications processing tasks on a single device, thereby lowering overall system costs.

And it integrates QUICC Engine communications controller technology that delivers programmability on par with FPGA technologies and the flexibility to support evolving communications standards.

The Freescale platform supports a number of industrial field buses and deterministic protocols including Profibus, Ethernet PowerLink and IEEE1588.

It is ideal for a broad range of applications including industrial automation, network communication, healthcare monitoring equipment, robotics and manufacturing automation equipment.

"Every connection matters in the industrial space, and the proven performance of PowerQUICC technology from Freescale is exceptionally suited for the demanding requirements of these markets", says Jeff Timbs, Marketing Director for Freescale's Network Systems Division.

"Blending industry-leading integration, production-ready enablement options, and compatibility with the full spectrum of Power Architecture ISA devices, this solution dramatically simplifies the development of next generation industrial equipment".

In addition to the development platform, Freescale also plans to offer a production-ready COM Express module based on the MPC8360E and manufactured by board vendor Logic Product Development.

The fanless module meets industrial temperature requirements, operating between -40 to +85C.

The COM Express form factor has emerged as a preferred standard for industrial markets due to its modularity, compact size and rich set of high speed serial and I/O interfaces.

Priced at under US $1000, the platform features touch-screen functionality, a carrier board, the MPC8360E processor, and evaluation copies of the Profibus, Ethernet Powerlink and IEEE1588 protocols.

It leverages advanced technology from several of the foremost players in the industrial marketplace.

Integrated with the offering are IEEE1588 and Ethernet Powerlink protocol enablement from Ixxat Automation, and Profibus enablement from IndusRAD.

The platform ships with pretested production-ready code, as well as Wind River's VXWorks operating system and production quality Linux board support packages.

It is supported by a broad spectrum of development tools including award-winning CodeWarrior tools.

The development platform and production-ready COM module are scheduled to ship beginning Q3 2007, and will be available from Freescale's distribution channel.

Freescale will demonstrate the platform at its upcoming Technology Forum taking place in Orlando, Florida, from 25th to 27th June 2007.

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