Industrial computer runs Linux on quad-core i.MX6
Dec 3, 2013 — by Eric Brown 1,892 viewsVia Technologies announced a ruggedized, fanless industrial “AMOS-820” computer based on its VAB-820 Pico-ITX board and Freescale’s i.MX6Quad SoC. The Via AMOS-820 supports Linux, Android, and WEC7, offers a variety of USB, serial, CAN, HDMI, and gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and can withstand -20 to 65°C temperatures.
Designed for a wide range of industrial automation, transportation, HMI, and energy management applications, the Via AMOS-820 is built around Via’s first quad-core Pico-ITX board, the recently unveiled VAB-820.

AMOS-820 with cables
(click image to enlarge)
The board incorporates Freescale’s Cortex-A9 based i.MX6Quad system-on-chip clocked at 1GHz, which integrates a trio of specialized GPUs. The VAB-820 includes coastline HDMI, gigabit Ethernet, composite video, and dual USB 2.0 ports.
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The AMOS-820 computer uses the VAB-820’s same complement of 1GB RAM and 4GB flash, and similarly offers a microSD slot, along with a boot switch between microSD and SPI flash sources. The computer offers front I/O including two COM ports, one DIO port, two CAN ports, one USB 2.0 port, and one Micro-USB 2.0 OTG port. The front panel also provides a DC power jack, as well as audio line-in, line-out and mic-in jacks.


VAB-820
(click images to enlarge)
On the rear of the unit, you’ll find an HDMI port, a composite RCA jack, a gigabit Ethernet port, and dual USB 2.0 ports. 3G and WiFi radios are optional, and are available either via USB pin-headers or the system’s Mini-PCI Express slot.

AMOS-820 rear panel
The fanless, 150 x 108 x 46mm AMOS-820 is said to run at 7 Watts, and supports PoE as an option. The system boasts operating temperatures of -20 to 65°C, as well as shock and vibration resistance. The system supports Linux, Android, and Windows Embedded Compact 7 (WEC 7).

AMOS-820 port detail
(click image to enlarge)
Specifications listed for the Via AMOS-820 include:
- Processor — Freescale i.MX6Quad SoC:
- 4x Cortex-A9 ARM cores @ 1GHz
- 3x GPUs, featuring:
- OpenGL ES 2.0 3D graphics accelerator with 4x shaders up to 200 MT/s and OpenCL support
- 2D graphics accelerator
- OpenVG 1.1 video accelerator) for up to 1080p
- Memory:
- 1GB DDR3-1066 SDRAM using “128M x16” devices
- 4GB eMMC flash
- 4MB SPI serial flash
- MicroSD slot for up to 64GB
- Display — HDMI 1.4; Composite RCA; supports triple independent displays
- Wireless — optional WiFi and 3G
- Networking — gigabit Ethernet (Micrel KSZ9031RN) with RGMII and optional PoE support
- Other I/O:
- 4x USB 2.0 (including 1x Micro-USB OTG)
- 2x COM
- 2x CAN 2.0
- DIO for 8-bit GPIO
- Audio line-in, headphone-out, mic-in (Freescale SGTL5000 stereo codec)
- Expansion — Mini PCIe slot
- Other features — reset button and LEDs; boot switch (for SPI or microSD); removable bottom door plate; 5-7 year longevity;l “capture-in support”
- Ruggedization:
- Operating temperature — -20 to 65°C (without wireless options)
- Vibration resistance — 7Grms, IEC 60068-2-64, random, 5 ~ 500Hz, 1 Oct./min, 1hr/axis
- Shock resistance — 70g, IEC 60068-2-27, half size, 11ms
- Power — 12V DC-in; 7W TDP
- Dimensions — 150 x 108 x 46mm
- Operating system — Linux 3.0.35; Android; WEC7
Further information
No pricing or availability information was supplied for the Via AMOS-820. More information may be found at the Via AOS-820 product page.
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