Logic Supply is now offering pre-loaded AWS Greengrass software for autonomous edge processing linked to the AWS IoT platform on two of its Linux-based systems: its recent Apollo Lake based CL200 mini-PC and its Kaby Lake enabled MC850 embedded PC.

Logic Supply announced it has joined Amazon Web Services’ AWS Partner Network (APN), and is certified to offer the Linux-driven AWS Greengrass software for localized edge computing. The first two certified systems are the recent Intel Apollo Lake based CL200 Edge Device mini-PC and last year’s high-end MC850 embedded computer running Kaby Lake or Skylake CPUs.

CL200 from two sides
(click images to enlarge)

Over the last year, several Logic Supply embedded computers have been certified for AWS Greengrass, which works together with Amazon’s cloud-based AWS IoT ecosystem (see farther below). However, the CL200 and MC850 are “among the first” of any Greengrass certified systems to offer the software as a pre-installation option, says Amazon.

Amazon launched AWS Greengrass in June 2017 on selected Linux-based platforms including the Raspberry Pi. AWS Greengrass runs as middleware on top of Ubuntu and other modern Linux distributions, enabling AWS IoT compute, messaging, data caching, and sync capabilities to run on connected devices such as IoT gateways. The software is based on the same AWS Lambda cloud software that controls IoT aggregation and analysis on the AWS IoT platform, but is optimized for local use.

AWS Greengrass provides for autonomous, offline operation of AWS IoT-connected devices. The software enables embedded devices to respond quickly to local events and operate with intermittent connections while reducing the latency and cost of transmitting IoT data to the cloud. Because AWS Greengrass uses AWS Lambda programming models, customers can develop and test machine learning software in the cloud before deploying it to devices.

ML350

Logic Supply’s CL200 and MC850 join a growing list of Greengrass-approved hardware platforms. Over the last year, Logic Supply’s own ML100 NUC mini-PC joined the party, along with the ML340, ML350, ML500, and DA-1000 embedded systems.

Early Greengrass adopters such as Adlink, Advantech, and Dell, have added additional certified computers to the list. There are also a half dozen IEI systems, as well as fewer numbers of systems or development boards from Digi, Gigabyte, Indra, Lenovo, and others.

All these systems support Greengrass Core 1.3, released in November, while a smaller number of platforms are certified for the most recent Greengrass Core 1.5. These include the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, Nvidia Jetson TX2, the Annapurna Labs Alpine Family, and AWS DeepLens, Amazon’s wireless, machine learning oriented video camera.

CL200 on DIN-rail

 
CL200 and MC850

The 116 x 83 x 34mm CL200 mini-PC runs Ubuntu 16.04 on the dual-core, 1.1GHz Celeron N3350 from Intel’s Apollo Lake family. The CL200 is equipped with 1GB LPDDR4, 8GB eMMC, a microSD slot, and 2x USB 3.0 ports. You also get single GbE, USB 2.0, and mini-DisplayPorts, as well as an RS-232 header.

Wireless options include WiFi/Bluetooth and Logic Supply’s Extrovert 4G LTE module. The 12V, DIN-rail mountable cast aluminum system is sealed against dust. There’s also a similar, Windows-compatible CL210 model with double the memory allotments and a few additional ports.

Last summer’s Ubuntu-ready MC850 family debuted with a 241.5 x 230 x 146mm MC850-50 model that supports Intel’s 6th Gen “Skylake” or 7th Gen “Kaby Lake” Core processors, along with an optional Nvidia GeForce 1060 GPU. The system is designed for machine vision, virtual reality, and interactive digital signage.

MC850-50, front and back
(click images to enlarge)

The MC850-50 supports up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. You can load up to 3TB of data via the dual SATA drives and mSATA connection, and add expansion cards via two full-sized PCIe x16 slots and a mini-PCIe slot.

The MC850-50 is further equipped with dual GbE, 4x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 2x COM, and single HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPorts. (Additional HDMI, DP, and DVI-D ports are optional.) The customizable system provides 2x audio jacks and antenna holes, as well as a a 300W power supply unit. Both WiFi/Bluetooth and 4G LTE options are available.

 
Further information

The CL200 and MC850 appear to be available now with the pre-installed AWS Greengrass software. More information may be found in Logic Supply’s AWS Greengrass announcement and AWS Greengrass product page. If you’re near Santa Clara, Calif., you may still have time to run down to the IoT World 2018, which closes today, and check out the Logic Supply systems running Greengrass at the Amazon Web Services booth (#916).