System on Modules Development
What is a System on Module? A system on a module is a board-level circuit that integrates a system function in a single module. It may integrate digital and analog functions on a single board. A typical application is in the area of embedded systems. Unlike a single-board computer, a SOM serves a special function like a system on a chip.
A Computer on Module (CoM), also known as a System on Module (SoM), is a single physical module that incorporates many common computing components. Common CoM components include a CPU, RAM, flash memory, a power management unit, an Ethernet bus and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios. The availability of all this hardware as a single unit reduces the complexity of final product designs.
SoMs also come with ready-to-use operating systems and integrated support for popular development environments, frameworks and other third-party software. All the Interfaces are available on an edge connector. The module is plugged into a carrier board that attaches the interfaces to connectors or application-specific components hosted on the carrier board. A carrier board is often simple to build, as all the complexity is contained within the module. This makes it possible to develop four-layer carrier boards with prices below US$20, for example.
System on Modules for Your Business?
We also provide off-the-shelf carrier boards which can be used for development in a wide range of applications. System on Modules greatly reduce the complexity and risk of developing and maintaining a product while maintaining high flexibility in the form factor.
Here are the key reasons behind the growing interest of businesses like yours in System on Modules:
- Software developers can unlock the potential of edge computing, processing data locally without latency. SOMs remove the need for deep hardware experience, providing a comfortable, intuitive design environment. And software developers working with vision applications will love the flexible, easily configurable sensors a SOM can provide. The best SOMs even offer built-in drivers and other software that saves design time.
- Hardware developers need to complete production as quickly as possible and focus their limited resources on the highest impact tasks. With a SOM, they can get field programmable gate array (FPGA) performance and flexibility without the difficulty that comes with PCB design and integration. This enables them to complete projects ahead of time and under budget.
- AI developers need a system that offers high, efficient performance without requiring them to become hardware experts. Thankfully, they can choose a SOM that provides the required compute power while maintaining the flexibility to easily swap out AI models, thanks to the pre-built applications the best system on module providers offer.
Hire the Best System on Module Developers
Cutting edge security camera systems take advantage of video analytics, and SOMs make it happen. Video analytics-powered security cameras use machine learning to categorize and understand what they see, providing a stream of accurate data in real time. This wouldn’t be possible without edge computing and the ability for cameras and other devices to analyze information on site.
The modern economy relies on machine vision for everything from inventory inspection to signature recognition to defect detection. Machine vision requires embedded systems that can analyze data on the spot and offer configurable sensor capabilities. SOMs enable developers to take advantage of machine vision at scale while keeping costs low.
Smart cities employ ubiquitous sensors to gather data and provide the insights decision-makers need to keep their communities functioning and vibrant. SOMs power these sensors and help city officials stay on top of everything from utilities to traffic without missing a beat.
SOMs are distinct from a system-on-a-chip (SoC). An SoC, as its name implies, is a collection of key computer components placed on a single chip. While SOMs may include an SOC, they are board-based, and as such have the space to include additional components.