A ten-year-old Russian electronics engineering firm based in Moscow Zelenograde is using embedded Linux in a family of device servers targeting building and factory automation and industrial and camera control. NetCore's “NetCore” devices are based on MIPS32 processors, and include serial and Ethernet interfaces.

The NetCore product family includes:

• Basic NetCore model targeting building automation, primarily
• NetCore Video, which targets camera control
• NetCore Vision, which offers legacy and USB ports for local peripherals

Basic NetCore model

The basic NetCore model is meant to attach serial-controlled devices such as elevators, building control systems, and factory automation equipment to Ethernet networks, allowing them to be monitored and controlled through a user-developed PHP/HTML web interface that the device is capable of serving. User programming in C is also supported.

NetCore lists features and specs as follows:

• 300MHz MIPS32 processor
• 4MB Flash, 64MB SDRAM
• 2xRS232, 2xRS485, USB-A, USB-b, 10/100 Ethernet
• 3 watts power draw at 12 VDC

NetCore Video

The NetCore Video device can be used to control and network-enable up to four normal high-quality closed circuit TV cameras, the company says. An RS485/RS232 port can be used either to control the turntables of up to four cameras, or to attach various kinds of sensors. Sensors or camera motion levels can trigger alarms, which cause recording to begin. Up to 5 hours of 352×288 video can be buffered internally at frame frates of 14fps with one camera, or 9fps with four. The device uses MPEG-4 compression, and supports resolutions up to 504×288.

Additional specifications and features include:

• 500MHz MIPS32T processor
• 4MB Flash, 64MB SDRAM, up to 240GB HDD
• 4xVideo inputs, 2xAudio inputs, 1xRS/232/RS485, 1×10/100 Ethernet, 2xIDE
• 4.5 watts max power draw

NetCore Vision

The Vision is meant to replace desktop computers in automation and control networks, providing a local visual interface for attached equipment, as well as network-enabling that equipment. It provides USB ports, which can be used to attach a hard drive or flash memory. A VGA port supports resolutions up to 1024×768 (SVGA). Interfaces can be built using the Qt library included in the device's Linux environment.

Additional features and specs include:

• 500MHz MIPS32 processor
• 16MB of Flash, 64MB of SDRAM
• VGA, RS232, 2xUSB-A, Fast Ethernet 10/100
• supports 1024×768 at 70Hz
• measures 7 x 4 x 1.2 inches (180 x 100 x 30mm)

More details about the NetCore products are available on the company's Russian-language website.

 
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