Lanner announced a rugged vehicle computer that includes a GPS receiver and the ability to operate on power ranging from 6 to 30VDC. The LE-5xxx runs fanlessly with a dual-core Intel Atom D510 processor, resists shock and vibration, and includes both Mini PCI and PCI-104 expansion slots, according to the company.

Lanner has released a multitude of rugged box PCs, but the ones specifically aimed at vehicles appear to be in the company's LEC-5xxx series. Last year, for example, we covered the LEC-5520, a vehicle computer that included a GPS receiver and four BNC analog inputs for capturing video.

Lannner LEC-5510
(Click to enlarge)

The similarly sized, lower-numbered LEC-5510 doesn't include video inputs, but it steps up from the LEC-5520's Atom N270 to a dual-core Atom D510. As well as providing some extra speed, this CPU combines with the ICH-8M I/O controller to allow more random access memory: 1GB soldered-on, and 2GB possible via a SODIMM slot, according to the company.

Lanner says the LEC-5510 is intended for "all mobile land vehicles," including construction equipment, semis, cabs, vans, trains and buses. The soldered memory is one safeguard against vibration — resisted up to 2G at 5~500Hz — while a cable-less interior and padded hard drive bay are others noted by the company.

According to Lanner, the fanless LEC-5510 includes a 2.5-inch bay for a hard disk drive or SSD (solid state disk) plus a Type I/II CompactFlash slot. It's also equipped with two Mini PCI Express slots, for wireless LAN or WAN connectivity, plus a SIM slot, the company adds.

The LEC-5510 additionally has a Holux GR89 GPS receiver, a three-axis accelerometer, a SIM slot, and a PCI-104 expansion slot, says Lanner. Modules for the latter that are "already in the design phase" include a four-power video encode module, likely similar to the one already featured on the LEC-5520.

This is a device where you can make up your own mind about which side is the "front" and which side is the "back," particularly since both appear to include LEDs for monitoring power and hard disk activity. As pictured earlier in this story, one side includes two gigabit Ethernet ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and audio I/O (a DB9 connector carries both mic in and line out signals).

The other side includes a VGA port, two serial ports (one RS232, one RS232/422/485), and a DB9 connector serving up four digital inputs and four digital outputs, according to Lanner. Also cited are two internal PS/2 ports, though we question the utility of these, especially since getting at them would trigger the two intrusion switches the LEC-5510 is also said to possess.

According to Lanner, the LEC-5510 works via input voltage ranging from as low as 6VDC to as high as 30VDC, with automatic sensing of when a vehicle is turned on or off. Operating range is from 23 to 113 deg. F with standard components, or from -4 to 131 deg. F when industrial memory and storage devices are installed, the company adds.

Specifications listed by Lanner for the LEC-5510 include:

• Processor — Intel Atom D510 clocked at 1.66GHz
• Chipset — Intel ICH-8M
• Memory — 1GB soldered; SODIMM slot accepts additional 2GB
• Storage — 2.5-inch bay for SATA devices; Type I/II CompactFlash slot
• Expansion:
  • 2 x Mini PCI Express slots
  • SIM slot
  • 1 x PCI-104 slot
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x VGA
  • 2 x serial (1 x RS232, 1 x RS232/422/485)
  • 4 x USB 2.0 (2 external, 2 internal)
  • 4 x digital in; 4 x digital out
  • 2 x PS/2 (internal)
  • audio — mic in and line out via DB9 connector
• Power — 9~30VDC
• Operating range:
  • standard — 23 to 133 deg. F
  • industrial — 4 to 131 deg. F
• Dimensions — 10.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 inches

Further information

According to Lanner, the LEC-5510 runs Linux, Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows Embedded Standard 2009, Windows XP Embedded, Windows 7, and Windows XP. Pricing and availability were not detailed.

More information may be found on the LEC-5510 product page.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at [email protected] and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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