As industries compete to capitalize on the abundance of data generated by intelligent, connected devices, implementation of an intelligent data strategy has become even more critical. Edge computing has played an instrumental role to address this demand, but the edge itself has continued to evolve with the ever-growing need for even more demanding, real-time computing. Rugged edge computing enables applications that require real-time, low latency data processing and storage to function reliably in volatile environments that are not friendly to regular systems.

Trends and technologies such as Industry 4.0, AIoT, and 5G are driving the need for improved intelligence at the rugged edge. Businesses and organizations want more computing power at the edge because of the benefits it provides to their operations. NVM Express (NVMe) is an essential enabling technology for rugged edge computing, reducing latency and accelerating data processing to the point where connected devices can operate anywhere to perform machine learning, artificial intelligence, and inference computing. Real-time data access and analytics are turning rugged edge computing into a competitive necessity across all sectors and industries.

SP Industrial’s New MEC3H0S Series
To meet the surging demand for rugged edge computing, our new MEC3H0S SSD Series with 3D TLC flash technology adopts a high-speed PCIe 4.0 interface with continuous read and write speeds up to 7,200MB/s and 6,800MB/s, respectively. It also complies with NVMe 1.4 standards and is available in capacities up to 7,680GB to bring low-latency, high-speed storage access and high capacity to the rugged edge.

The environments in which rugged edge computing operate are naturally not as stable or regulated as data centers. Factories and warehouses are plagued by hot and cold extremes, water and dirt are part of the job at manufacturing plants, and mobile environments routinely experience shock and vibration. Our MEC3H0S Series operates reliably in wide and harsh temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C. It also adopts a high-standard 12-layer PCB design and has no moving parts to maintain greater stability.

And, to counteract the unpredictable and volatile environments of rugged edge computing, our MEC3H0S Series is equipped with data protection technologies for extra security. It complies with TCG Opal 2.0 protocols, allowing all data to be stored in the SSD controller. Data is quickly encrypted and decrypted within the system, without affecting system performance, to ensure data security. Furthermore, AES 256-bit hardware encryption utilizes a symmetric algorithm to provide the strongest and most robust encryption standard in the market to keep data in potentially out-of-sight edge devices safe and secure.

Beyond Hardware: SMART Software
In addition to our new MEC3H0S Series, we also offer software analysis tools that provide meaningful insights into devices used at the rugged edge. These tools monitor the health status of our products at all times, collecting relevant data and information to effectively prevent failures in advance and ensure that they are always working properly to record pertinent data 24/7 and not miss a single second. Most importantly, it is all done remotely, a critical factor for not-easy-to-access and not always safe-to-access devices at the rugged edge.

The SP SMART Toolbox allows users to check the status of many variables for our products. This includes read/write speed tests, diagnostic scanning, degree of wear and tear, and block health detection. SMART Embedded allows for seamless device integration. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Ubuntu OS systems, as well as different CPU platforms, including Intel x86 CPU, ARM-based CPU, and Raspberry Pi. SMART IoT Sphere is a cloud service with alarm and maintenance notifications that monitors the health and status of our products inside connected devices. It can perform predictive analysis calculations to prevent or solve down-the-road problems. SMART Dashboard, developed under IBM Node Red, monitors SMART information in real-time and allows for convenient and simple product life management.

Closing Thoughts
Systems designed for rigorous environments at the rugged edge can now effectively capitalize on rich insight and performance enhancements for greater quality control, safety, security, and efficiency. Real-time decision making is empowered when these capabilities are localized, with NVMe adding critical value to rugged edge computing.

According to research, by the end of 2025, it is estimated that 75% of the data generated by businesses and organizations will be processed at the edge. In this data-rich world, SP Industrial is ready to support the growing demand for rugged edge computing with our new MEC3H0S Series. And, we will continue developing new solutions that leverage new technological advancements to give our customers a competitive ‘edge’ in this increasingly prevalent space.