Sintrones developed a customised multifunction on-board computing system with Ledatel local support to meet the needs of Polish train manufacturer, PESA.  When looking to upgrade its on-board computers, Polish train manufacturer PESA Bydgoszcz SA turned to in-vehicle computing pioneer Sintrones and channel partner Ledatel local support. With years of engineering and product design experience behind it, the Taiwanese company is renowned for its ability to create bespoke on-board computing systems that meet customers’ technical requirements.    Multifunction system requirements  PESA was looking to upgrade its on-board computers in order to enhance the quality and customer experience of its rolling stock, and had a number of system requirements on any potential solution needed to meet.  Requisite capabilities included isolated digital I/O design to protect against environmental noise and transient signals and ensure system reliability, and on-board network video recorder (NVR) functionality that could provide real-time recording, analysis and tracking. PESA therefore required a system with a rugged design, wide operating temperature, wireless capabilities, power over Ethernet (PoE) and RAID to protect against data loss.  The Polish train manufacturer also wanted the computer to be able to connect with a WiFi router in order to provide a reliable on-board internet service to passengers, in addition to functioning as the on-board display control system.   Tailor-made solution  Sintrones began this project three years ago with its channel partner Ledatel, and has continued to work closely with PESA to develop a customised solution that meets the manufacturer’s needs.  Sintrones’ VBOX solution, a railway-certified on-board computer, integrates multiple features into one unit, saving cost, space and physical wiring overheads, and compatibility issues and maintenance efforts across different devices. Work started on this project with the standard model VBOX-3600, which was customised to provide isolated digital I/O and named the VBOX-3600-ISO.  From here Sintrones’ experts designed a custom-made, next generation unit that would meet PESA’s exact requirements.   “When we begin a new project, we first analyse the customers’ requirements and pick a standard model that is the closest to their required specifications. From here our engineers will work on specialised the solution until it meets 100 percent of their requirements,” says Alan Yao, Managing Director of Sintron Technology Corp. “In this case, the outcome was the VBOX-3620-M12X.”    Sintrones’ VBOX-3620-M12X offered PESA: A variety of isolated digital inputs and outputs, used to control devices such as cabin lighting, air conditioning, door sensors and smoke detectors.  Three Gb ethernet ports with M12X connectors – a requirement for the rail sector, a power-over-ethernet switch connected to the ethernet port, plus several IP camera connections so the system can function as an NVR.  Three physical storage options. A SATA DiskOnModule (DOM) sits securely within the VBOX for the main operating system and software, while two 2.5” bays are available for solid state disk or hard disk drives to store video data. These support RAID 0,1 and 5 to prevent data loss.  Connection to WiFi routers in order to provide on-board Wi-Fi connectivity for passengers.  Functionality as a passenger information system, with the VBOX connecting to the training signage display. Mass production of the VBOX-3620-M12X is now underway, and PESA have ordered over 1,000 computers for their new trains with full delivery expected this year.   To find out more about Sintrones and how its customised solutions could meet your rail needs, please visit https://www.sintroncorp.com/ or email sales@sintroncorp.com.   

Among industrial PC manufactures in Taiwan whose core business is in-vehicle computers, Sintrones stands out because of its expertise regarding in-vehicle computer hardware design and manufacturing. They have accumulated years of practical experience and business relationships with end users, which have helped them gain valuable first-hand interactions and insights from countless customers. Sintrones have continuously challenged their own design capabilities for creative inspiration, and eventually rolled out products optimize for in-vehicle environments and usage, achieving impressive results. Since its establishment in 2009, it has continued to accelerate its growth. In 2019, it was successfully became a public listed company in Taipei Exchange. Sintrones' in-vehicle computers offer a complete solution for in-vehicle applications, including driver behavior monitoring and self-driving capability. They have high flexibility, support a wide range of peripherals and connectors, and can be adapted to various vehicle management systems. Common use cases include: fleet management with GPS requirements, vehicle maintenance systems, and computing for autonomous vehicles.  Wide temperature and voltage range, positioning us as the hidden campion The competitive edge of in-vehicle computers is closely related to the engineering teams' experience in design, from wiring layout to thermal design, and customers expect every bit of the details to work in unison. Take Sintrones' entry into the snowplow vehicle market for example. One of the global top three snowplow providers separated from the Mercedes-Benz Group, which also happened to be Sintrones' client, and mentioned that in the presence of heavy snow, thickness detection with GPS and real-time readiness of vehicle and personnel information are required for proper plowing; in such cases, resource allocation efficiency and safety monitoring abilities are crucial for a successful operation. Now, when we compare the taxi fleet in the distant desert area of Dubai and this case, it is clear that both rely on the wide range of temperature design capabilities required to adapt to the extreme environments of the polar region and desert. Moreover, the 9-to-36-volt wide voltage plays a key role in adapting to the voltage fluctuations in cars. The rising trend of electric cars has brought a different set of requirements for power management and control, and Sintrones has already actively deployed applications in the electric vehicle market.   5G applications sparked a new type of competition for in-vehicle computers The requirements of smart applications center around artificial intelligent (AI), and with the brand new lineup of 5G communication modules and GPUs, in-vehicle computers are on the same track with the future development of next-gen electric vehicle applications. Although the high-diversity, low volume nature of product specs continues to challenge our engineering teams' design flexibility and customization capabilities, the gross margin is over 30%, so the profit structure is relatively stable compared to other electronic manufacturing service industries in Taiwan. According to Manager Ko, in order to keep up with the advent of 5G applications, Sintrones EBOX-7000 serieshas built-in hot swappable SIM card auto activation modules, which offers Dual SIM Dual Standby, allowing end users to easily switch between SIM cards. The EBOX-7000 series also supports different 5G telecom service providers, offering users the best online experience. Thanks to this, Sintrones has set a new benchmark in the highly competitive 5G application market.  Aiming at electric vehicle applications in the coming age Taking a look at Sintrones' clientele, we can see that business in the quantity-oriented taxi fleet management is going strong. As for cases that serve as indicators, aside from the application in German snowplow vehicles, the application in AI smart buses in Singapore is a key milestone for our high-grade model. This case combines AI with unmanned autonomous vehicle systems by integrating ADAS and using GPUs' high-speed computing capabilities to predict road conditions. At the same time, it meets the various needs of vehicle emergency response; it is currently one of the best models in high-end applications. Our AI applications have also entered the Japanese market. Currently, a key example is a case with a client who specializes in the manufacturing of excavators and construction machinery, where are used as integrated applications in machinery safety warnings and GPS linkage. After years of continuous efforts, Sintrones received wide praise from our clients in the Japanese market. This is now our largest market in Asia, and also one of our key growth-driving forces worldwide. With electric vehicles becoming all the rage around the world, we maintain business relationships with all of the major players, whether it's Foxconn's Make It Happen (MIH) Electric Vehicle Alliance in Taiwan, or mainstream electric vehicle manufacturers from Europe, the U.S., and China. Take France's leading autonomous vehicle manufacturer, Navya, as an example; our collaborative product development plan is only the first of many to come. Regarding the business prospects of in-vehicle computers, as the market continues to undergo huge and drastic changes, Sintrones, who specializes in hardware design and manufacturing, will continue to prioritize promoting this technology and maintaining close contact with frontline system integrators and software vendors. Moreover, by sharing resources with leaders from other industries, such as an alliance with AUO, we will offer more comprehensive solutions to our clients. This is Sintrones' best strategy for our future success. 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