Control unit - EPC 4.0C

It is a control unit for vehicles, which enables the gradual development of vehicle systems for at least another 10 years, including video services and camera image processing. A new service is also voice calls via GSM (LTE/UMTS) with the control room or general equipment connected via SIP protocol. 

Type of the EPIS on-board computer controller - type EPC 4.0Cx, which is designed for vehicle solutions. Compared to the previous EPIS 4.0A and EPIS 4.0B types, it is up to 10 times more powerful and even up to 100 times more powerful compared to the first EPIS 4.0 type. It is based on new types of processors from Intel.

The main advantages of the EPC 4.0Cx solution over the older versions:

• Permanent solution concept - without changing the connection on the vehicle, the EPC 4.0Cx can replace the original EPC 4.0 unit from 2009, even with the same application on the PC (if 32-bit, now 64-bit). The wiring of the lead wire connectors is still identical and internally stable, including the connection of the EPT 4.xx driver's touchscreen LCD terminal (only the computer bracket is reinstalled, with the same holes for mounting it).
• identical dimensions as the previous EPC 4.0A and EPC 4.0B types - in this case it is only necessary to replace them (identical connectors and their layout are used).
• standard on-board computer design without fans and without the need for ambient airflow (there are computers that require external fans to cool the enclosure). There are industrial computers that require ambient airflow especially in enclosed spaces.
• The possibility to use even 4-core processors with up to 10 times the performance compared to the existing EPC 4.0A and EPC 4.0B types, fast RAM up to 4 GB - DDR3 type. This performance is necessary for dealing with fast data transfers (transfer of required logs, video processing, ...)
• sufficient power to process more than 10 camera streams including encryption - also allows video calls to the control room including secure camera recordings. The on-board computer can thus replace the camera system in selected solutions, including meeting the requirements of the UOOU (Office for Personal Data Protection).
• Possibility to connect cameras - front cameras, reversing or loading cameras. In order to process images in real time (image delay 100-200 ms), the processing of data streams up to 25 MBit/s is required, which puts a significant load on the 100 Mbit/s on-board Ethernet data networks.
• Using an internal SSD without the need for significantly slower SD cards (they have speeds up to 250 Mbit/s). SSDs are a more reliable solution. This solution significantly reduces the on-board computer boot-up speed to 40 seconds while maintaining a full operating system. This then has the advantage of using different software in the on-board computer without having to change the operating system.
• New modern interfaces: - 1GB ethernet and USB according to standard 3.0 (allows fast emergency data retrieval from the on-board computer) - again designed for fast data transfers.
• Unified interfaces for different types of radios - analogue (e.g. TAIT), digital DMR or TETRA, including the possibility of integrating a 24V/12V inverter. It is now possible to connect commonly used radio stations in the Czech Republic to the on-board computer, including the interface to TETRA radio stations.
• Full preparation for driver check-in - new interface for passive validator EPP 5.0 - i.e. for direct driver check-in unit connected with ticketing (includes printer), bank and non-bank card reader, QR code reader. The on-board computer then contains a database of ticketing transactions.
• Graphics output with a powerful Intel GEN 7 graphics chip.
• On-demand wake-up - the on-board computer includes low-power radio communication, which ensures that the server is queried at regular intervals for up-to-date data (usually within minutes). The unit wakes itself up at defined times and sends a query for the status of its data (usually after a few hours).
• integrated power supply unit - another previous feature of the known types of on-board computers.

Types of EPC 4.0Cx on-board computers

As the on-board computer - EPC 4.0Cx control unit is intended for further development of on-board systems (production of versions 4.0A and 4.0B will be discontinued in 2019) the following types are ready for production or are already in production:

Explanatory notes:

• x - is included in the unit.
• On-demand wake-up - the on-board computer contains low-power radio communication that provides periodic polling of the server for up-to-date data (usually within minutes). The term "interval" means that the unit wakes itself up at defined times and sends a query for the status of the currency of its data (usually after a few hours).
• Radio station inverter - the on-board computer contains a 24V/12V inverter for the radio station in the control unit. Max. current is up to 15A.
• LTE modem - the EPC unit can contain a modem, or it can be connected via USB interface (EPG 4.x unit) or via output to the UCU communication unit (same Ethernet output as WiFi).
• GNSS - GPS, Glonas or Galileo satellite navigation system receiver is either integrated (x) or uses the GNSS (GPS) services of the UCU or other server.
• EPNEV - a special command receiver EPNEV 1.1x is integrated for signalling commands from blind or partially sighted people valid according to the general frequency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and is designed for opening doors of public transport vehicles, voice information of the blind person or driver.
• WiFi ext. - is usually solved by EPW 54 unit or by UCU 5.0 unit. It is a connection to a separate Ethernet network including PoE for powering the WiFi communication unit.

In case of lower computing power requirements, an identical design can be supplied, but the PC will contain only a single core processor. The assumed designation of this solution is EPC 4.0Cx1 (in this case it is necessary to limit the processing of signals from cameras or the on-board computer will have difficulties to handle voice transmission via data services in GSM).