The Next Generation of Industrial Embedded Boards: A Leap Beyond Raspberry Pi
CDS Launch Next-Gen Embedded Boards that could be the answer for you
CDS are here to support all your Industrial Embedded Boards projects. In today’s rapidly advancing world of industrial automation, IoT, and edge computing, single-board computers (SBCs) form the backbone of countless intelligent systems. While the Raspberry Pi has been a valuable tool for education, prototyping, and hobbyist projects, it was never designed for the rigorous demands of industrial environments.
Now, Crystal Display Systems (CDS) is introducing a new generation of industrial embedded boards — purpose-built to deliver the performance, reliability, and scalability required for professional and mission-critical applications. These platforms represent a true leap forward in industrial computing capability.
Engineered for Harsh Industrial Environments
Unlike consumer-grade SBCs such as the Raspberry Pi, CDS’s industrial embedded boards are specifically engineered to operate in extreme conditions. Designed for continuous operation between -40°C and +85°C, they offer proven resilience against dust, vibration, humidity, and other environmental stressors.
Whether deployed on a factory production line, within an outdoor kiosk, or inside an automotive control system, these boards provide consistent reliability where standard devices often fail. Every component is tested and validated for industrial-grade endurance.
High-Performance Processing for Real-Time Applications
CDS embedded boards are powered by advanced processor architectures — including Intel Atom, Celeron, and Core series, as well as x86 and ARM industrial variants. This results in significantly higher computing power, enhanced multi-threaded performance, and superior real-time responsiveness compared to entry-level consumer SBCs.
Applications such as machine vision, AI inference, predictive maintenance, and real-time data acquisition benefit from this level of processing performance. Combined with high-speed memory and NVMe storage options, these boards deliver the fast and deterministic performance industrial systems demand.
Connectivity Designed for Industry
Industrial installations require far more than standard USB and HDMI ports. CDS embedded boards feature an extensive range of industrial I/O options, including RS-232/422/485, CAN bus, GPIO, multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports, and both digital and analogue inputs.
This ensures seamless integration with both legacy control systems and modern IoT infrastructures. For connected applications at the network edge, the boards also support Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and Bluetooth 5.3, providing reliable, high-speed communication even in remote or distributed setups.
Longevity, Reliability, and Lifecycle Management
Consumer SBCs often suffer from short lifecycles and uncertain availability — a major drawback for long-term industrial projects. In contrast, CDS’s embedded platforms offer 10–15 years of guaranteed product availability, supported by Intel’s Embedded Lifecycle and comprehensive BIOS and driver support.
This long-term stability enables engineers to design and certify systems once, without repeated hardware redesigns. It’s an essential factor for industries where consistency and compliance are critical, such as medical, defence, and aerospace applications.
Scalable Platforms for Industrial Growth
The modular architecture of CDS’s industrial SBCs allows customers to scale their systems seamlessly — from low-power controllers to high-performance gateways — all within consistent form factors. This flexibility reduces engineering time, simplifies software development, and lowers the total cost of ownership.
Such scalability makes these embedded platforms ideal for evolving Industry 4.0 projects and long-term technology roadmaps.
Software Ecosystem Optimised for Professional Use
CDS embedded boards support a wide range of professional operating systems and development frameworks, including Windows IoT, Ubuntu, QNX, and VxWorks. They also integrate seamlessly with industrial communication protocols like Modbus, OPC UA, and MQTT, ensuring easy interoperability across mixed industrial networks.
For AI and analytics applications, support for TensorFlow, OpenVINO, and similar frameworks brings accelerated edge intelligence directly to industrial environments — an area where consumer-grade SBCs simply cannot compete.
Intelligent Power Efficiency
These boards are designed for optimal power efficiency without compromising performance. Features such as dynamic voltage scaling, auto thermal management, and suspend-to-RAM modes ensure minimal energy use in battery-powered or remote applications. This makes them ideal for solar installations, mobile systems, and off-grid IoT deployments.
Why Choose CDS Industrial Embedded Boards
For OEMs, system integrators, and engineering professionals, CDS offers a clear alternative to consumer-grade SBCs, delivering a perfect balance of rugged reliability and cutting-edge performance:
Rugged Durability – Certified for industrial temperature, vibration, and humidity conditions
Superior Performance – Featuring advanced CPUs, high-speed memory, and NVMe storage
Comprehensive I/O – Industry-standard ports and communication interfaces
Long-Term Availability – Stable supply and extended lifecycle support
Flexible Modularity – Scalable performance within consistent hardware footprints
Proven Industrial Expertise – Backed by CDS’s decades of experience in embedded and display integration
As the world embraces Industry 4.0, AI-driven automation, and smart manufacturing, the demand for rugged, high-performance, and scalable embedded systems continues to grow.
With its latest industrial embedded board range, Crystal Display Systems provides the power of a PC, the compactness of an SBC, and the resilience of true industrial engineering — all supported by a trusted UK technology partner.
Whether you’re upgrading legacy infrastructure, deploying advanced kiosks, or developing next-generation IoT devices, CDS delivers the technology foundation to power your innovation.
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