Advantech UNO-3072, User Manual

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UNO-3072 User Manual 2
Chapter 1 Overview
1.1 Introduction
Standard PCs and some industrial computers with a standard OS and hard-
ware for the consumer market cannot provide the reliability required by
industrial automation and embedded industrial control applications. How-
ever, many engineers prefer to use PCs because of their advanced func-
tions such as: analog control and simulation, database connectivity, web-
based applications, and communication with third-party devices. UNO-
3072 combines the best features of a PC, including the processor, RAM,
and powerful software, with the reliability, ruggedness, and distributed
nature of a PLC. UNO-3072 has the compact size and ruggedness of a PLC,
and the software flexibility and functionality of a PC. It's an ideal platform
for sophisticated control and logging in rugged environments.
Open Architecture Designed for Automation
For applications demanding customized control, UNO-3072 that uses
more flexible, off-the-shelf technology is a better option. UNO-3072 uses
off-the-shelf components such as an x86 processor, an Ethernet chip set,
CompactFlash and DRAM. System designers can easily create multiple
inputs from sensors via plug-in data acquisition cards and provide outputs
to other devices to control the operation. At the same time, the UNO-3072
unit can broadcast the process data through the Ethernet and share the data
with operators and managers. By using off-the-shelf components, machine
builders can customize the control scheme they use for other machines that
require multiple inputs, optimized control, or Ethernet communication. So,
UNO-3072 offers the I/O connectivity of PCs with options such as 2 x 10/
100Base-T Ethernet, 2 x RS-232, 2 x RS-232/422/485, 4 x USB, Com-
pactFlash, PC Card and PCI extension slots and VGA interfaces for dis-
play panels.