Edge AI Fanless PC: 4 Features That Make It Perfect for Extreme Industrial Applications [Case Study]

All industrial PCs are rugged, durable, and shockproof...
... But how many are certified according to the MIL-STD-810H military standard? 

This certification ensures that your PC can withstand heavy shocks, bumpy roads,
and extreme operating conditions. 

If you're looking for an industrial PC that can operate continuously, even in critical temperatures and extreme working environments, without stopping or breaking down... sit back and relax! 

Because finding an industrial computer that meets such specific requirements is not easy at all. 

Yes, industrial PCs are built to endure tough and demanding working conditions—we agree on that. 

And there are all kinds available. 

For automation, kiosks, digital signage, or to be integrated into machinery. 

But...

Not all are created equal. 
Some are designed to work in less harsh conditions, while others are built for outdoor environments, exposed to weather and the most extreme climate conditions.

That's because some applications and industries are less demanding (even if still industrial), while others are more challenging, where an industrial PC is required to do... something more. 

We’re talking about Edge AI Computers, equipped with artificial intelligence (which we’ll cover later), and about industries and applications that demand a PC with military certifications—ones that can withstand extremely high or low temperatures where a "simple" industrial PC wouldn't be enough.

And that’s exactly the case with one of our recent customers, who came to us looking for a shockproof PC that was perfectly suited for extreme vehicle testing on track. 

A simple request for a complex application—one that a standard industrial PC could never meet. 

Customer Need: PC for High-Performance Vehicle Testing

Developing a data collection system in a race car. 
That was the goal of the customer who reached out to us. 

To achieve this, they needed a PC that was portable inside the vehicle's trunk during on-track testing. 

The customer's request was clear: a compact, powerful PC, resistant to shock, vibration,
and extreme temperatures. 

The conditions the PC would be subjected to were extremely demanding: the car would experience strong acceleration, violent braking, and unpredictable environmental conditions. 

Additionally, vehicle and environmental sensors needed to be connected to the PC to transmit real-time data. 

Clearly, in such a dynamic and unpredictable setting, a standard industrial PC wouldn’t survive even a single lap! 

No. For this application, a suitable, specific PC was required.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been truly disastrous—not just for the PC, but also for the company, which would have wasted thousands of euros on an unfit PC that would irreparably break after one use. 

Resulting in a major waste of time for the company, along with the urgent need to quickly find another PC to get back to work. 

Using an Unsuitable Industrial PC: What Are the Consequences?

Installing an industrial PC that doesn’t meet your environment, industry, or application can lead to serious issues. 

Take the case mentioned above (a PC inside a trunk for testing in a risky environment): an unfit industrial PC couldn’t withstand such a test. 

It could shut down suddenly during a test run or, even worse... 

It could break irreparably, causing test failure and thousands of euros wasted on a PC that wasn’t right for the job. 

Not to mention the wasted time: time spent searching for the PC, and time lost trying to fix the mistake, desperately looking for a suitable replacement—ASAP!

In such cases, failing to find a suitable PC quickly can cause major (sometimes irreversible) damage, such as:

• Work or production process stoppage;
• Machine downtime, if your PC was part of the machinery;
• And in some cases, it may also cause damage to the machine itself, not just the PC. 

Generally speaking, using a PC that’s unfit for a demanding environment will certainly lead to failure. 

This results in time and money losses for you and your company, which will be forced to slow down or even stop operations. 

But back to our customer, who needed an industrial PC to be installed in a vehicle's trunk... 

If a common industrial PC wasn’t a good choice... What was the right industrial PC for this application?

The Solution: Rugged Fanless Edge AI Computer for Extreme Vehicle Testing

After thoroughly analyzing the application and operating conditions, we proposed the perfect device for this challenge: the ASUS IoT PE3000, a Rugged Fanless Edge AI PC, military-certified and capable of delivering high performance even in hostile environments. 

Here it is:

The Rugged Fanless Edge AI Computer was selected for its specific features that matched the customer's needs. 

1) Shock- and Vibration-Resistant, MIL-STD-810H Certified

Thanks to reinforced mounting brackets and anti-vibration pads, this industrial PC can be installed in environments subject to strong mechanical stress, like in our customer’s case, where it was mounted in the trunk of a race car. 

But what makes this industrial PC so special? 

The Rugged Fanless Edge AI is certified according to the MIL-STD-810H military standard, designed to withstand shocks, bumpy roads, and unstable conditions. 

This is a very important certification that not all industrial PCs have, confirming that this device has been tested rigorously to prove that it can withstand extreme climatic and environmental conditions without compromising functionality. 

(If you’d like to know more about military-certified MIL-STD-810H industrial PCs, check out the last section of this article.)

In the meantime, let’s continue with the features!

2) Fanless and Extreme Temperature Resistant

The fanless design, with heatsinks on both sides, ensures optimal thermal efficiency without fans, avoiding overheating issues due to dust or mechanical vibrations. 

The side heatsinks also help the PC maintain stable performance in varying temperatures. 

But the key point is this...

This PC supports an extended operating temperature range (-20°C to +60°C):
making it ideal for harsh environments and outdoor testing!

3) Supports PoE up to 100W

This PC supports PoE+ up to 100W, allowing direct power to certain sensors without separate power cables. 

4) Built-In Power Supply, No Converters Needed

It supports a wide input voltage range: 8 to 48V DC, meaning it can be powered directly from the car's electrical system, even with fluctuations due to engine load. 

It includes an auto on/off function synchronized with the vehicle, reducing unnecessary power consumption and protecting the battery. 

DISCOVER IT HERE

Rugged Fanless Edge AI Computer: How It Leverages Artificial Intelligence

Let’s get into some technical details. 

The PE3000G series is a powerful Edge AI computer capable of:

• Accelerating local data processing,
• Improving response times by reducing latency,
• and enabling real-time AI inference for video and image processing applications. 

In fact, if you look closely, the PE3000G series can handle up to eight video outputs, making it an extremely versatile solution for industrial use. 

2 HDMI ports and 6 DisplayPorts.

Here’s a closer look: 

As mentioned, the Rugged Fanless Edge AI computer belongs to the category of new Edge AI Computers. 

This category is broad and highly specialized: there are countless catalogs of nearly identical computers out there, with similar specs. 

Since we specialize in all industrial hardware (including PCs), we want to give you a comprehensive view of this category and what benefits it can bring to your industrial environment.

New Edge AI PCs: What Benefits Do They Offer to Your Industry?

Edge AI combines Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence to process data in real time at the edge of the network (hence, "edge") using local computational resources, without sending data to a remote server or the cloud. 

In doing so, latency, transmission, and processing costs are reduced, while cybersecurity is enhanced. 

It’s used directly on IoT devices, improving application efficiency across various contexts. 

But essentially… what advantages can an Edge AI PC offer you?

An Edge AI Computer allows you to:

1. Collect and process data in real time (widely used in quality control, security, robotics...); 
2. Reduce latency: with no need to send data to the cloud, you get quicker response times;
3. Increase reliability: it works without an internet connection and is ideal for remote locations; 
4. Boost data security: data remains local, reducing risks of breaches and ensuring greater privacy and safety;
5. Improve operational efficiency: by automating processes, human intervention is reduced, optimizing resources;
6. Cut network and cloud costs:
   Less data traffic = lower infrastructure and bandwidth costs.

If you need Edge AI Computers for your industrial environment or are looking for a PC customized for your sector... 

... But none of the providers you find can offer you a tailored PC with the specs you need... 

Contact us! 

We design custom Edge AI PCs based on your requirements, ready to integrate into your applications. 

Request a Custom Edge AI PC...