ARMxy Embedded PC Applied to Lithium Battery Production Monitoring

Application Scenario Overview

Lithium battery production involves multiple process stages (e.g., electrode preparation, battery assembly, formation, and testing), requiring real-time monitoring of equipment status, sensor data collection, production equipment control, and integration with industrial IoT platforms for data analysis and remote management. The BL340 series embedded computer, with its high performance, flexible I/O configuration, and industrial-grade reliability, is well-suited for the following tasks in lithium battery production line monitoring:

• Data Acquisition: Real-time collection of temperature, voltage, current, pressure, and other sensor data.
• Equipment Control: Controlling production equipment such as relays and actuators via I/O interfaces.
• Edge Computing: Performing data preprocessing at the production line to reduce cloud computing load.
• Remote Monitoring: Enabling remote access and maintenance through supported 4G/WiFi modules and BLRAT software.
• Protocol Conversion and Cloud Integration: Supporting Modbus, MQTT, OPC UA, and other protocols via BLloTLink software for seamless integration with industrial SCADA systems and mainstream IoT cloud platforms.

Core Advantages of the BL340 Series

• High-Performance Processor: Equipped with the Allwinner T507-H quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor (up to 1.4 GHz), with 8/16GB eMMC storage and 1/2GB DDR4 memory, capable of efficiently handling multi-task data acquisition and real-time computing.
• Rich Interfaces:
  • 3×10/100M Ethernet Ports: Support networking for multiple devices, suitable for distributed production line environments.
  • 2×USB 2.0 Ports: Can connect to external sensors or storage devices.
  • X/Y Series I/O Boards: Support RS485, CAN, RS232, DI/DO, AI/AO, RTD (PT100/PT1000), thermocouples, etc., meeting diverse signal acquisition needs (e.g., temperature, voltage, current) in battery production.
  • Mini PCIe Interface: Supports 4G, WiFi, and Bluetooth modules for remote communication.
  • HDMI 2.0a (optional): Can be used for local display of monitoring data or process flows. 
• Software Support:
  • Supports operating systems such as Linux-4.9.170, Ubuntu 18.04, and Android 10, compatible with Docker and Node-Red for rapid IoT application development.
  • BLloTLink protocol conversion software supports Modbus, PLC, BACnet, IEC104, MQTT, OPC UA, and integration with AWS IoT Core, Thingsboard, and other platforms.
  • BLRAT software enables remote access and maintenance, ideal for remote diagnostics of production line equipment.
• Industrial-Grade Reliability:
  • Wide temperature range (-40~85°C for some models, 0~70°C for others), suitable for high/low-temperature environments in battery production.
  • Passed electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests (ESD, EFT, Surge at Level III) and environmental suitability tests (vibration, drop, IP30 protection), ensuring stability in harsh industrial environments.
  • Supports DIN35 rail mounting, suitable for compact installation in production line settings.

Specific Applications in Lithium Battery Production Line Monitoring

The following are typical applications of the BL340 series in lithium battery production line monitoring:

(1) Sensor Data Acquisition and Processing

• Requirement: The production line needs to monitor battery temperature, voltage, current, internal resistance, and other parameters to ensure production quality.
• Solution:
  • Use Y-series I/O boards (e.g., Y51/Y52 for PT100/PT1000 or Y58 for thermocouples) to collect temperature data.
  • Use Y31/Y33/Y34 boards to collect current/voltage signals (supporting 0/4~20mA or 0~5/10V signals).
  • Leverage edge computing to process collected data in real-time (e.g., anomaly detection, data filtering), with Node-Red enabling rapid development of data processing workflows.
• Advantage: High-precision data acquisition and flexible I/O configuration support various sensor types, meeting the needs of different process stages.

(2) Equipment Control and Automation

• Requirement: The production line requires control of robotic arms, conveyors, relays, and other equipment for automated production.
• Solution:
  • Use Y-series I/O boards (e.g., Y01/Y02 for DI/DO or Y24 for relay output) to control production equipment.
  • Use X-series I/O boards (e.g., X23/X26 for DI/DO) for digital input/output to control equipment start/stop.
  • Support PWM output and pulse counting (Y95/Y96), suitable for precise control of servo motors or production cycle counting.
• Advantage: Flexible I/O board options and hardware watchdog ensure reliable and real-time control.

(3) Data Communication and Cloud Integration

• Requirement: Production line data needs to be uploaded to the cloud for analysis, with support for remote monitoring and maintenance.
• Solution:
  • Use Mini PCIe 4G or WiFi modules to upload data to platforms like AWS IoT Core, Alibaba IoT, or Thingsboard via MQTT.
  • BLloTLink software supports industrial protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC UA) for seamless integration with PLCs or SCADA systems.
  • BLRAT software enables remote access, allowing engineers to configure, debug, or upgrade firmware via the cloud.
• Advantage: Supports multiple communication modules and protocols, simplifying data upload and remote management.

(4) Local Monitoring and Visualization

• Requirement: Production line operators need to view real-time data and equipment status locally.
• Solution:
  • Use the optional HDMI 2.0a interface to connect a display, combined with Qt-5.12.5 to develop graphical interfaces for displaying real-time monitoring data (e.g., temperature curves, voltage changes).
  • Support for Ubuntu or Android systems facilitates user-friendly interface development.
• Advantage: Supports 4K@30fps hardware decoding for smooth display, ideal for production line monitoring dashboards.

(5) Environmental Adaptability

• Requirement: Lithium battery production lines may involve high temperatures, vibrations, or humid environments.
• Solution:
  • Select SOM340/SOM341 models (-40~85°C) to adapt to high/low-temperature environments.
  • IP30 protection and passed vibration/drop tests ensure equipment stability in production settings.
• Advantage: Industrial-grade design ensures long-term reliable operation in harsh environments.

Recommended Configuration Example

For a production line requiring temperature and voltage data acquisition, relay control, and data upload via 4G to a cloud platform, the following configuration is recommended:

• Model: BL340L-SOM341-X23-Y51-Y24
  • Host: BL340L (supports 4G module, 1×Ethernet port).
  • SOM: SOM341 (16GB eMMC, 2GB DDR4, -40~85°C).
  • X Board: X23 (4×RS232/RS485, 4×DI, 4×DO, 20 PIN).
  • Y Board 1: Y51 (2×PT100 three-wire, for temperature acquisition).
  • Y Board 2: Y24 (4×relay output, for equipment control).
• Functionality:
  • Collect battery temperature via Y51 and digital signals/control equipment via X23.
  • Upload data to a cloud platform (e.g., Thingsboard) via 4G module.
  • Use Node-Red for data processing logic and BLRAT for remote maintenance.

Implementation Suggestions

• Hardware Selection: Choose appropriate SOM models (based on storage, memory, and temperature range) and I/O boards (based on sensor and control device types).
• Software Development:
  • Use Node-Red for rapid development of data acquisition and processing workflows.
  • Leverage BLloTLink for protocol conversion with existing PLCs or SCADA systems.
  • Develop local monitoring interfaces using Qt-5.12.5.
• Testing and Validation: Conduct high/low-temperature, vibration, and EMC tests before deployment to ensure stability in the production environment.
• Technical Support: Utilize the development kits and example code (e.g., Linux, MQTT, Node-Red cases) provided in the datasheet to accelerate application development.

Conclusion

The ARMxy BL340 series embedded computer, with its high-performance processor, flexible I/O configuration, rich communication interfaces, and industrial-grade reliability, is highly suitable for lithium battery production line monitoring. It enables sensor data acquisition, equipment control, edge computing, and cloud platform integration, meeting the needs for automation, intelligence, and remote management in production lines. With proper model selection and software development, the BL340 provides an efficient and reliable solution for monitoring and controlling lithium battery production lines.