It is expensive and time consuming to develop sophisticated electronic circuitry, system software, application software, and conduct a design validation review along with obtaining the required regulatory approvals before launching a product to market. A more cost effective and quicker approach is to use a proven hardware/software platform that is ready to be loaded with a customer-developed application program that then can be branded as a proprietary product. At Contemporary Controls, we have the platforms and design resources to make it happen.
With application ready platforms, non-recurring engineering (NRE) fees are minimized. OEMs can take advantage of our experience in developing control and networking products using open hardware and software technologies.
Our design experience is with automation products including direct digital controllers (DDC), supervisors, IP routers and switches, protocol routers and gateways for BACnet and Modbus, and MQTT gateways for cloud computing. Our control and communications capabilities can be bundled in our application ready platforms.
The RTU38 is a 38-point rooftop controller with dual Ethernet ports and an isolated MS/TP port that provides BACnet/IP and BACnet MS/TP client/server capability. A powerful CPU with a Linux OS makes this an ideal controller for OEMs who want to develop custom equipment for applications, such as economizers, demand control ventilation, variable air volume control, and multi-stage heating and cooling.
The APPI Series is built upon the high-speed Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+ and includes two isolated EIA-485 serial ports suitable for BACnet MS/TP, Modbus RTU, or other serial protocols. Two non-switched Ethernet ports, each with its own MAC address, allow the platform to operate on two networks at the same time. A powerful CPU running a Linux OS makes these units accommodate the most demanding software applications. For wide-temperature operation, the APTI model offers operation from -40°C to +75°C. Both models—APPI and APTI—are FCC, FE, and EMC compliant and can be configured with an optional daughterboard to provide Wi-Fi, LTE/4G, or EnOcean wireless communication.