Windows CE industrial PC

Rockwell Automation has expanded its Allen-Bradley VersaView industrial computer line with the VersaView CE industrial computer, combining the Microsoft Windows CE platform with rugged computer hardware designed specifically for industrial applications.

The product is an open platform computing solution, particularly for HMI, customised applications, information management and remote terminal applications in situations where users need the flexibility to customise or use third-party software programs, but don't necessarily want the full functionality of an industrial computer.

The computers come pre-loaded with Rockwell Software RSView Machine Edition runtime and can support applications such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, terminal services for thin-client applications and a software development kit (SDK) for C++ and Visual Basic.

The ARC Advisory Group says, "HMI suppliers initially saw Windows CE as an opportunity to play in the low-end embedded operator interface market. However, CE-based HMI has emerged running on a range of form factors, from handhelds to function rich applications. Overall, CE-based HMI will remain one of the most solid growth areas in the HMI market and will become a dominant operation system for HMI packages running on smaller, less powerful, dedicated devices such as wireless remotes, low-cost HMI devices. Windows CE strengths are the ability to run real-time applications without extensions, fit small applications where cost and size of memory and low power are major constraints and run on specialised hardware platforms designed to minimise per unit costs."