SECO, a leading innovator in edge computing and IoT solutions, is excited to present early samples of its Modular Vision product line at embedded world 2025. Held from March 11 to 13 in Nuremberg, Germany, this premier global event for embedded computing technology provides the perfect stage for SECO to present its new cutting-edge solutions designed to transform how industries provide smart interactive displays within machinery and appliances. These HMI (Human-Machine Interface) assemblies, also known as Panel PCs, provide a drop-in embedded computing platform with a display, enabling OEMs to avoid the time and expense of ground-up engineering. The samples showcased at EW25 are available to early adopters, paving the way to imminent volume manufacturing. Other configurations will be released over the course of 2025.
Empowering a Modular Future
The Modular Vision series is SECO’s answer to the ever-evolving demands of not only heavily technological industries like industrial automation and healthcare but also new business opportunities enabled by automation. Example uses range from smart kiosks, to industrial baking ovens, from chemical measurement devices for swimming pools to welding machines and climate chambers. With a focus on modularity, flexibility, and scalability, these HMIs empower businesses to adapt swiftly to changing technological and operational needs. At the heart of the Modular Vision series is its ability to seamlessly integrate with various edge computing and IoT ecosystems and evolve with them, enabling users to achieve faster deployments, reduce costs, enhance operational efficiency, and offer added-value services through their smart products.
Innovative Features and Benefits
Businesses can choose from a set of standard display sizes: a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600, a 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, and a 15.6-inch display with full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080. Each HMI features a projected capacitive (PCAP) touchscreen with 400 cd/m² brightness, an LED backlight lifetime of 50,000 hours, and supports panel, flush, rear, and VESA-mount configurations, ensuring reliability, durability, and versatility of installation for industrial applications. The Modular Vision series supports, among others, typical industrial interfaces such as CAN-FD, RS-232/RS-485 full duplex, and multiple GPIOs. Additionally, standard computer interfaces (USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet) are available, allowing the most versatile usage of Modular Vision. With all interfaces conveniently accessible on one side, a heat sink integrated into the aluminum housing, and customizable options for colors and logos, it simplifies installation and maintenance while allowing businesses to align the design with their brand identity.
Beyond its design, the Modular Vision series shines with its scalability. It supports multiple embedded processor chipsets and architectures. The Arm-based MediaTek® Genio 700/510 platform, NXP i.MX 8M Plus and i.MX 93 processors offer 64-bit Cortex-A computing supplemented by Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for enabling edge-based cost-effective and energy-efficient machine learning (ML) applications. Among x86 architectures, the Intel Atom® x7000RE processor series provides compatibility with diverse performance needs. The HMI’s modular architectural design facilitates the interchangeability of the processor platform across the various display sizes, peripheral interface boards, and mechanical features – making it easy to customize an HMI platform for product-specific requirements.
Moreover, the Modular Vision series runs Clea OS, a Linux operating system based on the Yocto Project. Clea OS incorporates critical remote device management, data processing, and standard IoT communication protocols, facilitating the easy development of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. With a supporting DevOps infrastructure, long-term support, and optional run-time processor execution monitoring, its structure allows applications to be rebuilt across a wide variety of microprocessor targets, furthering the modularity of the HMI family. Clea OS offers native compatibility with SECO’s Clea IoT platform, which provides all the features necessary for businesses to easily deploy fully scalable IoT infrastructure. Clea combines IoT data management and modeling, device and fleet management, AI model deployment and retraining both on edge and cloud. A user portal provides visualization and management functions. With an application framework for deploying business-specific services and payment solutions, Clea enables innovative business models. The Modular Vision series is natively compatible and “just works” with Clea.
Modular Vision is also supported by other operating systems, such as Windows and Android (upon request).
Attendees at embedded world 2025 are invited to visit SECO’s booth (Hall 1, booth 320) to engage with product specialists and explore our Modular Vision series. SECO experts will be available to discuss how these innovative HMIs can address specific industry challenges and provide guidance in transforming business models from a traditional product-based approach to a service-oriented one.