QNX RTOS selected to ensure high-reliability in new V2G vehicle-to-grid charge post
14 July 2020
Direct Insight & Bytesnap VIGIL charge post_580x280
UK-based embedded systems reseller & technical systems integrator, Direct Insight has announced that a new vehicle-charging system which embraces vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality is available based on QNX RTOS, enabling it to meet mission-critical availability goals and satisfy the needs of consumers reliably & safely.
Part of the UK Government-backed VIGIL (VehIcle-to-Grid Intelligent controL) research project to provide a robust communications & control platform, the OCPP 2.0 compliant charge controller allows the charge-post to manage electric vehicle (EV)/building energy dispatch and ensures distribution network limits are not exceeded. Based on NXP i.MX6 hardware, and developed by electronic design consultancy, ByteSnap Design, the controller, named RAY, reduces latency and improves system robustness by allowing direct control via the building management system. During the VIGIL project, it was successfully integrated into three V2G units at Aston University, and is already being used by commercial customers.
The QNX Neutrino RTOS, supplied by Direct Insight, is a microkernel-based full-featured and robust OS (operating system) that scales down to meet the constrained resource requirements of and real-time embedded systems. Its modular architecture enables customers to create highly optimised and reliable systems with low total-cost-of-ownership (TCO). QNX is often used as a commercially supported and licensed alternative to Linux in ARM-based embedded systems which are mission-critical, including those which require safety certification, particularly in automotive, medical or industrial fields.
“Early EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) infrastructure has struggled with perceptions of poor reliability. Making this advanced controller available based on QNX means that customers can rely on the performance of the charge posts year-in, year-out,” commented ByteSnap Director, Dunstan Power.
David Pashley, Direct Insight Managing Director added: “ByteSnap is without doubt at the leading edge of embedded design and development, and are known for creating a quality product. Therefore, its choice endorses QNX’s credentials in mission-critical applications.”
About Direct Insight
Bytesnap & Direct Insight embedded image_580x280
The increasing complexity of electronics hardware & software has the potential to increase project timescales, yet at the same time most development teams are faced with ever more demanding time-to-market pressures. Founded in 1992, UK-based technical systems integrator & reseller of system-on-module (SoM) and other embedded systems, Direct Insight has helped hundreds of development teams to upgrade to the latest SoC, FPGA and OS technology by choosing the right off-the-shelf hardware, software and tools, by providing the required support & services to fill the gaps, and by allowing customer development teams to focus on their differentiating core skills to deliver excellent products. Key partners include: OS supplier, QNX; Ka-Ro Electronics, German designer & manufacturer of embedded modules; and Taiwanese single board computer maker, DFI.
About ByteSnap Design
ByteSnap Design is a specialist in embedded systems development, encompassing hardware & software design, with an international client list. ISO 9001:2015 certified, ByteSnap Design is an NXP Gold Partner and an ARM Connected Community Partner. The team’s experience ranges from electronic design through to BSP porting and mobile app development.
ByteSnap won ELEKTRA 2019 Design Team of the Year and Consultancy of the Year - Highly Commended at the 2019 British Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEA). ByteSnap was also named 2016 Design Team of the Year and Consultancy of the Year in 2013 at the BEEA, and was ‘Highly Commended’ developing electric vehicle charging posts for the London Olympic Games. In addition, ByteSnap Design has previously won ‘European Design Team of the Year’ at the ELEKTRA Awards.
The consultancy’s technical portfolio includes electronic circuit design, Linux and embedded software development, designing hardware products from wireless sensors to ruggedised tablets. ByteSnap has successfully delivered multiple software projects such as Android BSPs and video processing applications.
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