Background

Medical applications are particularly time-critical since every minute matters. Therefore, healthcare institutes around the world have proposed and deployed the operating model of “connected ambulance”. The concept behind “connected ambulance” indicates an integration of networking, compute and graphical technologies to be installed in ambulance. These technologies will enable the ambulance with real time connectivity, data processing and video communications. In other words, the “connected ambulance” will function as a hub between patients and hospital, and preliminary diagnose can be performed to shorten the treatment procedure once the patient arrives the destination hospital. In fact, it is predicted that streaming of data and video will be one of the primary purposes of a connected ambulance.

Requirements

An European mobile network software expert came to Lanner to co-develop an onboard smart ambulance gateway. In this joint effort, Lanner’s vehicle computer will be integrated with optimized multi-WAN software by the software company in Europe. The joint solution is designed to meet the following requirements:

Robust and Fanless Design

Ambulances are constantly on the go and thus robust designs like wide operating temperature, MIL-STD-810G military grade endurance and fanless are critical factors for onboard computing gateway.

Redundant Network and load balance

Since the connected ambulance functions as a connection hub, the onboard gateway shall support multiple connectivity and load balance. Hardware wise, the system shall be designed with multiple mini-PCIe sockets with SIM slots to allow various wireless networks. On the other hand, the optimal multi-WAN software will turn the onboard vehicle gateway into an in-vehicle SD-WAN platform.

Onboard RF Frequency

Since ambulances are mobile assets for hospitals, the vehicle gateway needs to support necessary RF frequency based tracking including GPS and GLONASS.

Dual Wireless Connectivity

For a mobile multi-WAN setting, the onboard vehicle gateway must support dual 4G LTE and WiFi connections, like an adoption of 5 GHz WiFi radio for efficient update of media content.

Anti-Vibration and Shock-Resistant

Since ambulances are mission-critical vehicles, the onboard system must be able to endure shock and vibration to prevent system fail or data loss. It is suggested that in-vehicle computing system receives MIL-STD-810G certification.


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Solutions

In this joint development, Lanner presented V3S in-vehicle computer to run the optimized multi-WAN software in a connected ambulance setting.

Lanner V3S features the new generation 14 nm Intel® Atom™ x7-E3950 SoC (formerly Apollo Lake). This processor consumes low volume of power and offers performance upgrade from earlier Atom™ generations, optimal for vehicle computing needs. V3S boasts an abundance of I/O peripheral connectivity including 2 x serial COM ports, 2x video output by DVI-D, USB and Digital I/O ports, 6x RJ-45 ports (4 with PoE) and removable SATA storage bay. To enable wireless network connectivity, V3S offers 2 mini-PCIe sockets with swappable dual SIM slot supporting 3G/4G/LTE cellular communications. In addition, the compact system comes with built-in GPS and GLONASS RF sensors.

As an onboard gateway, Lanner’s V3S offers compliance and certification such as MIL-STD shock and vibration, and E-13 for ambulance vehicle gateways.

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V3S

Fanless In-vehicle Surveillance Computer with Intel® Atom™ x7-E3950 Processor

CPU Intel® Atom™ x7-E3950
Chipset None

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