10 congatec has shown its heatpipe cooling system for Computer-on-Module (COMs) for the first time, writes Nick Flaherty. The cooling system uses acetone as a working fluid in the heat pipes instead of water to cool processors used in autonomous and conventional vehicles that are exposed to extreme conditions, such as logistics vehicles in ports, airports, and cold stores. This allows COM modules with the latest Intel processors with accelerators for artificial intelligence frameworks to be used in more extreme climatic and mechanical conditions, such as arctic temperatures. Researchers in Asia have developed a new technique with machine learning for controlling ballbots, writes Nick Flaherty. Ballbots are versatile robotic systems with the ability to move around in all directions. This makes it tricky to control their movement. The team in Vietnam and Japan developed the technique that can be combined with machine learning to provide balance and stability. This uses a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller with a non-linear response that, combined with a neural network, can robustly control the ballbot motion. PID controllers are widely used as a feedback-based control loop mechanism to manage machines and processes that require continuous control and automatic adjustment. It is typically used in industrial control systems where constant control through modulation is necessary. The non-linear PID (NPID) is combined with a radial basis function neural network conditions that could not previously be achieved with conventional cooling solutions. Using our application-ready COMs instead of expensive slot or special solutions allows developers to optimize time-to-market while reducing development effort and the overall costs of their applications,” said Jürgen Jungbauer, senior product line manager at congatec. The heatpipe cooling system can be paired with the COM Type6 congaTC675 or conga-TC675r with the Intel Raptor Lake processor, but it can also be used with the COM-HPC Mini and Client form factors as well as COM-HPC Server for robust edge servers. Thermal management Ground vehicles COM module heat pipes for autonomous vehicle controller AI control for ballbots The heatpipe system is a more cost effective approach for cooling COMbased designs than water cooling. Using acetone prevents the thermal transfer medium from freezing at extreme subzero temperatures and prevents damage to the cooling system, the module, and the entire system design and provides operation within a temperature range of -40 to +85 C. Using heatpipes means the cooling system is also insensitive to mechanical stresses such as shock and vibration. “Our acetone-based cooling solution extends module-based designs to include applications under extreme operating (RBFNN) that requires only lightweight computation to provide stability and reduce chattering from the feedback loop, a common problem with ballbots. An adaptive control law is improved continuously using the neural network to handle the real-time estimation of the external force on the ballbot. Through both simulations and realworld experiments, the team showed that the NPID-RBFNN controller outperforms traditional PID and NPID controllers. By minimizing unnecessary movements and chattering, the proposed controller can also reduce energy consumption. “Ballbots with this advanced controller can be used as assistive robots for tasks requiring high mobility and precision. They can also be used as service robots in dynamic settings such as restaurants, hospitals, or airports, offering smooth navigation,” said Dr. Van-Truong Nguyen of Hanoi University of Industry, Vietnam, who led the project. April/May 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology A control system for a ballbot (Image courtesy of Hanoi University of Industry)
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