RoboDesigner News
February 1, 2025
Compulab introduces RoboDesigner – a tool and service for efficient creation of custom computer boards. RoboDesigner lets the user specify required functions, board size, connector type and location, and then receive a functional board that matches his specifications. Linux is installed and all selected functions are supported. RoboDesigner doesn’t require hardware or software engineering skills. The resulting custom board can be efficiently manufactured in any quantity.
Owing to automated configurability there is no waste of redundant hardware sitting on the board, which results in highly optimised pricing. Price of custom board with iMX8 processor starts around $90 for prototypes or small quantity, and goes down to $70 for large orders.
RoboDesigner uses building blocks – “modules”, each implementing either computer core or peripheral function. The tool has a library with all available modules, and there is ongoing effort to add more functions. Peripheral modules include USB, Uarts, Ethernet, CANbus, WiFi, cellular modems, storage and more. Currently, available computer modules are based on NXP iMX8 and iMX9 CoMs from Compulab. In the future Compulab will expand the library with COM Express, Nvidia Jetson AI, and ARM CoMs offered by other manufacturers.
RoboDesigner Advantages
- Creates fully customised computer board in minutes
- Allows selection of functions, size, connector types and position
- Doesn’t require engineering skills
- Saves 95% of development time, effort and costs
- Efficient for any quantity, from a single unit to mass production
Compare development cycle: RoboDesigner vs. Engineering
How it works …
To start, the user should have tentative functional and mechanical specifications. The RoboDesigner tool provides a simple intuitive interface to specify functions, board shape and connector locations. It is possible to experiment with these as long as necessary, and to design and save many different versions.
2D and 3D mechanical specs can be reviewed from the tool itself or by generating DXF files.
The next step is to request production. The tool will perform a check to acknowledge that the requested design is indeed manufacturable, and the user can then proceed to place an online order.
The design is forwarded to Compulab’s engineering department. After checking and approving it, Compulab initiates the automatic process of PCB manufacturing.
Following PCB manufacturing, the board is assembled and tested with the aid of robotic tools. The computer core is programmed with the operating system.
Prototype boards are then shipped to the customer.
It is possible to order any additional quantity of the same design. When production volume increases, Compulab prepares setup for fast assembly lines with the aim to optimise manufacturing costs.
The RoboDesigner tool & service is unique in the computer board industry. Compulab believes that it can greatly improve the performance of R&D departments by relieving the designers from the burden of “reinventing the wheel” developing computer boards which match their specifications. It will result in saving time and development costs, and improving competitiveness.
RoboDesigner is freely available for all – commercial and non-commercial users, as well as solution providers who are currently specialising in the development of custom computer boards.
The tool’s growing library of computer modules and peripheral functions aims to cover needs of wide variety of applications.
About Compulab
Compulab is a leading developer and manufacturer of System-on-Modules, Computer-on-Modules, IoT Gateways and fanless Industrial Computers. Company products are used in medical devices, transportation, industrial automation, telecommunication, aerospace and marine systems and countless other applications. Compulab was established in 1992, and it operates from company owned facilities in Yokneam, Israel.
For additional details please contact:
Gideon Yampolsky, gideon@compulab.co.il