An edge server and  PLC controller for industrial automation, field comms and IoT edge applications by Sfera Labs are based on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5.

The Strato Pi Plus edge server uses a Raspberry Pi RP2354 microcontroller to handle critical, real-time functions and system supervision, independently of the main processor. There is also an independent hardware watchdog designed to ensure the system can detect and recover from faults without external intervention. The RP2354 firmware supports over-the-air updates directly from the Raspberry Pi.

For industrial serial connectivity there are up to four individually opt-isolated RS-485 interfaces featuring ESD protection and configurable line termination and A/B lines inversion. There is also a CAN V2.0B and CAN FD interface supporting speeds up to 8Mbps. The server is housed in a four-module DIN-rail enclosure with pluggable screw terminal blocks. Power supply is 10-50V DC with surge and reverse polarity protection and a 3.3A resettable fuse. There is also a relay output rated for 1A at 48V DC with normally open and normally closed contacts.

There is also a real-time clock with temperature-compensated oscillator and replaceable backup battery, and an embedded Microchip ATECC608 secure element for hardware-based authentication and cryptographic key storage. The embedded Raspberry Pi provides Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE connectivity, four USB ports, Micro HDMI video output, and a microSD card slot. An optional pre-assembled active cooling fan is available for thermally demanding installations.

Sfera Labs said the edge server is suitable for communication with multiple field devices, sensors, and actuators over long cable runs, such as industrial process control, building management, energy metering, and vehicle or machinery integration.

The second announcement from Sfera Labs was the Iono Pi v3 industrial PLC. It also has a real-time clock with temperature-compensated oscillator and replaceable backup battery, a hardware watchdog independent of the Raspberry Pi board, and an embedded Microchip ATECC608 secure element for hardware-based authentication and cryptographic key storage. There is the option for the pre-assembled SPBF10X Strato Pi active cooling fan.

Like the Strao Pi Plus, it has Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE connectivity, four USB ports, two Micro HDMI outputs, and a microSD card slot. Power supply is 9-28V DC with surge and reverse polarity protection. The four power relay outputs are rated at 5A for 250V. There are also analogue voltage and current inputs, seven configurable GPIO pins with 1-Wire and Wiegand support.

The Iono Pi v3 is also housed in a four–module DIN-rail enclosure with screw terminal block connections.

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