Pilot Nexus Overview
Industry Automation 4.0
Cloud
Big Data Analytics
Linux Single Board Computer
Visualization/HMI Data Aggregation Web Interface
Pilot Nexus Main Board
Real-Time Tasks
Modules
Connect to sensors, actors and machinery
Pilot Nexus Full Stack
Our innovative single board computer extension has been built to encompass a huge range of potential applications.
Pilot Nexus is not only an expanded connectivity layer, it’s a complete technology stack from hardware to firmware. Integrating everything from task-specific drivers to cloud storage, we’ve devised a way to increase productivity and vastly improve upon communications between multiple control devices.
Sensors
Connect any digital or analog sensor.Motors
Directly drive motorsPneumatic Valves
Easily integrate valve controlSwitches
Physical or over the webPower Meters
Easily connected and monitoredWireless
From WiFi to LoRaWhat Pilot Nexus can do
Amescon’s Pilot Nexus provides users with the ability to upgrade single board computers, e.g. The RaspberryPi, into very powerful automation platforms.
And with a range of low-cost plugin modules available, each with rich software applications to make installation and operation easy, the device is ideal for industrial automation and home automation alike. It boasts dynamic wiring and ultra-fast logic, a 32 bit ARM microcontroller for real-time operating, real-time clocking, and all software is made Open Source.
Install Pilot Software on Raspberry Pi
sudo -H pip3 install pilot-configsudo pilot-config
If you are running the tool for the first time, drivers are installed and a reboot is required.sudo pilot-config
sudo modprobe -r pilot_fpga pilot_io pilot_plc pilot_rtc pilot_slcd pilot_ tty pilot
sudo modprobe pilot pilot_fpga pilot_io pilot_plc pilot_rtc pilot_slcd pilot_ tty
- 8 Digital Input PiloT Module
- 5-30V Input Voltage
- Switching on 1/2 of the reference voltage with hysteresis
- Jumper: internal (5V or 24V) or external (5-30V)
- Possible configurations: Input-Module (GPIOs) or Counter (Interrupts)
- Available with pin-header or pluggable spring-cage connector
Technical Specifications
- Size: 36.6mm x 29.8mm (1.441in x 1.173in)
8 Input module with header connector
Pinout
How to use
First, connect the module and configure it using the pilot-config tool For a getting started Tutorial on the PiloT Platform in general visit http://amescon.com/pilots/getting-started/ When the driver is configured, you can use the Inputs like regular GPIOs on the Raspberry Pi. If it is the first GPIO module on the PiloT, the base address would be 55. So the GPIOs are 55-62 (I0-I7).
Export the IOs
echo 55 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 56 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 57 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 58 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 59 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 60 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 61 > /sys/class/gpio/export &&
echo 62 > /sys/class/gpio/exportOutput current value of all 8 Inputs
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio55/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio56/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio57/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio58/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio59/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio60/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio61/value &&
cat /sys/class/gpio/gpio62/valueApplications
Buttons, digital outputs of other devices, Smart-Metering
- 8 Digital Output PiloT Module for the PiloT Mainboard
- 5-50V Input Voltage
- 500 mA output source current capability
- Direct drive of inductive loads (e.g relays) due to integrated clamp diodes
- Jumper: internal (5V or 24V) or external (5-50V)
- Available with pin-header or pluggable spring-cage connector
- Size: 36.6mm x 29.8mm (1.441in x 1.173in)
Applications
- Drive large relays
- LEDs
- Drive small motors
- RS-485 Extension Module for the PiloT Mainboard
- Possible configurations: Full duplex (RS-485 4-wire) or 2 port half-duplex
- Up to 128 transceivers
- ESD protected
- Speed: 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 baud
- Size: 36.6mm x 29.8mm (1.441in x 1.173in)
Applications
- Building Automation
- Industrial Control Systems
- Stage Lighting and Effects (DMX512)
- solar inverters
- other RS-485 enabled equipment
Our Customers Say
At Amescon we work for you. Supporting you to finish your project is our #1 priority. Our tools will save you time, money and nerves.
The Pilot Nexus saved me days, if not weeks in development. Your support was outstanding and very responsive when i got stuck. Thank you very much for this great user experience.
Building our connected industrial controllers was a lot of work. Thanks to Pilot Nexus we did not have to deal with the low level hardware side of the implementation and that paid off big time.
We built a small robot with the kids in christmas week. Everything worked out fine and it was a very smooth experience.
Amescon Reference Projects
In the lead-up to and alongside developing Pilot Nexus, Amescon has fulfilled the needs of a diverse range of clients across multiple industry sectors. If you need software or hardware developed that would bring solutions to any technical problems that your business happens to be facing then please do contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help.
Latest Blogs
Check out our latest blog posts about the Pilot Nexus and other things happening at Amescon and out there.