Compact Fanless Edge System for AIoT Applications

Vecow has introduced the SPC-8000, an ultra-compact, fanless embedded system designed to address edge computing requirements in AIoT and Industry 4.0 environments, balancing processing capability, energy efficiency, and deterministic connectivity.

Positioning within the SPC Series
The SPC-8000 expands Vecow’s SPC Series portfolio, complementing higher-performance platforms such as the SPC-9000 that target mission-critical industrial systems. In contrast, the SPC-8000 is designed for applications where compact form factor, low power consumption, and sufficient AI inference capability are prioritized over maximum compute density.

This positioning reflects growing demand for edge systems that can be deployed close to data sources in space-constrained environments, while still supporting analytics, visualization, and real-time communication.

Processor architecture and AI inference capability
The SPC-8000 is powered by Intel^® Processor N97 or N95 (Alder Lake-N), offering a balance between performance and energy efficiency with a thermal design power as low as 12 W. Native support for the Intel^® OpenVINO™ Toolkit enables hardware-accelerated AI inference at the edge.

This configuration supports workloads such as smart retail analytics and optical character recognition, where inference latency and local processing are critical. The system’s 1.1-liter enclosure allows deployment in confined spaces without active cooling, supporting silent operation and reduced maintenance.

Deterministic networking and wireless expansion
Unlike general-purpose desktops or standard industrial PCs, the SPC-8000 is designed for deterministic industrial communication. It integrates a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet interface with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) support, enabling precise time synchronization and predictable data delivery.

TSN capability is particularly relevant for motion control, machine vision, and other real-time industrial applications that require guaranteed latency and synchronization. In addition, the system includes an external Nano SIM socket to support 5G, Wi-Fi, or 4G expansion, enabling low-latency wireless connectivity and reliable edge-to-cloud communication.

This combination of wired TSN networking and cellular connectivity supports applications such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), teleoperation, and distributed intelligent infrastructure.

Graphics and display support
Despite its compact dimensions, the SPC-8000 supports advanced graphics capabilities through Intel^® UHD Graphics, with up to 24 execution units on the N97 processor. Support for DirectX 12.1 enables modern graphics and compute functions.

The system can drive dual 4K displays via DisplayPort and HDMI, supporting high-resolution visualization requirements in applications such as kiosks and digital signage. This allows a single compact edge system to combine analytics, control, and visual presentation.

Application context
The SPC-8000 targets AIoT edge deployments in smart retail, intelligent transportation, industrial automation, and connected infrastructure. By combining low-power processing, AI inference acceleration, TSN-enabled networking, and flexible wireless connectivity in a fanless design, the platform addresses scenarios where space, reliability, and real-time performance are key constraints.

Within the broader context of Industry 4.0, the system illustrates a shift toward compact, application-specific edge platforms that integrate compute, networking, and visualization capabilities without relying on centralized data centers.