Impulse Embedded, a UK-based supplier of industrial computing solutions, has introduced VELA: Powered by Advantech, a range of industrial PCs, GPU systems, and servers available from UK stock and ready for configuration.
To help customers avoid lengthy lead times associated with bespoke systems, Impulse Embedded configures and tests VELA systems in the UK using Advantech hardware. Depending on the platform, customers can tailor their systems with different processors, memory, storage, graphics, operating systems, expansion options, and I/O to suit their specific application requirements.
The range uses tested and validated hardware combinations as its starting point. Impulse Embedded can then adapt the configuration to suit individual projects, including customer software images, expansion cards, BIOS settings, branding, and custom chassis requirements.
Across the range, VELA provides options spanning dependable general purpose industrial computing, high-performance CPU processing, dedicated GPU acceleration, and scalable server class platforms. This allows customers to select a system according to the workload, rather than starting with a fixed standard PC configuration.
Robert Plant, Managing Director at Impulse Embedded, commented:
“Our long-standing partnership with Advantech has been instrumental in developing the VELA range. By combining Advantech’s proven industrial computing technology with our UK-based configuration, engineering expertise and technical support, we can offer customers the flexibility to specify systems around their exact requirements. The relaunch of VELA reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable, tailored computing solutions without the lengthy lead times.”
Four VELA Ranges for Different Computing Requirements
VELA is split into four ranges according to the level of processing performance, expansion, graphics capability, memory, storage, networking, and scalability required.
VELA IPC covers general industrial computing applications such as automation, process control, machine and equipment control, HMI, machine vision, edge processing, and embedded computing.
- Available in tower, 2U, and 4U formats, the range provides a practical foundation for running industrial software, monitoring processes, and connecting machinery with wider production systems.
- Configurations can include 13th Gen Intel Core processing, industrial DDR4 memory, additional serial and USB connectivity, and a choice of storage and operating system options.
VELA Performance is aimed at applications that need greater CPU performance, larger memory capacity, fast storage, and extensive I/O.
- Configurations can combine 13th Gen Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processing with up to 128GB of industrial DDR4 memory and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 NVMe storage.
- Typical uses include test and measurement, high speed data acquisition, advanced process control, signal processing, and other computationally demanding or data intensive industrial workloads.
- RAID storage options can also be specified where additional data protection, storage resilience, or performance is required.
VELA GPU is designed for workloads that rely on dedicated graphics or parallel processing.
- Applications can include AI model training, AI inference, machine vision, visualisation, video encoding and compression, multi display control, and high-resolution graphics.
- Tower and 4U configurations provide room for powerful graphics hardware alongside high-capacity memory and storage, making the range suitable for applications involving large datasets, demanding visual workloads, and accelerated processing.
VELA Server provides server class processing, higher levels of scalability, high bandwidth networking, extensive PCIe expansion, and options for improved system resilience.
- Available in tower, 1U, 2U, and 4U formats, the range suits applications including industrial computing, broadcast, visualisation, simulation, control rooms, test and measurement, and data acquisition.
- Networking options can extend up to 100GbE, while selected configurations can support registered DIMM memory, RAID storage, and redundant power supplies, adding greater resilience for systems expected to operate continuously.
Advantech Hardware, Configured & Supported by Impulse Embedded
Impulse Embedded has worked with Advantech for more than 20 years. Through VELA, customers gain access to Advantech industrial computing platforms alongside the specification, configuration, integration, testing and ongoing technical support provided by Impulse Embedded.
Systems are configured and tested by Impulse Embedded before delivery. This can include installing customer supplied software images, fitting compatible PCI and PCIe expansion cards, applying required settings, and supporting remote software testing or benchmarking.
The configurable approach also allows specialist hardware to be integrated where required, including graphics cards, video capture hardware, data acquisition cards, storage controllers, communication interfaces, industrial I/O, and high bandwidth networking. This allows customers to specify the processing platform and application specific hardware as part of a complete system.
For repeat deployments, Impulse Embedded can maintain consistent system builds, provide supporting documentation, and help customers plan around product lifecycles and future hardware availability. This is particularly valuable for industrial projects where systems may need to remain consistent, supportable, and available over extended deployment periods.
Jash Bansidhar, Managing Director of Advantech Europe, said: “We are delighted to power the VELA range by Impulse Embedded. There is a sizeable market demand for configurable rack PC systems across the UK. We feel Impulse is ideally positioned to support its customers’ projects and serve as an essential link between themselves and manufacturing partners like Advantech.”
