Bosch Rexroth and Advantech have combined their expertise to offer a turnkey platform for industrial applications: Customers benefit from the combination of the open and app-based operating system ctrlX OS from Bosch Rexroth with its ecosystem and the modular hardware from Advantech. This enables a high degree of security and considerably faster implementation of custom solutions to be achieved.
The aim of the collaboration is to significantly simplify the development and adaptation of edge solutions. A software base will gradually be established on Advantech’s growing hardware portfolio, allowing the flexible implementation of a wide variety of industrial requirements. Initially, the UNO-series edge IPCs will be shipped from the factory with the Linux-based ctrlX OS and pre-installed apps from the ctrlX OS Store, such as a firewall, NodeRED, InfluxDB and IoT Dashboard. The app modules and hardware modules allow customers to configure IoT gateways quickly and easily.
While Advantech hardware offers needs-based scaling of key resources such as memory and storage, the open software approach of ctrlX OS opens up an equally modular world of functions. Organizations can use standardized hardware and tailor it to their specific use case using software – from simple IoT gateways to sophisticated edge AI or edge control applications.
Co-creation of customized solutions
The ctrlX OS Store provides customers the possibility to flexibly add industry-specific features, both by installing ctrlX OS apps from Bosch Rexroth or ctrlX World partners and by developing their own solutions. This enables a basic system to be turned into a customized solution in no time at all with add-ons for database connections, visualization or IIoT protocols. "Our partnership with Advantech is a prime example of co-creation in industrial digitalization," explains Steffen Winkler, Senior Vice President Sales, Business Unit Automation & Electrification Solutions at Bosch Rexroth. "ctrlX OS brings software innovations directly into the product world of the global IPC manufacturer. Together, we create new opportunities for partners and customers."
Jash Bansidhar, AVP IoT Automation at Advantech, adds: "The requirements in the industrial environment are changing rapidly. Shorter product life cycles and greater system complexity require flexible, scalable platforms. With our bundle, customers can quickly develop, adapt and implement new solutions. This reduces development work and accelerates time to market." In addition, Advantech provides an easy way to transfer data streams from the edge level into usable cloud services for end-to-end solutions with the WISE IoT Marketplace.
Secure foundation at all levels
The joint solution is based on a secure architecture: ctrlX OS was developed to be secure by design for industrial use and is prepared for the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The operating system is certified according to IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 by TÜV Rheinland. The solution is part of two strong networks: Bosch Rexroth and Advantech each contribute their distribution channels and development communities to the collaboration. This allows for worldwide availability, comprehensive support and ongoing development of the platform.
