Department of
Robotics And Automation
Course Name: Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
Course Code: 2312303 Type of Course: PCC
CCE : 20 M ISE : 20 M ESE: 60 M Total: 100 M
Total Credits: 3
Intel Atom & core i-series in industrial automation
Intel Atom Processors :
Intel Atom is a family of low-power, low-cost, and energy-efficient processors
designed for embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Key Features for Industrial Automation:
Low power consumption: Ideal for fan less and compact industrial PCs.
Small form factor: Useful in space-constrained control panels or robotic arms.
Extended temperature support (in industrial-grade variants).
Real-time capabilities: Some Atom models support Intel Time Coordinated
Computing (TCC) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), which are
essential for real-time robotics and motion control.
2
Common Use-Cases:
PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers)
Edge computing devices
HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces)
Autonomous sensor nodes
Smart cameras & vision systems
Industrial gateways and IoT edge devices
3
Intel Atom Processors :
Pros:
Energy-efficient
Cost-effective
Long life cycle support (common in industrial-grade models)
Limitations:
Lower processing power
Not ideal for complex vision systems, AI inference, or multitasking-
heavy environments
4
Intel Core i-Series (i3, i5, i7, i9)
These are general-purpose high-performance CPUs found in desktops,
laptops, and increasingly in industrial PCs and edge servers used in
automation.
Key Features for Industrial Automation:
High processing power: Good for compute-heavy tasks like AI, machine
vision, or robot coordination.
Multithreading and multiple cores: Beneficial for multitasking—e.g.,
running a control algorithm, user interface, and data logging simultaneously.
Advanced instruction sets: Support for technologies like Intel AVX (for fast
math), VT-x (virtualization), etc.
Real-time capable (especially in i7/i9 with Real-Time OS or patching).
5
Common Use-Cases:
Industrial PCs in vision-guided robotics
SCADA systems and high-end HMIs
Motion control systems for multi-axis robots
AI-enabled quality inspection
Real-time simulation or digital twin environments
6
Intel Core i-Series (i3, i5, i7, i9)
Pros:
High performance for complex control systems
More capable of real-time data processing and visualization
Suitable for virtualization and running multiple OS environments
Limitations:
Higher power consumption
May require active cooling
Higher cost
7
Atom vs Core i-Series for Industrial Automation
Feature Intel Atom Intel Core i-Series
Lower (but improving
Power Efficiency Excellent
with mobile SKUs)
Processing Power Low High
Real-time Capabilities With TCC/TSN support With tuning or RTOS
Sensors, gateways, basic AI vision, real-time
Use in Robotics
control units control, HMIs
Cooling Requirements Passive (fan less) Active (may need fan)
Cost Low Medium to high
Size Very compact Larger systems
8
Example 1: Intel Atom in a Mobile Warehouse Robot
(AGV/AMR)
Use-Case: Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV) for warehouse logistics
These robots transport materials in smart factories or warehouses, often without
human intervention.
Processor Used: Intel Atom x6000E series (e.g., x6425E)
Why Intel Atom?
Low power draw: Robots can run longer on battery without overheating.
Compact, fan less design: Fits easily inside the robot’s tight enclosure.
Real-time control: Can handle LIDAR data, motor control, and basic
navigation using Time Coordinated Computing (TCC).
Edge processing: Supports lightweight edge analytics, like barcode scanning
or obstacle detection.
9
Tasks Handled by the Atom Processor:
Motor control & real-time navigation
Safety sensors (proximity, bumpers)
Communication with a warehouse management system (WMS)
Basic route planning
Result: Efficient, autonomous movement in an industrial setting, with good
battery life and sufficient performance.
10
Example 2: Intel Core i7 in a Vision-Guided Robotic Arm for
Quality Inspection
Use-Case: Robotic arm performing real-time AI-based defect detection on a
manufacturing line
Processor Used: Intel Core i7-12700E (12th Gen embedded industrial version)
Why Intel Core i7?
High-performance CPU + multiple cores: Can run image recognition
algorithms quickly.
Handles multitasking: The system runs a machine vision pipeline, real-time
motor control, and UI/SCADA updates simultaneously.
Supports AI/ML workloads: Uses integrated Intel® Iris Xe graphics or
external GPU for running deep learning models (like YOLO or OpenVINO).
Connectivity: USB 3.0, GigE, and PCIe for high-speed camera and sensor
11 data.
Tasks Handled by the Core i7 Processor:
Processing high-resolution images from cameras
Running AI algorithms to detect product defects (scratches, size issues)
Real-time control of robot actuators for precision movement
Logging inspection data to a central server
Result: Fast, accurate, AI-enabled inspection that enhances quality control and
reduces manual labor.
12
