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€145 controller uses AI to generate code within seconds
A Greek automation start-up has announced an IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) controller that can be programmed and monitored via a smartphone, and avoids the need for programming expertise. Erqos says that the €145 EQSP32 controller can be used for industrial or home automation applications, as well as for instrumentation and for remote monitoring and control.
The Internet-connected controller is said to marry the convenience of installing a PLC with the processing power, low cost, flexibility, and openness of an embedded computer. It measures 70 x 60 x 50mm and can be mounted on a DIN rail.
At the core of EQSP32 is a “revolutionary” no-code programming technology. Users simply describe their needs, and a generative AI programming assistant generates the code “in seconds”. The EQ-AI assistant is trained to use the controller’s libraries and pre-built high-level functions.
The controller is being launched via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with a target of raising €25,000. Investors can order a single controller for €145 or up to five at €116 each, with first deliveries estimated to be in March 2024.
The device provides an end-to-end link from the physical environment to the user's smartphone. It incorporates everything needed to create a custom IoT application, including interfaces for sensors and actuators, a powerful processor, intuitive software for Wi-Fi connections, and tools for creating custom smartphone apps.
At the heart of the open-architecture EQSP32 is an ESP32S3 SoC (system-on-chip) with a high-performance dual-core processor and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Users will benefit from the large existing ESP32 ecosystem, including a wide range of tools and libraries.
The controller has 16 configurable I/O that can interface with common sensors and actuators, as well as supporting RS-232/485 communications and, optionally, CANbus.
An expansion connector will allow modules to be added easily in the future, allowing the system to grow with users' needs. Planned modules include a pH meter with dual stepper motor control for water treatment and instrumentation applications, as well as modules offering extra digital and analogue I/O.
Erqos says that by basing the controller on the ESP32 SoC and concentrating on an efficient, scalable design, it has achieved a price point that is “exceptionally low” for an industrial-grade controller, making advanced automation accessible to a wider audience.
Erqos was founded in 2022 by experts in industrial automation, embedded computing and IoT technologies. It is dedicated to providing innovative, user-friendly technologies for the automation and electronics component market, with a focus on no-code programming, end-to-end designs and open architectures.
