The graph above compares the NRE costs of various embedded system solutions. It covers the three traditional solutions and 3 points on the continuum of SPLat solutions.

Full Custom

For very large volume applications, a full custom microcontroller based embedded system will undoubtedly give the lowest unit costs. However, the NRE is very high, and there is also a significant risk factor.

Single Board Computer

Conventional single board computers eliminate a lot of the risk, at least on the hardware side. Nevertheless, programming can be very difficult, and expensive, unless you happen to have considerable skills in C or assembler. You may also have to engineer special function interface boards.

PLC

Using traditional programmable logic controllers can be comfortable, especially if you (or your automation consultant) have a background in electrical or plant automation. Beware, though, that with a traditional programmable logic controller programming cost can rise very rapidly with increasing functional complexity. And as soon as you need a specialised input or output, like a temperature measuring input, you are facing huge prices for industrial modules.

Standard SPLat

The NRE with standard SPLat is low because unlike single board computers a SPLat is ready to use ‘out of the box’, and programming is much simpler than both SBCs and traditional programmable logic controllers (the latter being especially true if the programmer has no prior exposure to PLC programming).

SPLat with SPice

Our Touch of SPice concept allows you to add low cost, special function add-on boards to a standard SPLat in order to tailor it to your specific needs. Not only do we have a range of ready-made SPice add-ons, but we can also make you a SPice board to suit your specific needs quickly and at a very affordable price in quantities down to 15.

Custom SPLat

The NRE for a custom SPLat is much, much lower than for a full custom system, because we design to a recipe (including SPice!). Simply stated, we have eliminated the uncertainties and we have some of the most experienced embedded systems designers on the planet.