After the 2016-2017 fire in the sharing economy, hot spots plummeted in 2018, and the current demand for smart express cabinets is also at a flat stage. But there are also many sporadic customers looking for solution providers for intelligent express cabinet control systems online, and their project requirements may be similar to the express cabinet logic. For example, government projects such as smart filing cabinets, smart confidential cabinets, and smart filing cabinets, as well as community service projects.
As a marketing manager, I often encounter such sporadic customers. They have no strength and don’t know how much capital investment will be needed for this project. I just expected to find a company in the market and bring their products. Just use it directly. Is it really that simple now?
This article will give you a comprehensive explanation about the hardware and software required by the intelligent express cabinet control system, as well as the investment cost and the problems faced.
About the hardware in the intelligent express cabinet control system
The hardware of the intelligent express cabinet control system can be seen from the naked eye, mainly by the cabinet body, the infrared touch screen of the advertising machine, the QR code recognizer, the thermal printer, the pinhole camera, and the surveillance camera.
From the outside, these hardwares are very simple, however, the main core components are still integrated in the interior of the express cabinet. The internal layout of the hardware of the intelligent express cabinet control system is the main control machine (industrial computer with X86 architecture and Android architecture), lock control board, electromagnetic lock, video recording monitor, DC power supply, two-way switch, leakage protection switch, Network cable and other lock cables, lock control board cables, etc. If the customer's data is to be protected, it must be connected to a server on the cloud (public cloud or private cloud), and this hardware is connected through a wired or wireless link.
For video surveillance cameras, the most advantageous products currently use Hikvision or Dahua. This hardware product is easy to integrate and is sold at public prices. Generally, customers with a little hardware integration basis can purchase and assemble it by themselves.
Therefore, at present, many customers want to integrate intelligent express cabinet control system, and the core of the hardware that intelligence is looking for is the main control machine. For the master computer, the industrial computer of the X86 architecture and the industrial computer of the AMR architecture are mainly used. Both types of masters have their own advantages. They all have a common performance advantage: stability, power saving; information synchronization function; with network stability maintenance function;. Use verification in large quantities.
Industrial PC with X86 architecture
There are certain requirements for projects, especially government projects and confidential projects. Many customers are choosing the X86 industrial computer for the intelligent express cabinet control system. This type of industrial computer can not only perform the unlocking function of the smart cabinet, but also perform related data collection and calculations, and can achieve local real-time data and cloud servers. Communicate and store data more effectively.
Generally, customers who use X86 industrial computer choose the master computer with integrated touch, and there are also split type (that is, the industrial computer and the display touch screen are separated), depending on the customer's project requirements.
The X86 industrial computer of the intelligent express cabinet control system requires low power consumption and fanless heat dissipation, which can be -10～60℃, and may reach -40～80℃ if there are special requirements. It supports unattended function, can run stably at 7×24 hours, and can automatically save data when it is redundant, auto-start function when power is off, automatically connect to the network, and support remote restart work.
Industrial computer with AMR architecture
For basic unlocking and command feedback functions, in fact, the AMR architecture master computer can also be satisfied. In recent years, Google's mainstream Android system is relatively smooth, and the RK-3288 chip has become the mainstream choice in the intelligent express cabinet control system. For the relatively large demand, the customer has a budget for the cost, and the ARM-based industrial computer is relatively cheap, which is also one of the customers' preferences. But this is relatively large for the customer's personnel software investment in the early stage. I will explain this separately on the software level.
In recent years, some customers have new requirements for smart express cabinets, such as video detection and face recognition operations. At this time, the hardware processor required is relatively better. The industrial computer of RK-3399 will gradually become the mainstream. It is also more expensive than RK-3288 in price. Therefore, the specific project requirements choose different hardware performance, which determines the customer's operating cost.
Electric control lock plate (lock control plate)
In the express cabinet intelligent hardware control system, the lock control board is also a core key. The main control computer sends instructions to the lock control board, and the lock control board performs a program control switch to the electromagnetic lock, and the electromagnetic lock unlocks with a quick short circuit.
The design of the lock control board is generally connected with the RS485 interface. So it is also called RS485 lock board.
The RS485 lock control boards on the market generally have 4, 8, 16, 20-32, etc. Because the design manufacturers of the lock plates are different, there are also differences in quality. However, the customer's choice of the lock control board will directly affect the later after-sales problems. This is especially important for the editor to remind customers to pay attention to product quality at all times.
The work of the lock control board is to temporarily short-circuit the electromagnetic lock. At this time, many major manufacturers will consider whether the design of the lock control board has electrical isolation protection.
Many small factories produce lock control boards at a low price and want to occupy the market at a price. Therefore, they will care about the electronic materials of the lock control board. In this market, you may compare the prices of several lock control boards, and you will find that these prices may be several times different.
Electromagnetic lock
The smart express cabinet finally controls the switch of each door is the electromagnetic lock. The working principle of the electromagnetic lock is to use the closed door (power off) to lock, and the power on (12V) instantly triggers the unlocking mode. In terms of safety, the power station lock must comply with the specifications of the smart express cabinet, be sensitive to use, and have the advantages of shockproof and pry-proof.
Basically, there are certain requirements for electromagnetic locks, but there are also many excellent electromagnetic lock design and development manufacturers in China. Their products have also undergone batch experiments and customer application sites. Generally, customers should not overdo it.
Advertising machine display
Smart express cabinets are too indoor and outdoor. As a human-computer interaction system, smart express cabinets are indispensable for displays. However, some customers have different application scenarios and may not need a display.
The display required by the express cabinet is different from ordinary displays. They have to be used outdoors. They have the characteristics of waterproof, dustproof, moisture-proof and anti-vibration. In addition, a touch screen module can be added to allow users to directly operate and use the smart express cabinet. .
If the monitor is used outdoors, the editor recommends that you choose an infrared touch screen monitor, and if it is indoors, you can consider a capacitive touch monitor.
It should not be said more about the hardware devices such as cabinets, QR code recognizers, thermal printers, pinhole cameras, and surveillance cameras. Multiple cabinets are not suitable for long-distance transportation. Generally, customers find their own local sheet metal factory to do it. Yes, small two-dimensional code recognizers, fingerprint recognizers, and ID card recognizers (to be connected to the police system for murder) are all bad street products, not to mention thermal printers, pinhole cameras and the like.
