The Acura AcuPanel™ series represents Acura Embedded Systems' versatile line of Industrial Hazloc Panel PCs. Designed as an all-in-one touchscreen computing solution, the AcuPanel integrates a display and a powerful computer into a single, sleek unit. 

It is engineered to provide reliable performance and seamless interaction in demanding industrial environments that require robust computing but may not face the absolute extremes of a rig floor, differentiating it from our flagship Roughneck series.

1. What is the AcuPanel? A Core Definition

The AcuPanel is a Hazloc Panel PC – meaning it's a complete computer system built into the back of a touchscreen display, designed for mounting directly into panels or enclosures. Its core attributes include:

All-In-One Touchscreen Hazloc PC: Combines computing power and a responsive touchscreen into a single unit, eliminating the need for a separate keyboard in many applications.

Compact & Lightweight: Designed for easy handling, seamless integration, and quick, hassle-free installation, especially where space and mobility are paramount.

Flexible & Reliable Mounting: Offers versatile mounting options for diverse industrial setups.

Hazloc Certified: Built to operate safely in hazardous industrial environments.

2. Performance and Core Specifications: Powering Your Control

The AcuPanel is equipped with robust internal components to ensure consistent and reliable performance for industrial control and monitoring tasks.

Screen Sizes: Available in a wide range of screen sizes from 10" to 32", offering both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio options to suit various application requirements and existing industrial setups.

Processor (CPU): Features Intel i5 or i7 CPUs, providing ample processing power for demanding industrial applications, data processing, and running complex control software.

Brightness: Offers 800 NITS screen brightness, ensuring good visibility in both daylight and indoor environments.

Memory (RAM): Supports up to 32 GB of RAM, allowing for efficient multitasking and handling of various applications simultaneously.

LCD Type: Utilizes LED Backlit LCDs, providing clear and vibrant displays.

Touch Screen: Available with either a 16:9 Capacitive Multi-Touch (10-point) touchscreen for seamless and intuitive interaction, or a Resistive Touch option (suitable for -20°C to 60°C) for specific industrial needs.

Power Input: Accepts a flexible 9-36V DC power input, allowing for versatile integration into various industrial power systems.

Operating System: Compatible with both Windows (including Windows 10/11 IoT versions for optimized industrial performance) and Linux operating systems.

Storage: Equipped with fast and reliable SSD M.2 NVME storage, ensuring quick boot times and rapid data access.

3. Connectivity (I/O): Connecting to Your Systems

The AcuPanel provides a comprehensive set of input/output ports for seamless integration with industrial equipment and networks.

Serial Port: Includes 1x RS232 or RS485 port, essential for connecting to legacy industrial devices and sensors.

LAN: Features 2x RJ45 GBE (Gigabit Ethernet) ports, providing high-speed wired network connectivity for control systems and data transfer.

USB: Equipped with 4x USB 3.0 ports, offering versatile connectivity for peripherals and data transfer.

GPIO: Optional General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins are available for custom control and interfacing with specific industrial signals.

Wireless: Includes AX210/6E Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (BT) for wireless connectivity. 4G/LTE is also available as an optional wireless module.

Audio: Features a built-in speaker for audio feedback or alerts.

4. Durability and Environmental Resilience: Built for Industrial Realities

The AcuPanel is engineered to operate reliably in challenging industrial conditions, demonstrating Acura's commitment to robust design.

Operating Temperature: Designed for a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +60°C (-40°F to 140°F), ensuring dependable performance in varied climates.

Storage Temperature: Can be stored in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to 158°F).

Relative Humidity: Operates in environments with relative humidity of <96% (non-condensing).

Certifications: Carries essential Hazloc and safety certifications including C1Z2, CSA/UL, ATEX, CE, FCC, and UKCA.

IP Rating: Features an IP65-Front Panel rating, meaning the front of the unit is dust-tight and protected against water jets, making it front washable. It also holds a NEMA4X rating, indicating protection against dust, rain, sleet, snow, external ice formation, and corrosion.

Construction: Built with a durable Aluminum Alloy construction, providing robust protection and efficient heat dissipation.

5. Flexible Deployment and Applications: Data Processing on the Edge

The AcuPanel's design and features make it highly adaptable for various industrial deployments, acting as a crucial Human-Machine Interface (HMI) or data processing unit.

Mounting Options: Supports both Panel-Mount (for seamless integration into control cabinets and machinery) and VESA Mount (100 x 100 mm), offering flexibility for installation.

Oil & Gas: Provides robust protection against harsh temperatures and hazardous environments, ensuring reliable performance in demanding oil and gas operations.

Manufacturing: Excels in manufacturing environments, offering durability and versatility. Designed to handle industrial applications, withstand shock and vibration, and integrate seamlessly into production lines.

Mining: Built for extreme conditions, providing dependable performance in mining operations, resisting dust, moisture, and impacts, while delivering high clarity and functionality.

Vehicle Integrated: Optimized for vehicle applications, built to endure rugged conditions, including rough handling and extreme environmental factors, guaranteeing reliable performance in various mobile systems.

Automation: Designed for seamless integration, enhancing automation systems by providing a reliable and durable HMI interface for controlling complex machinery, monitoring sensors, and ensuring uptime in harsh environments.

6. Acura's Edge: The AcuPanel Advantage

The AcuPanel stands out in the market due to several key advantages:

All-in-One Hazloc PC: Offers a responsive touchscreen for seamless interaction without a keyboard, performing reliably even in extreme temperatures.

Flexible & Reliable Mounting: Ensures seamless integration into diverse industrial setups while maintaining exceptional stability and long-term reliability.

Sleek and Lightweight Design: Engineered for effortless handling and installation, ideal for Hazloc environments where space, mobility, and durability are paramount.

Next-Generation Core CPUs: Provides powerful computing capabilities for modern industrial tasks.

Front Washable Display: Simplifies maintenance and ensures hygiene in dirty environments.

7. Key Differences: AcuPanel vs. Roughneck

While both the AcuPanel and the Roughneck are robust Hazloc Panel PCs, they are designed for distinct levels of environmental severity and customization needs. Understanding these differences is crucial for recommending the right solution to our customers.

The AcuPanel is a highly capable industrial Panel PC, but it is not as extensively customizable as the Roughneck, nor is it designed for the absolute harshest, most extreme outdoor conditions that the Roughneck excels in.

Here are the primary distinctions, focusing on the AcuPanel's characteristics:

Environmental Extremity:

AcuPanel: Designed for "slightly less harsh environments" than the Roughneck. While still robust and Hazloc certified, its primary applications are often within control rooms, manufacturing floors, or indoor industrial settings where conditions are challenging but not as relentlessly severe as a drilling rig floor. Its brightness (800 NITS) is excellent for daylight, but the Roughneck's (up to 1000 NITS) is specifically optimized for direct sunlight.

Roughneck: Our flagship, purpose-built for the "absolute extremes" of outdoor use on rig floors, with superior resilience to direct sunlight and wider customization for external elements.

Customization Capabilities:

AcuPanel: Offers standard customizable options for I/O and mounting. However, it does not feature the same level of "unprecedented Hazloc customization" as the Roughneck. The AcuPanel is not designed with the same extensive internal space for integrating large, complex proprietary customer boards like dual MWD decoders, DAC cards, or multiple specialized modems directly into its chassis to the same degree as the Roughneck. Its modularity is more focused on standard industrial integrations rather than deep, multi-component consolidation.

Roughneck: Specifically designed with dedicated "custom board integration space" and a modular architecture that allows for the embedding and certification of numerous complex proprietary electronics and communication modules, often eliminating multiple external boxes and cables.

Target Applications:

AcuPanel: Ideal as a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in general industrial automation, manufacturing, processing plants, water treatment, and vehicle-integrated systems where a robust, all-in-one touchscreen PC is needed.

Roughneck: The go-to solution for the most demanding outdoor Hazloc applications, particularly in Oil & Gas drilling operations on the rig floor, where extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, and complex custom integrations are a daily reality.

In essence, while both are Hazloc-certified and highly durable, the AcuPanel offers a powerful and versatile solution for a broad range of industrial applications, whereas the Roughneck is engineered and optimized for the absolute pinnacle of extreme environments and unparalleled custom integration.

8. Warranty

Like all Acura Embedded Systems products, the AcuPanel comes with a 3-year "Bumper to Bumper" product warranty, demonstrating our confidence in its durability and our commitment to supporting our customers.

The Acura AcuPanel is a powerful, versatile, and reliable solution for industrial control and monitoring, embodying Acura's dedication to quality and performance in challenging environments.