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CloseCONNECT TECH: DRIVING INDUSTRIAL AUTONOMY THROUGH ADVANCED GMSL CONNECTIVITY
With an estimated 40% of warehouses understaffed1, rising energy efficiency regulations, and automation-driven safety concerns, manufacturers are under unprecedented pressure. To address these challenges, many turn to an ever-growing mix of robots, cobots, and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to enhance flexibility, cut costs, and help maintain safe, efficient operations.
These intelligent machines have their own challenges: operating reliably in extreme temperatures, dust, shock/vibration, all while processing precise, real-time vision data. Additionally, growing demands for high resolution, multicamera, vision technology for navigation, and limited data transmission can cause performance bottlenecks.
The variety of applications and types of robots these vision systems must enable makes it challenging to create modular and scalable platforms that can be customized to application needs.
Such was the case with Connect Tech, a leader in embedded-edge AI hardware for industrial applications. Fortunately, their longtime, trusted partner, Analog Devices (ADI), had a next-generation connectivity solution, Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL™).
“Our partnership with ADI strengthens Connect Tech’s ability to deliver high-performance GMSL connectivity for advanced autonomous systems. This collaboration enables our customers to reach new levels of autonomy with reliable, scalable solutions.”Rob Callaghan
Chief Product Officer | Connect Tech
AT A GLANCE
COMPANY
Connect Tech is a leading manufacturer of rugged, embedded-edge AI hardware for industrial applications. Specializing in compact, durable solutions, Connect Tech’s agile engineering team delivers custom designs when off-the-shelf won’t suffice. Committed to innovation and customer success, Connect Tech strives to exceed expectations and push the boundaries of excellence.
GOAL
Develop camera vision subsystems and platforms to process camera vision technology and data from multiple, high resolution cameras. This enables digitalization, autonomy, and seamless, machine-to-machine interoperability in sensor-rich applications like smart factories, agriculture, and mining.
CHALLENGE
Connect Tech needed a deterministic, high speed, low latency video link that supports multiple high resolution cameras placed remotely from the processor. This requires a high bandwidth video link to transmit data to the processor, ideally using standard interconnects for scalability. These applications are often space-constrained, such as in robotic arms, so minimizing bulkiness from wiring is crucial.
SOLUTION
GMSL is a cost-efficient, simple, and scalable serializer and deserializer (SERDES) technology designed to achieve a new level of performance for high speed video links. It provides reliable transport of high resolution digital video for camera and display-based applications. It supports power over coax (PoC), making it suitable for applications with space, weight, and size constraints.
EST. SHORTAGE IN SKILLED MANUFACTURING WORKERS BY 20302
Mobile and fixed robots fill labor gaps, reduce costs, and help improve efficiency, but manufacturers must carefully select motor drives, vision technology, connectivity, and power sources while planning their placement in the factory.
A LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH LASTING IMPLICATIONS
Since 2016, ADI has been a trusted partner of Connect Tech, providing high performance, reliable, DC-to-DC power supply and video link (GMSL) solutions to enable Connect Tech’s camera vision solutions.
With GMSL, Connect Tech experiences two distinct advantages over competitor solutions: higher speed (12 Gbps with GMSL3 vs. roughly 7 Gbps on forward channel from competitor serial links); and adaptive equalization to maintain signal integrity for robust operation across long distances, harsh environments, and cable aging/bending. In addition, GMSL provides a budget-conscious solution, as video, audio, control, data, and power can all be transported on a single channel.
Beyond this, because ADI controls the GMSL roadmap, Connect Tech can co-develop features that support innovations or streamline designs to cut costs and accelerate time to market. This allows Connect Tech to rapidly expand and tailor its portfolio to meet evolving market demands.
ACCELERATING AUTONOMY ON THE CONNECTIVITY HIGHWAY
Now in its 3rd generation, ADI’s GMSL3 technology enables high speed data transfer over long distances, making it an ideal solution for Connect Tech’s high performance, rugged, industrial, and autonomous applications.
Connect Tech’s GMSL3 camera platform is an expansion board that allows up to 8 cameras to be connected to the Jetson AGX Orin system-on-module (SOM). Since many different types of GMSL cameras are available, the platform has user selectable options to interface with GMSL3 protocols at different operating frequencies.
Paired with Connect Tech’s Anvil-RX Rugged System, the combined solution delivers reliable, high bandwidth, vision processing capable of handling mission-critical deployments in extreme environments. It supports multiple GMSL3 camera inputs and is ideal for AMRs, agricultural, mining, and industrial automation.
“Connect Tech is integrating cameras, GMSL, and NVIDIA SoMs (system on modules) into a robust vision system. GMSL acts as a ‘connectivity highway.’ Combined in a system that can process all the data GMSL transfers, is what makes it desirable and a powerful physical layer and useful for such vision-based autonomous systems (like AMRs).”Preyksha Rajan
Senior Engineer, Field Applications - Analog Devices
CONNECT TECH’S AUTONOMOUS APPLICATIONS USING GMSL
| APPLICATION | DESCRIPTION | CONNECT TECH/ADI GMSL SOLUTION |
| Mining | Autonomous mining vehicles operate in remote, rugged environments with high levels of dust, vibration, and temperature extremes. |
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| Agriculture | Autonomous agricultural equipment (drones, ground vehicles) requires high resolution, real-time imaging to monitor crop health, detect pests, and optimize resource usage across large farmlands. |
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| Warehouse/Logistics | Modern warehouses require AMRs to navigate complex environments, avoid obstacles, and optimize inventory movement in real time. |
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ADI GMSL: REAL-TIME SENSOR AND PERCEPTION DATA THROUGH A SINGLE CHANNEL
ADI’s GMSL3 is a high speed, SERDES solution that transmits ultrahigh resolution video, audio, control, and power over a single cable with microsecond latency. Supporting up to 12 Gbps per lane, it simplifies system design while enabling real-time, AI-driven vision in automation, robotics, agriculture, and manufacturing. All GMSL parts are also AECQ-100 automotive-grade.
Camera/Sensor To Processor
Processor to Display
GMSL3 supports complex video routing, ASIL-B functional safety support, and diagnostics, while meeting strict EMI/EMC standards for enhanced safety. Its low latency and precise synchronization help power autonomous navigation, defect detection, and precision pick-and-place. Deployed in millions of automotive links, GMSL3 is scalable and ready for industrial, healthcare, aerospace, and consumer applications—driving smarter decision-making, reducing downtime, and improving safety and sustainability.
GMSL CONNECTIVITY TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS
Reduce Cabling Infrastructure
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Scalable System Design
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Supports Highest Resolutions
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Safety, Security, and Sustainability
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The Value of GMSL • High bandwidth data transfer with bidirectional control and power |
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VISION AND CONNECTIVITY TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADVANCED, INDUSTRIAL AUTONOMY
As manufacturers continue to face staffing challenges, evolving regulations, rising productivity demands, and rapid AI advancements, Connect Tech and ADI have risen to the challenge. Leveraging the GMSL3 connectivity solution has enabled Connect Tech to help bridge the gap between increasingly complex vision technology and the need for reliable, high performance , and adaptable AMRs, especially in challenging environments, like industrial manufacturing.
References
1 “2024 State of Warehouse Labor Report.” Instawork.
2 “Creating Pathways for Tomorrow’s Workforce Today: Beyond Reskilling in Manufacturing.” Deloitte Insights, Manufacturing Institute, May 2021.
