Linux-based touchscreen control device
For a leading specialist manufacturer of laboratory equipment
Challenge
The client sought to upgrade from a limited microcontroller-based touchscreen to a full-featured Linux-based control system. However, with low production volumes, developing a completely bespoke solution was prohibitively expensive.
Cost-efficiency and speed to market were key priorities, but the project couldn’t compromise on user experience. The new system needed to deliver a fully branded interface with nearly 100 unique screens, all within tight technical and commercial constraints.
Solution
To balance performance, flexibility, and cost, the team selected a widely available single-board computer, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5.
We then designed a custom interface board to seamlessly connect the CM5 to the client’s hardware using USB, Ethernet, and RS-485.
To accelerate development and reduce costs, we leveraged our CRIOS software platform—making it easier to build, adapt, and port the application to the new system.
Learnings
For low-volume, highly specialised products, fully bespoke solutions often come with high non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs that are hard to justify, yet off-the-shelf options rarely meet every requirement out of the box.
By combining off-the-shelf hardware with a custom interface board where needed, and leveraging Consult Red’s software accelerators, it was possible to strike the right balance, delivering a tailored, cost-effective solution without the overhead of a fully bespoke build.
Impact and Value
The chosen approach enabled our client to create a flexible platform that can serve as the foundation for their entire next-generation product line.
What was initially seen as too expensive to pursue became viable—thanks to the cost savings unlocked by Consult Red’s CRIOS accelerator. It turned a challenging ambition into an achievable and scalable solution.
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