Reducing AMR Fleet Management TCO with IEI's Compact Edge Management Platform
Background
When deploying an AMR management system on-site, the customer initially used a commercial rackmount server. In practice, running AMR management software on this setup required a dedicated server room, along with costly rackmount hardware and commercial backup software. Combined with server room management, installation, and ongoing maintenance expenses, the total deployment cost became a barrier for manufacturers that prioritize durability and cost efficiency when adopting AMR solutions.
System Requirements
The customer’ s priorities were practical and clearly defined: Enough performance, fast recovery, maintainability, and low deployment overhead.
1.
Optimized performance with low-latency
response
The platform had to run the AMR management
system reliably and be deployed at the edge to
reduce communication latency between AMRs and
the management host.
2.
Fast backup and recovery without expensive
third-party software
The customer wanted to reduce dependency
on enterprise backup solutions and their
licensing cost, while keeping rapid restore
capability.
3.
Remote support without leased lines or
private networks
Even in environments without a dedicated
WAN/ private network, the system needed to
support remote maintenance using on-site Wi-Fi
or mobile hotspot connectivity.
4.
Lower installation cost and faster
rollout
The solution had to avoid racks, server
rooms, and air-conditioning build-out—enabling
quick deployment directly on site.
Solution
The customer adopted theIEI iVEC (IEI Virtualization Edge Computer) all-in-one platform and migrated the AMR management system to aNext-generation edge computing platform. Virtualization enabled a more agile management model. Built-in backup and restore capabilities improved system resilience. A web-based management interface also allowed the system vendor and IT teams to perform rapid on-site support and deployment, enabling an efficient remote operations and maintenance workflow.
System Architecture
-
Running the AMR Management Application on the
iVEC platform
The system provides up to 32 virtual CPUs to meet real-world workload and multitasking requirements, and supports AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) within the virtualized environment to enable hardware-accelerated compute. -
Built-in recovery and automatic backup on
iVEC
Enables fast backup and restore, reducing the cost burden of purchasing third-party backup and recovery software. -
Edge deployment on-site network
The server can be deployed directly in the field and share the existing Wi-Fi network infrastructure used by AMRs. This reduces communication latency and eliminates the need for additional server room and air-conditioning infrastructure, lowering deployment cost and accelerating rollout. -
IEI Remote Management (iRM)
Provides a web management console for browser-based remote administration and maintenance, reducing on-site service visits and improving response time.
Why IEI
1.
Right-sized performance with better cost
efficiency
An industrial-grade compact design with an
Intel® Core™ i9 processor delivers up to
32 vCPU virtualization performance, meeting the
workload needs of a single AMR management
system. Compared with aXeon-based commercial
rackmount server configuration, the overall cost
aligns more closely with end-customer
expectations.
2.
Lower backup software cost
Built-in recovery and automatic backup
eliminate the need to purchase commercial backup
software, aligning the customer’s requirements
with a sustainable cost structure for both the
customer and the solution provider.
3.
Flexible remote support with simplified
maintenance
Supports dynamic outbound connectivity via
mobile hotspot or on-site IT Wi-Fi. Without
requiring a VPN or private network, the built-in
remote management interface establishes an
operations channel for immediate support. iVEC
also provides a Jump Server function, giving OT
personnel controlled access entry for vendors
and enabling remote troubleshooting and
maintenance. This reduces on-site support demand
while improving response time. visits and
improving service responsiveness.
4.
Significantly reduced deployment
cost
No rack cabinet, no server room, and no
air-conditioning build-out required, shortening
installation time and lowering upfront
investment.
Summary
By adopting an IEI compact industrial edge server and running the AMR management system in a VM, the customer replaced high-cost rack servers with a solution aligned to real operational requirements. The new architecture reduces backup software spend, improves remote maintenance in sites without dedicated network infrastructure, and lowers installation cost through rack-free deployment. The result is an AMR fleet management platform that can be rolled out faster, at lower cost, and with easier ongoing operations.

