Westermo recently unveiled the Hyrax-1000, a rugged, modular BoxPC engineered for demanding railway and industrial environments. Built in line with the open ModBlox7 standard developed by PICMG, this platform offers scalable performance options through various CPU configurations and supports extensive customization for diverse applications.
Despite its compact size, the Hyrax-1000 comes equipped with a comprehensive array of interfaces — including Gigabit Ethernet, RS232/422/485, DisplayPort, and USB 3.0 — in its base configuration. Its modular architecture allows users to add up to seven communication or interface modules, enabling tailored hardware setups. The housing supports multiple mounting options such as DIN rail, wall, and 19-inch rack, facilitating seamless integration into control cabinets, vehicles, or space-constrained environments.
Designed to meet the rigorous EN 50155 railway standard, the Hyrax-1000 operates reliably across temperatures from -40°C to +70°C, and is maintenance-free, making it ideal for long-term deployment in critical applications. It provides a versatile, future-proof platform for train manufacturers, railway operators, and system integrators seeking reliable alternatives to proprietary embedded systems.
Addressing industry challenges related to inflexible, proprietary solutions, the Hyrax-1000 leverages the open ModBlox7 standard — a scalable, modular platform architecture developed by PICMG with input from over 130 industry members. Westermo has been a key contributor to shaping this standard through collaboration with 18 industry partners, promoting interoperability and cross-vendor compatibility. The Hyrax-1000 is the first commercial embodiment of this vision, combining scalability, configurability, and integrated GNSS support for advanced edge computing applications such as telematics, diagnostics, passenger infotainment, IoT gateways, and cloud data services.
The system’s fanless and maintenance-free design, along with its flexible mounting options, allows for integration into vehicles and control cabinets, even in space-limited setups. Its modular design supports additional extension modules, including wireless options like Wi-Fi 3×3 MIMO (802.11ac) and LTE, with support for up to four SIM cards per module to enhance network coverage and operational flexibility. Wi-Fi modules support both client mode — enabling train-to-ground communication — and access point mode for onboard device connectivity.
Future plans include expanding the module ecosystem to further extend capabilities while maintaining an open-platform approach. The Hyrax-1000 features dedicated internal M.2 SSD mounting space, connected via the CPU’s SATA 3.0 port, supporting applications such as multimedia streaming, operational logging, and sensor data analytics.
