We have to make a special effort every now and then to not get too snooty for our own good. Parallel streams and advanced DSP algorithms are all well and good, but let’s remember that FPGAs are making inroads in network control for the factory floor, with CAN applications being a great example. This week, MEN Micro Inc. launched a nice little PMC board based on a Cyclone II handling the protocols for four separate CAN interfaces.

Those pursuing mil-aero accounts already realize it’s often the simpler, ruggedized networks that pay the bills for commercial-grade 10G and 40G enterprise serial links. Similarly, the ruggedized single-board computers on the factory floor can serve as a test for fairly advanced protocol handling (albeit at lower speeds than the data center), while still carrying a decent ASP. Blue-collar apps still matter, people.