DFI VP070-M8M NXP i.MX 8M 7" In-Vehicle Panel PCs with Front IP65, E-Mark and CAN Bus

In a cab or on a dashboard, a separate computer and monitor means two boxes to mount, cable and power from the vehicle. The DFI VP070-M8M series is a family of 7″ in-vehicle panel PCs that combines both in one fanless housing, with an IP65 front, a PCAP touchscreen and an NXP i.MX 8M Arm processor behind it. DFI aims it at in-vehicle driver HMI, with smart ignition control that sets power delay and protection times.

Both VP070-M8M builds share one design. The 7 inch PCAP display runs at 1024 x 600 with 425 nits brightness. Storage is 16 GB of eMMC 5.1, with up to 64 GB optional, plus a microSD slot, and Android 9.0 is the default image with Yocto Linux 2.5 as an option. I/O covers one GbE port, one RS-232/422/485 port, one RS-232 port, CAN bus on DB9, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and micro USB OTG. M.2 slots take an optional 4G LTE module with Nano SIM and optional Wi-Fi, and a 6-axis IMU and an optional 2 W speaker amplifier are built in.

The two builds differ in processor and memory. The VP070-M8M-D carries the i.MX 8M Dual, two Cortex-A53 cores at 1.3 GHz with 2 GB of LPDDR4, for a single job list or status application. The VP070-M8M-Q carries the i.MX 8M Quad, four cores at 1.3 GHz with 4 GB, for terminals that run navigation, dispatch and messaging together. Both use the same housing, display and I/O, so a fleet can standardise on one mounting and one cable set.

In practice the VP070-M8M series suits driver displays in buses, delivery vans, forklifts and agricultural or construction machinery. Power is 9 to 36 V DC with ACC/IGN control and configurable power delay, both builds run fanless from -20 °C to 70 °C, and the aluminium and steel housing fits by panel or VESA mount. DFI lists E-Mark (E24), CE, FCC, UKCA and RoHS compliance for the VP070-M8M. In practice the 425-nit screen works best in enclosed cabs out of direct sun; where the screen faces daylight, the 1200-nit builds of the 10.1 inch VP101-M8M are the closer match. Storage temperature runs from -30 °C to 80 °C for vehicles parked in extreme weather.