As quick-service restaurants (QSR) evolve, speed is no longer the only expectation. Customers now look for a smoother, more personalized, and visually engaging ordering experience. For QSR operators, this shift is driving the need for smarter in-store technology to improve service efficiency, reduce customer waiting times, and support more flexible business models.
In the future Smart QSR environment, every customer touchpoint can become a connected digital experience. Dynamic content on digital menu boards can change by time of day, and promotions can be updated instantly. Automated pickup zones and grab-and-go retail points can help redirect traffic during peak hours. Behind these experiences, compact and reliable embedded computing platforms play a critical role in enabling real-time content playback, device control, and seamless system integration within limited restaurant space.
Dynamic 4-Screen Digital Menu Boards for High-Impact Customer Engagement
In modern QSR stores, the menu board above the counter is more than a price list. It is a key visual communication platform that influences customer decisions and highlights promotions. A 4-screen dynamic digital menu board allows operators to display high-resolution product images, limited-time offers, and video content across multiple displays, creating a more immersive and engaging ordering experience. The system must deliver smooth, high-resolution video output across four screens without lag or visual interruption.
DSP522: High-Performance Digital Signage Player for Dynamic 4-Screen Menu Boards
4 HDMI with 4K Ultra HD for Synchronized Multi-Screen Display
Designed for dynamic digital menu board applications, the DSP522 features four HDMI 2.1 ports with a cable lock design and supports 4K Ultra HD output, enabling QSR operators to build stable, high-resolution 4-screen menu board configurations. This allows restaurants to display vivid product images with immersive visual quality, creating a more engaging ordering experience above the counter.
Scalable Intel® Processor Options for 4K Content Playback
The DSP522 offers scalable performance options for different digital menu board requirements. The 10-core Intel® Core™ i5-1335UE provides higher processing headroom for multi-screen 4K Ultra HD playback, dynamic content scheduling, and background management tasks, while the 5-core Intel® Processor U300E offers an efficient option for stable, power-conscious signage deployment.
Compact, Fanless, and Connectivity-Ready Design
With its fanless, power-efficient design and compact 20 x 16.5 x 4 cm form factor, the DSP522 can be easily installed behind displays, inside signage enclosures, or in limited counter-area spaces. It also supports 1GbE, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi/BT, and optional 3G/4G/5G expansion, helping restaurants update digital content efficiently across connected store environments.
Smart Grab-and-Go Vending Machines for Faster Peak-Hour Service
During peak dining hours, not every customer needs to place a full meal order at the counter. Some may only want a quick snack, dessert, or drink, such as egg tarts, ice cream, bottled beverages, or limited-time promotional items. By placing smart grab-and-go vending machines near the entrance or pickup area, QSR operators can redirect simple purchases away from the main ordering line, improving overall service flow. The controller, of course, requires sufficient I/O interfaces and a compact, rugged design meeting industrial-grade standards.
PICO338: Compact Pico-ITX SBC for Smart Grab-and-Go Vending Machines
Ultra-Compact and Power-Efficient Design for Space-Limited Machines
Powered by Intel® Processor N97, N150, or Intel® Core™ i3-N305 with 8GB LPDDR5 onboard memory and optional 16GB support, the PICO338 provides efficient computing performance with relatively low power consumption for smart vending machine applications. The compact form factor allows it to be easily embedded into all types of space-constrained smart vending machines.
Rich I/O for Peripheral Integration and Remote Maintenance
To support the various devices inside a smart grab-and-go vending machine, the PICO338 offers flexible I/O interfaces for system integration. With HDMI, LVDS, four USB ports, DIO, and COM, it can connect with touch panels, payment terminals, QR code scanners, sensors, and dispensing mechanisms. Its dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and M.2 wireless expansion ensure reliable connectivity, while Wake-on-LAN and PXE Boot ROM enable efficient remote access, system recovery, and large-scale device management across QSR deployments.
Reliable and Secure Operation for Unattended QSR Deployment
Designed for long-term operation in self-service environments, the PICO338 supports a wide operating temperature range of up to -20°C to +70°C, helping ensure stable performance in semi-outdoor vending machines. Its built-in hardware monitoring function helps detect CPU/system temperature, voltage, and fan speed, while onboard TPM 2.0 enhances platform security for transaction-related and connected vending applications.
