#cm5

Desk of Ladyada - I2S DACs, Claude API, and Compute Module Backpack 🤖🎒🥧 https://youtu.be/XihMNhTyUlg

I'm currently doing a rewatch of Criminal Minds and I just rewatched the season 5 episode "Mosley Lane" and I realised that I have some fun facts about the episode that I want to share, mainly about the guest stars.

This is Matthew Gray Gubler's Criminal Minds directorial debut, and he goes on to direct 11 more episodes. Previous to directing this episode, Gubler had directed a music video for the Killers ("Don't Shoot Me Santa"), two short films, Matthew Grey Gubler: The Unauthorised Documentary (behind the scenes of Criminal Minds), and Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal (behind the scenes of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou)

As well as being Gubler's directorial debut, it also features two guest stars who he has worked with both before and after this episode: the actors of the UnSubs, Bud Cort and Beth Grant

Gubler had worked with Bud Cort on The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004), where Bud Cort portrayed Bill Ubell, the bond company stooge. Gubler portrayed Steve Zissou's loyal intern Nico (AKA Intern #1), as well as working as Wes Anderson's own intern

Gubler would go on to work with Beth Grant on the film Band of Robbers (2015), with Gubler as Joe Harper and Grant as Widow Douglas, and the TV show Dollface (2019-22), with Gubler as Wes and Grant as Cat Lady

Ann Cusack guest stars as Sarah Hillridge, the mother of Charlie the first child to be abducted and the one to bring all the families together. She is a member of the Cusack acting family, with her siblings including John Cusack (Say Anything, Grosse Pointe Blank, Con Air) and Joan Cusack (Working Girl, Toy Story 4, Broadcast News)

Barbara Lynch, mother of Aimee the most recent abduction victim, is portrayed by Brooke Smith whose breakout role was as Catherine Martin in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Charlie Hillridge is portrayed by a young Evan Peters and while he had guest starred in several TV shows before this, this episode was released the same year as Kick-Ass (2010), his first major movie. Also, he would make his debut in his most well-known project, American Horror Story, the following year

Heh, so, this is CM5 — Mystery of the Snow Pearls (1985). In an utterly weird development, it is a novelty solo module that uses a red “magic viewer” to reveal text hidden by red ink (think the old game Password). Usually solos, especially gimmick solos, either show up at the end of the module series or get their own module code. Like MV1 — Midnight on Dagger Alley, where MV literally stands for Magic Viewer. I dunno how this one snuck into the middle of the CM-series, but here we are.

It seems pretty thick for a gimmick solo. The inner cover has all sorts of odd treasure things and there is a giant fold-out map. But aside of the intro text, the pre-generated character and the back cover, everything is obscured by red masking. I only have so much patience, so I have no idea if this module is any good. An insane Elminster cosplayer stole a magic pearl and you need to get it back.

In today’s rapidly evolving industrial automation and IoT landscape, enterprises demand more than simple logic control. The requirements now extend to edge computing, intelligent gateways, protocol conversion, and remote operations. Traditional PLCs and industrial PCs are showing limitations in performance, scalability, and ecosystem compatibility. The ARMxy BL460 Series from BLIIoT is designed precisely to meet these challenges, positioning itself as the next-generation industrial controller.

High-Performance Architecture for Complex Computing

The BL460 Series is powered by the Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, delivering performance far beyond conventional ARM controllers. With up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, it easily handles industrial logic control, edge computing, data analytics, and even AI inference. Its integrated VideoCore VII GPU supports Vulkan 1.2, OpenGL ES 3.1, and 4K@60fps video decoding, making it ideal for industrial applications requiring human-machine interfaces and visualization.

Modular Expansion for All Scenarios

One of BL460’s greatest strengths lies in its flexible I/O expansion design:

Multiple Ethernet Ports: Configurations with 1–3 ports, supporting both gigabit and fast Ethernet, adaptable to diverse network topologies.

X/Y Series IO Boards: Modular options for RS485, RS232, DI/DO, AI/AO, relay outputs, PWM, temperature sensors, and more—covering nearly all industrial interface needs.

Wireless & Storage Expansion: Support for 4G/5G/WiFi/GPS modules, M.2 SSDs, Mini PCIe slots, and SIM cards, ensuring future-proof connectivity and storage.

This modular design allows BL460 to be customized for different application scenarios, truly achieving “one device, multiple uses.”

Complete Software Ecosystem for Fast Development

BL460 is fully compatible with the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, supporting Linux, Raspberry Pi OS, Docker, Node-Red, and Qt. It comes with BLIoTLink protocol conversion software, enabling seamless communication across Modbus, PLC, BACnet, IEC104, MQTT, OPC UA, and integration with major cloud platforms such as AWS IoT, ThingBoard, Ignition, Alibaba Cloud, and Huawei Cloud. With BLRAT remote access tools and the QuickConfig setup utility, developers and operators can deploy and maintain systems with ease, significantly reducing costs.

Industrial-Grade Reliability

BL460 has passed rigorous electromagnetic compatibility and environmental adaptability tests:

Operating Temperature: -20℃ to +85℃, suitable for extreme environments.

EMC Compliance: Certified to GB/T and IEC Class A standards, with ESD, EFT, surge, and RF immunity.

Robust Design: Aluminum alloy + stainless steel casing, DIN-rail or wall mounting, IP30 protection rating, ensuring long-term stability in industrial deployments.

These features guarantee reliable operation across power, transportation, manufacturing, and medical industries.

Wide Application Coverage

The BL460 Series is already applied across multiple industries:

Industrial control and PLC replacement

Edge computing gateways

Energy storage systems and EV charging stations

Smart manufacturing and robotic control

Medical devices (blood analyzers)

Rail transit and communication management units

It is not just a controller—it is an intelligent industrial platform.

Conclusion

With its high-performance ARM architecture, modular expansion, complete software ecosystem, and industrial-grade reliability, the BL460 Series redefines the standard for industrial controllers. It not only replaces traditional PLCs but also serves as a core node for edge computing and IoT gateways, truly embodying the future of industrial intelligence.

BL460 is more than a controller—it is the cornerstone of next-generation industrial automation.