Avnet RZBoard V2L is an Arm Linux SBC for AI vision applications that’s about the size of a business card (or a Raspberry Pi), and powered by a Renesas RZ/V2L Cortex-A55/M33 processor with an on-chip DRP-AI accelerator.
The board also comes with 2GB DDR4, 32GB eMMC flash, 16MB QSPI flash, Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, multiple USB ports, MIPI DSI/CSI interfaces, as well as a Pi HAT compatible 40-pin GPIO header.
RZBoard V2L specifications:
- SoC – Renesas RZ/V2L with 2x Arm Cortex A55 cores @ up to 1.2 GHz, 1x Arm Cortex M33 real-time core @ 200 MHz, Arm Mali G31 GPU @ 500MHz, DRP-AI accelerator, DRP Simple ISP (full HD), and a H.264 Hardware Video Enc/Dec (full HD)
- System Memory – 2GB DDR4 (16-bit with ECC)
- Storage
- 32GB eMMC flash
- 16MB QSPI NOR Flash
- MicroSD card socket
- Video Output – MIPI DSI and HDMI (selectable)
- Camera I/F – MIPI CSI connector
- Audio – 3.5mm stereo jack with mic input
- Networking
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
- 801.11ac Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 module plus u.FL connected external antenna
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 Host ports and 1x OTG USB 2.0 port
- CAN – CAN FD Interface and transceiver
- Expansion
- 40-pin Raspberry Pi expansion header
- 8-pin WTB Header (ADC in, CAN-FD)
- 8-pin WTB Header (UART, USB, CAN-FD)
- Debugging – 10-pin JTAG/SWD debugger header
- Misc – 1x user RGB LED, 2x button switches
- Power Supply – 5V via USB Type-C port
- Dimensions – 85 x 56mm form factor
- Temperature Range – 0~70°C
Just like other boards based on Renesas RZ/G2L and RZ/V2L, such as Geniatech “AHAURA” and “AKITIO” development boards, the RZBoard V2L SBC is supported by a BSP based on the “super long term” support Civil Infrastructure Platform Linux that will be maintained for at least 10 years. Avnet also offers reference designs that highlight AI vision implementations using the DRP-AI core. I was unable to find software documentation for the board at the time of writing.
The board ships with a dual-band U.FL antenna and a Quick Start instruction card. Optional accessories include a 7-inch MIPI display, a 5MP MIPI CSI camera, and a 5V/3A USB Type-C power supply. The SBC targets vision accelerated artificial intelligence, Edge AI applications, machine learning, access control systems, inventory and asset monitoring, surveillance cameras with person/abject recognition, Smart Home appliances, and industrial robotics.
While the RZBoard V2L single board computer has a form factor similar to Raspberry Pi 4, it targets industrial applications, and Avnet has launched pre-preorders for the board for $149 with shipping scheduled to start in Q3 2022. Additional information may be found on the product page and press release.
Via Hackster.io
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
With this, V2L starts to look a bit like a more professional competition to RK356x. It may not be as performant, but it comes with company that has proven to make well documented and long-term supported Linux platforms. My hope is that someone else might see it this way and push other companies to match Renesas in these qualities.
> push other companies to match Renesas in these qualities
What do you miss from e.g. Microchip, NXP or TI or any other SoC maker addressing the ‘Linux on ARM’ market wrt ‘well documented and long-term supported Linux platforms’?
Yeah, I’d argue that NXP has the best software support/documentation. Step-by-step guides for development of any part of Linux and Android, and a very simple and powerful manufacturing tool (mfg tool).
Readily available chips in smaller order without stupid pricing?
Do ‘well documented and long-term supported Linux platforms’ exist without stupid pricing? Asides x86 I mean?
Just thinking about what differentiates the ‘Android e-waste world’ from those SoC vendors that target ‘Linux on ARM’ in the first place…
It is a $17 chip.
RK3566 $7, RK3568 $10
Interesting board. I am happy to see Renesas dev boards at affordable prices. Hope that it will be widely available. Although it is said to target industrial applications, the temperature range 0~70°C doesn’t make it suitable for harsh industrial environments.