AAEON BOXER-8645AI Jetson AGX Orin-powered embedded AI system supports up to 8 GMSL2 cameras

AAEON BOXER-8645AI is an embedded AI system powered by NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin that features eight GMSL2 connectors working with e-con Systems’ NileCAM25 Full HD global shutter GMSL2 color cameras with up to 15-meter long cables.

The BOXER-8645AI is fitted with the Jetson AGX Orin 32GB with 32GB LPDDR5 and 64GB flash and up to 200 TOPS of AI performance. Other features include M.2 NVMe and 2.5-inch SATA storage, 10GbE and GbE networking ports,  HDMI videos, and a few DB9 connectors for RS232, RS485, DIO, and CAN Bus interfaces. The embedded system takes 9V to 36V wide DC input from a 3-pin terminal block.

AAEON BOXER-8645AI specifications:

• AI accelerator module – NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin 32GB
  • CPU – 8-core Arm Cortex-A78AE v8.2 64-bit processor with 2MB L2 + 4MB L3 cache
  • GPU / AI accelerators
    • NVIDIA Ampere architecture with 1792 NVIDIA CUDA cores and 56 Tensor Cores @ 1 GHz
    • DL Accelerator – 2x NVDLA v2.0
    • Vision Accelerator – PVA v2.0 (Programmable Vision Accelerator)
    • AI Performance – 200 TOPS (INT8) @ 50W / 100 TOPS for “dense” inteference
  • Video Encode – 1x 4K60 | 3x 4K30 | 6x 1080p60 | 12x 1080p30 (H.265)
  • Video Decode – 1x 8K30 | 2x 4K60 | 4x 4K30 | 9x 1080p60| 18x 1080p30 (H.265)
  • System Memory – 32GB 256-bit LPDDR5 @ 204.8 GB/s
  • Storage – 64GB eMMC 5.1 flash
• Storage
  • M.2 2280 M-Key socket for NVMe SSD
  • 2x 2.5-inch SATA slots
  • MicroSD card slot
• Video Output – HDMI 2.0 port
• Audio – Line Out jack
• Camera interfaces – 8x GMSL2 (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link 2) with FAKRA connectors compatible with NileCAM25 full HD global shutter camera with AR0234CS sensor, up to 15-meter cable
• Networking
  • 10GbE RJ45 LAN port
  • Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 LAN port
  • Up to 8x additional LAN ports (upon request)
  • Optional WiFi and Bluetooth via M.2 socket (see Expansion section)
  • Optional 4G LTE via M.2 socket (see Expansion section) and 2x SIM card slots
  • Optional GNSS support (I’d assume through the 4G LTE module?)
  • 7x antenna holes
• USB
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
  • 1x Micro USB for flashing the OS
• Serial
  • 2x Isolated CAN Bus via DB-9 connector
  • 2x RS-232/RS-485 via DB-9 connectors
  • 8x DIO via DB-9 connector
• Expansion
  • M.2 2230 E-Key socket for WiFi/BT
  • M.2 3052 B-Key socket for 4G LTE
  • M.2 2280 M-Key socket for NVMe SSD
• Security – TPM support
• Misc
  • 9-axis IMU sensor support
  • Power and Recovery buttons
  • Power LED
• Power Supply
  • 9V to 36V wide DC input via 3-pin Terminal Block
  • Switch for Ignition Delay On/Off
• Dimensions – 286 x 202 x 90mm)
• Weight – 5 kg
• Temperature Range – Operating: -25°C to 65°C with 0.5 m/s airflow; storage: -40°C to 85°C
• Humidity – 5 ~ 95% @ 40°C, non-condensing
• Anti-vibration – MIL-STD-810G, 514.6C Procedure 1, Category 4 Trucker/Semitrailer on US highway (Figure 514.6C-1-Category 4-Common carrier)
• Anti-Shock – MIL-STD-810G, Method 516.6, Procedure I, flight vehicle equipment
• Certifications – E-Mark, CE/FCC Class A

AAEON says the BOXER-8645AI runs Ubuntu Linux as part of the NVIDIA Jetpack 5.0 or above like every other Jetson Orin system on the market. GMSL2 cameras are used when high data transfer speed and low latency are required at distances up to 15m. In theory, it’s possible to extend MIPI CSI through kits such as the THine camera extension kit using Cat 5a “Ethernet” cables, but GSML2 cameras and FAKRA connectors make that more convenient with a single cable per camera.

We previously covered an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier AGX kit taking up to six GSML2 cameras from e-con Systems, but the BOXER-8645AI builds on that with a more powered Jetson AGX Orin model and up to eight GMSL2 cameras. The long cables and global shutter cameras (ideal for images with motion) make the solution especially useful for robotics (AMR) and automotive applications.

While AAEON and e-con Systems collaborated on the project, the BOXER-8645AI and NileCAM24 are sold separately for respectively $3,500 on AAEON eShop and $299 with a 15-meter cable on e-con Systems’ website.  That means a complete system with eight cameras would cost close to $6,000. If you want to evaluate the solution first, it’s cheaper to get started with a development kit from e-con Systems ($499 with one camera, but no AGX Orin module) instead, then use the BOXER-8645AI for deployments.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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