AAEON has released its first Arm-based SMARC 2.1 compliant CPU module, the uCOM-IMX8P built on the NXP i.MX 8M Plus SoC and offered with up to 4GB RAM, up to 128GB eMMC flash. and support for a range of interfaces such as dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, PCIe 3.0, and more.
The 82mm x 50mm SMARC system-on-module is designed for industrial use with a -40°C to 85°C operating temperature range, Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) support, CAN Bus, MIPI interfaces, and more. That makes it suitable for applications such as predictive maintenance, process optimization, and automated control systems with cameras and displays.
AAEON uCOM-IMX8P specifications:
- SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Plus
- CPU – Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.6 GHz
- GPU – Vivante GC380 2D GPU and GC7000UL 3D GPU
- VPU – 1080p60 video decoder & encoder
- AI accelerator – Optional 2.3 TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
- System Memory – Up to 4 LPDDR4
- Storage – 16 or 32GB eMMC 5.1 flash (optional 64 or 128GB flash)
- 314-pin MXM 3.0 edge connector
- Display I/F
- HDMI 2.0a
- 4-lane dual-channel LVDS
- 4-lane MIPI-DSI (by request)
- HDMI 2.0a
- Camera I/F
- 1x dual-lane MIPI-CSI interface
- 1x quad-lane MIPI-CSI interface
- Audio – 1x I2S interfaces
- Networking – 2x Gigabit Ethernet, including one TSN capable
- PCIe – PCIe Gen3 x1
- USB – 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 2.0 OTG
- CAN – 2x CAN 2.0 FS (1.8V)
- 1x SPI, 1x QSPI, 5x I2C, 4x UART (2x 2-wire including one for debug port, 2x 4-wire)
- 14x GPIO with interrupt, one GPIO with PWM
- Display I/F
- Security – Optional TPM 2.0
- Misc – Watchdog timer, Real-time clock, boot select for SD card or eMMC flash
- Supply Voltage – 3.3V to 5.25V DC
- Dimensions – 82 x 50 mm (SMARC specification 2.1)
- Temperature Range
- Operational: -40°C to +85°C; optional: 0°C to +60°C
- Storage: -40°C to +85°C
- Humidity -0-90% RH operating, non-condensing
- MTBF – 3,780,780 hours
- Certifications – CE/FCC Class A
AAEON says the uCOM-IMX8P SMARC 2.1 CPU module supports Debian 12 by default, but Windows 10 IoT, Yocto Linux, and Android support is available upon request. Since it’s designed for industrial communication Modbus, MQTT, and OPCUA are also supported with the latter only upon request likely because there’s a license fee. I can’t find a reference SMARC carrier board, so it’s unclear whether AAEON made its own or relies on customers’ designs instead.
Having been founded in 1992, AAEON has designed and manufactured industrial PCs and embedded solutions for many years, but they only entered the Compute-on-Module (CoM) and System-on-Module (SoM) market more recently, and all their solutions were x86-based so far. The company’s first SMARC 2.1 compliant module – the Intel Alder Lake-N-powered uCOM-ADN system-on-module – was only released last June, and the uCOM-IMX8P is AAEON’s very first SMARC module based on an Arm SoC. They had previously launched the μCOM-BT based on Bay Trail CPU in 2015, but it appears they left that specific market for about five years, before deciding it was a good time to come back to it.
Having said that, AAEON is a bit late to the party as most companies announced their SMARC 2.1 system-on-modules with NXP i.MX 8M Plus in 2021 including ADLINK, Congatec, and iWave Systems among others.
AAEON did not provide availability and pricing information for the module, although it’s quite common not to have public pricing for CPU modules. For reference, the Intel N97-based uCOM-ADN SMARC module from the company sells for $269, and the Arm should be fairly cheaper. Further details, including a user manual, can be found on the product page.
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.
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