Avnet MaaxBoard 8ULP will be one of the first single board computers (SBC) based on the new NXP i.MX 8ULP Cortex-A35/M33 processor designed for Edge audio and HMI applications, and featuring NXP’s EdgeLock for device-to-cloud security.
The board will come with 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash, a MIPI DSI display connector, a MIPI CSI camera connector, Fast Ethernet and WiFi 5 connectivity, a digital microphone, and a 3.5mm stereo audio jack, and provide expansion capabilities via a 40-pin header for Raspberry Pi HATs and a 16-pin Shuttle Click header for MikroE Click add-on boards.
MaaXBoard 8ULP SBC specifications:
- SoC – NXP i.MX 8ULP processor with 2x Arm Cortex-A35 core @ 1.0 GHz, 1x Arm Cortex-M33 real-time core @ 216 MHz, 1x HiFi 4 audio DSP @ 600 MHz, 1x Fusion DSP @ 200 MHz for low-power voice and sensor hub processing, as well as 2D and 3D GPUs and 768 KB shared RAM on-chip
- System Memory – 2 GB LPDDR4X (for A35), 8 MB Octal SPI PSRAM (for M33)
- Storage – 32 GB eMMC 5.1 flash (for A35), 4 MB Octal SPI NOR Flash (for M33)
- Display I/F – MIPI DSI LCD interface
- Camera I/F – MIPI-CSI Camera Interface
- Audio – Audio Codec, DMIC, stereo audio jack, 6-pin WTB Header (ADC in, DAC out)
- Networking
- 10/100M Ethernet RJ45 port
- Optional 801.11ac Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 AzureWave M.2 module + u.FL external antenna connector
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x USB 2.0 Type-C device port
- Expansion
- 40-pin Raspberry Pi compatible GPIO header
- 16-pin MikroE Shuttle Click header
- M.2 socket on the bottom side of the board mostly for WiFi and Bluetooth
- Debugging – 10-pin JTAG/SWD debugger header
- Misc – 1x user RGB LED, 3x buttons
- Power Supply – 5V/3A via USB-Type C connector
- Dimensions – SBC: 85 x 56mm (Raspberry Pi-like form factor); MaaxBoard 8ULP SOM: 43 x 36mm
- Temperature Range – 0 to 70°C
There’s little information about software at this time, except the board will be running Linux. What the company calls the LPAV domain (Low Power Audio Video) has a HiFi 4 DSP (600 MHz) core
to support advanced audio, machine learning, and sensor applications, while the Fusion DSP (200 MHz) core for low-power audio/voice use cases such as wake-word detection.
The MaaXBoard 8ULP board will be offered with optional 7-inch MIPI DSI touchscreen display, 5MP MIPI CSI camera, and/or 5V/3A USB Type-C power supply. Avnet expects customers to use the board for Edge-AI applications, machine learning, secure entry access-control systems, inventory and asset monitoring, surveillance cameras with recognition, Smart Home appliances, and industrial robots.
Avnet has not provided pricing information for MaaXBoard 8ULP SBC because it is an early announcement that was made for Embedded World 2022, and the board is only expected to ship in Q1 2023. Additional information may 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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That’s a SoM with a Pi-sized carrier, both look really neat, and I wonder if one could be able to order them separately?
I’m not sure the carrier board can be purchased separately, but the SOM will certainly be:
AES-MAAXB-8ULP-SOM-G – MaaXBoard 8ULP System-on-Module
That’s from the product brief. There’s also a link to it https://avnet.me/maaxboard-8ulp-som, but it’s not working right now.
I hate these 5V high current USB-C dumb chargers, just implement PD, OK?