Engicam PX30.Core SoM & devkit run Ubuntu 20.04 with mainline Linux

Linux 5.11 was released a few days ago, and it’s always interesting to check out the changelog to find new hardware platforms that support mainline Linux. One of those is Engicam PX30.Core SoM based on Rockchip PX30 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 processor.

Engicam also worked with Amarula Solutions to develop an Ubuntu 20.04 image with mainline Linux compatible with EDIMM 2.2 and CTouch 2.0 carrier boards for PX30.Core CPU module.

Engicam PX30.Core SoM

Specifications:

SoC – RockChip PX30 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 @ 1.2GHz with Mali-G31 MP2 GPU with support for OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan VX 1.0, 1080p60 video encoding/decoding
System Memory – Up to 2 GB DDR4
Storage – 4GB eMMC flash (other capacities on request)
Audio – Audio codec on module
SO-DIMM edge connector
- Display Interfaces – 24-bit Parallel RGB, 18/24-bit LVDS
- Camera interface – 4-lane MIPI-CSI for up to 8MP camera
- Audio – I2S
- Networking – 10/100M Ethernet interface
- USB – USB OTG 2.0, USB HOST 2.0
- Other interfaces – UART, I2C, SPI, SDIO
Supply Voltage – + 5V DC
Dimensions – 67.6 x 32.1 mm

The company says the module supports Android, Linux using Buildroot or Yocto Project, and a Debian image is also provided. Engicam PC30.Core is designed for industrial applications, transportation, robotics, and biomedical/medical devices.

The product page has more information, including software and hardware manuals which are available through a free registration, which I tried, but the confirmation link did not work for me.

C.Touch IoT carrier board and open frame

The PX30.Core CPU module is compatible with C.Touch IoT carrier board working with other Engicam SO-DIMM0 modules, with the following key features:

Storage – MicroSD card slot
Display
- 1x General-purpose LCD connector with 1x 18 or 24-bit single-channel LVDS, 1x USB, 1x I2C for capacitive touch panels, 1x PWM for backlight control, and power signals for LCD (+3V3, +5V, 12V)
- 1x LCD connector to drive dual-channel displays (Option)
Audio – 3.5mm audio output
Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, WiFi & Bluetooth
USB – 1x USB Type-A port, 1x USB OTG device
Serial – 1x CAN Bus, 1x RS485, 1x RS232, 1x RS232 for OS console
Expansion – 1x expansion connector (I2C, SDIO or SPI, up to 10 GPIO), 2x USB (Option)
Power Supply – 15 to 30 V DCThe company also offers C.Touch IoT 10.1″, a 10.1-inch open-frame touchscreen display based on the carrier board.

Ubuntu 20.04 with mainline Linux on C.Touch IoT board/kit

While it’s not listed on Engicam website, Amarula Solution has ported Ubuntu 20.04 to PX30.Core module, CTouch 2.0 carrier board with the open frame board, as well as a larger EDIMM 2.0 carrier board.

All instructions to get started are posted on Amarula Wiki. They use their own repository to run Ubuntu 20.04 with Linux 5.10.0-rc1 and U-Boot v2020-10, but I suppose that it should work with mainline Linux from kernel.org unless some patchsets are not been upstreamed just yet.

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.