CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

January 11, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

ROCK Base triple-frequency RTK/GNSS base station works with Web3 GEODNET decentralized network

ROCK Robotic has announced the ROCK Base triple-band multi-constellation RTK/GNSS base station that works with the Web3 GEODNET decentralized GNSS reference network, with the solution designed to offer centimeter accuracy to support applications such as civil surveying, high-definition mapping, digital twin creation, and robotic solutions. Real-time Kinematic (RTK) is a relative positioning technique relying on GNSS (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou …) and allowing centimeter positioning accuracy. The technique requires an RTK “Base station” like the ROCK Base and a lower-cost “Rover station” typically attached to a vehicle or drone. For higher accuracy, it’s also possible to use a Network RTK: Network RTK is based on the use of several widely spaced permanent stations. Data from reference stations is combined in a common data processing in a control center. The control center computes corrections for the spatially correlated errors within the network. These corrections are transmitted to the rover. Comparing to […]

January 10, 2023January 11, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Maker Feather AIoT S3 – An ESP32-S3 board programmable with CircuitPython or Arduino

Cytron Maker Feather AIoT S3 is an ESP32-S3 board compatible with the Adafruit Feather form factor and suitable for makers and STEM education with features like LEDs for GPIOs, a buzzer, expansion headers and connectors, and support for CircuitPython & Arduino. The WiFi and Bluetooth LE IoT board also supports LiPo and Li-Ion batteries, includes a USB Type-C port for power/charging and programming, and a few buttons. It’s suitable for machine learning thanks to the vector extensions found in the ESP32-S3 microcontroller. Maker Feather AIoT S3 specifications: Wireless module – Espressif ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8 module with ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 microprocessor @ up to 240 MHz with Vector extension for machine learning, 8MB FLASH, 8MB PSRAM, WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5 LE/Mesh USB – 1x USB Type-C port power and programming Expansion 2x GPIO headers compatible with Adafruit Feather form factor and FeatherWing add-on boards 3x Maker Ports compatible with Qwiic, STEMMA QT, […]

January 10, 2023March 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

reComputer J4012 mini PC features NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX for AI Edge applications

reComputer J4012 is a mini PC or “Edge AI computer” based on the new NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX, a cost-down version of the Jetson AGX Orin, delivering up to 100 TOPS modern AI performance. The mini PC is based on the Jetson Orin NX 16GB, comes with a 128GB M.2 SSD preloaded with the NVIDIA JetPack SDK and offers Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 3.2 ports, and HDMI 2.1 output. Wireless connectivity could be added through the system’s M.2 Key E socket. reComputer J4012 / J401 specifications: SoM – NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB with CPU – 8x Arm Cortex-A78AE core @ up to 2.0 GHz with 2MB L2 + 4MB L3 cache GPU/AI 1024-core NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 32 Tensor Cores @ up to 918 MHz 2x NVDLA v2.0 @ 614 MHz PVA v2 vision accelerator 100 TOPS AI performance (sparse) Video Encoder (H.265) 1x 4Kp60 | 3x 4Kp30 6x […]

January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

MistySoM Renesas RZ/G2L or RZ/V2L SoM and devkit goes for $112 and up

MistySOM devkit Renesas RZ/G2L or RZ/V2L

We’ve previously written about several system-on-modules and SBCs based on Renesas RZ/G2L or RZ/V2L Cortex-A55/M33 processors such as Geniatech “AHAURA” RS-G2L100 and “AKITIO” RS-V2L100 single board computers, Forlinx FET-G2LD-C system-on-module, and SolidRun RZ/G2LC SOM and devkit. But most of those are hard to buy, and you need to contact the company, discuss your project, etc… before purchase, except for the SolidRun Renesas RZ/G2LC Evaluation Kit going for $249. Another option is the MistyWest MistySOM module offered for $112 and up on GroupGets with either Renesas RZ/G2L or RZ/V2L processor, as well as an optional carrier board. MistySOM system-on-module MistySOM-G2L (aka MW-G2L) and MistySOM-V2L (aka MW-V2L) specifications: SoC – Renesas RZ/G2L or RZ/V2L with dual-core Cortex-A55 processor @ 1.2 GHz, Arm Cortex-M33 core @ up to 200 MHz, Arm Mali-G31 GPU, and DRP-AI vision accelerator (RZ/V2L only) System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4/DDR4 Storage – 32GB eMMC flash 2x 120-pin high-speed mezzanine […]

January 9, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Khadas VIM1S (Amlogic S905Y4) SBC review with Android 11

We’ve previously tested Ubuntu 22.04 on Khadas VIM1S Amlogic S905Y4 SBC, so we’ll switch to Android 11 in the second part to check out the user experience and benchmark the system under Android. Installing Android 11 on Khadas VIM1S board with OOWOW We’ll basically follow the same procedure as with Ubuntu to flash the Android OS. Press and hold the Function button, press the Reset button, and release the Function button. to enter the OOWOW Wizard, and if an Ethernet cable is not connected, select Network to configure Wi-Fi as the installation process requires downloading an image from Khadas servers. This time, we’ll select the latest Android 11 image namely vim1s-android-11-v221020.raw.img.xz At just 525 MB in size (when compressed), the Android 11 image for Khadas VIM1S board is fairly compact. Installing Android with OOWOW is really easy with the interface downloading and flashing the image to the eMMC flash without […]

January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 launched with autofocus and HDR

Raspberry Pi Trading has launched the Camera Module 3, their first camera module supporting autofocus and HDR, designed to work with all Raspberry Pi boards that can take a camera, and offered with either a standard or wide field-of-view, and an optional infrared cut filter. All four variants of the new camera module are equipped with a Sony IMX708 12MP sensor that supports high-dynamic range (HDR) and features phase detection autofocus. The Camera Module 3 has the same X/Y dimensions and mounting holes as the popular Camera Module 2 launched in 2016, but is several millimeters taller due to the improved optics. Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 specifications: 12MP Sony IMX708 back-illuminated and stacked CMOS image sensor Sensor size – 7.4mm diagonal Pixel size: 1.4μm x 1.4μm Resolution – 4608 x 2592 pixels FoV – See comparison table between different models below Common video modes: 1080p50, 720p100, 480p120 Autofocus system: […]

Rockchip RK3568/RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs

January 9, 2023January 10, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Panthronics PTX30W is a 1W NFC wireless charging listener IC

Panthronics PTX30W is an NFC wireless charging listener chip that can receive up to 1W as per the NFC Wireless Charging (WLC) specification unveiled in 2020 and integrates a power management unit and a Li-Ion battery charger. Offered in a compact 3.2mm2 (1.78 x 1.78 mm) WL-CSP package, the PTX30W will enable small battery-powered products, such as smartwatches and other wearables, to be charged over NFC. The chip can operate in standalone mode or connected to a host microcontroller, and the company claims it is around four times smaller than existing designs based on multiple discrete components. PTX30W features and specifications: Integrated NFC Wireless Charging Listener device Efficient Active Rectifier RF interface according to Forum Type 2 Tag Li-Ion battery charger with charging current from 5mA to 250mA MCU LDO with 1.8V or 3.3V output, up to 50mA Embedded power negotiation logic High-efficiency NFC wireless charging listener IC with up […]

January 8, 2023April 15, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 19 Comments

GL.iNet GL-MT3000 pocket-sized Wi-Fi 6 Router review – Part 1: Specs, unboxing, and teardown

GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) is a pocket-sized Wi-Fi 6 router running OpenWrt on a MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core processor @ 1.3 GHz and equipped with a 2.5GbE port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB 3.0 port. The hardware is basically the same as the Brume 2 (GL-MT2500A) security gateway, except it adds support for WiFi 6 connectivity and as an AX3000 router more than doubles the bandwidth compared to the earlier Beryl (GL-MT1300) AC1300 router. The company has sent me a sample so I’ll start the two-part review by checking the specifications, doing an unboxing, and tearing it down to have a closer look at the hardware design, before trying out OpenWrt and testing WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE performance in the second part of the review. GL.iNet GL-MT3000 specifications Beryl AX specifications: SoC – MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core processor @ 1.3 GHz System Memory – 512MB DDR4 […]

Boardcon Rockchip and Allwinner SoM and SBC products