CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

October 27, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 15 Comments

ODROID-GO Advance Black Edition is selling for $29.50 (Promo)

Hardkernel is having a “Black Friday” sale for the ODROID-Go Advance Black Edition portable game console that is now selling for $29.50, or exactly half of the normal price ($59.00), with either the transparent or black enclosure. As a reminder, the OGA Black Edition is a Linux console powered by a Rockchip RK3326 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 processor coupled with 1GB RAM and a 3.5-inch display. This model builds on the earlier ODROID-Go Advance model by adding a WiFi & Bluetooth module, a USB-C port for charging, as well as some extra buttons. ODROID-Go Advance Black Edition specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3326 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 processor @ 1.3GHz with Mali-G31 MP2 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3L @ 786Mhz, 32 Bits bus width Storage – 16MB SPI Flash for bootloader, Micro SD Card slot (UHS-1 Capable interface) Display – 3.5″ 320×480 TFT LCD (Wide-viewing angle display, MIPI-DSI interface) Audio – 3.5mm […]

October 27, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

CompuLab IOT-GATE-RPI4 gateway targets industrial control and monitoring

Compulab IOT-GATE-RPI4 CM4 industrial gateway

Compulab IOT-GATE-RPI4 is another industrial gateway based on the Raspberry Pi CM4 module that offers a different feature set and form factor compared to solutions like TECHBASE iModGATE-AI gateway or QWave Systems CatsPi Industrial carrier board. Designed with industrial control and monitoring in mind, the IOT-GATE-RPI4 gateway offers multiple RS485, RS232 and CAN FD ports, Ethernet, 4G LTE/4G, WiFi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, as well as a wide -40°C to 80°C operating temperature range, plus a wide input voltage from 8V to 36V as well as PoE support. Compulab IOT-GATE-RPI4 specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) with SoC – Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 @ 1.5GHz plus VideoCore IV GPU with H.265 (4Kp60 decode), H.264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode) System Memory – 1GB to 8GB LPDDR4 Storage – 16GB to 128GB eMMC flash soldered on-board Secondary Storage – 64GB – 256GB NVMe flash via optional module […]

ArmSoM RK3588 AIModule7 NVIDIA Jetson Nano-compatible SOM

October 27, 2021November 4, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Raspberry Pi 4 achieves Vulkan 1.1 conformance, gets up to 60% GPU performance boost

Khronos has just granted Vulkan 1.1 conformance to Raspberry Pi 4 SBC, and following the implementation of various optimizations and new features such as geometry shaders, the v3dv Mesa driver delivers up to 60% higher GPU performance in Unreal Engine 4. Iglia started Vulkan driver work for Raspberry Pi 4 almost two years ago, with the triangle demo showcased in February 2020, followed by Vulkan 1.0 conformance in November 2020, and now the driver is certified conformant to Vulkan 1.1. While many GPUs are conformant, the Raspberry Pi 4 is only joined by a couple of complete platforms including several NVIDIA Jetson modules (Vulkan 1.2), and possibly some Intel and Google platforms shown as “Confidential” at this time. Alex Bate, Digital Content Manager for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, explains the driver changes for Vulkan 1.1 conformance have already been merged in the upstream v3dv Mesa driver, and should soon become […]

October 26, 2021October 27, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

AVA Developer Platform offers 32 64-bit Arm cores, 32GB RAM, 10GbE for $5,450

The AVA Developer Platform was announced together with ADLink COM-HPC Ampera Altra server module for embedded applications with up to 80 64-bit Arm cores, up to 768GB DDR4, 4x 10GbE, and 64x PCIe Gen4 lanes. The AVA Developer Platform is not fitted with the top-end COM-HPC module, but still, with a 32-core COM-HPC Ampere Altra module fitted with 32 GB DDR4 memory, plus a 128 GB NVMe M.2 SSD, and an Intel Quad X710 10GbE LAN card, it still makes an impressive workstation for native Arm development. We did not know the price the last time, but now we do as the workstation is available for pre-order for $5,450. AVA Developer Platform specifications: SoM – COM-HPC Ampere Altra module with Ampere Altra 32-core 64-bit Arm Neoverse N1 processor up to 3.3 GHz (TPD: 60W), 32 GB DDR4 memory Storage – 128 GB NVMe M.2 SSD (From photos see below: extra […]

October 26, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Raspberry Pi CM4 based PiBox 2 Mini serves as NAS, private Cloud storage (Crowdfunding)

The PiBox 2 Mini is a networked storage solution based on a Raspberry Pi CM4 module and equipped with two slots for 2.5-inch SATA drivers be it HDD’s or SSD’s. It also exposes USB ports and an HDMI port, so I could also be used as a computer. Designed by KubeSail “self hosting company”, the PiBox does not only serve as a standard NAS, but aims to provide a home-based private cloud hosting solution that can replace services such as Google Photos or Dropbox with easily installable templates that are hosted in the box. Pibox 2 Mini specifications: Support SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 or CM4 Lite with up to 8GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash Storage 2x SATA port for 2.5-inch drives (SSD or HDD) MicroSD card socket for people using CM4 Lite Video Output – HDMI 2.0 port up to 4Kp60 Display – Built-in 1.3-inch color LCD for information […]

October 26, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

USB board emulates CR2032 or CR2016 coin cell battery

You can now develop CR2032 or CR2016 powered devices without having to use an actual coin cell thanks to Peter Misenko’s (Bobricius) “coin cell battery emulator CR2016/CR2032”. The USB board contains a rounded part that is compatible with CR2016 or CR2032 coin cell batteries and allows you to power your target board via USB. The board also includes holes for alligator clips to measure the current, and by extension the power consumption. Coincell battery emulator CR2016/CR2032 specifications: Power Supply 5V via Micro USB port 3V regulator 3V + GND pins for incompatible holders Power measurement – 2x alligator clip holes for Amperemeter mode (the onboard solder jumper must be open) Dimensions – Designed for a CR2016 battery (1.6 mm thick), but an adapter can be soldered for a CR2032 battery (3.2mm thick) It’s not a size fit all solution since it will only work with a specific type of battery […]

Rockchip RK3568, RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs and SoMs in 2025

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 49 Comments

Allwinner D1s/F133 RISC-V processor integrates 64MB DDR2

Allwinner D1s (aka F133) is a cost-down version of Allwinner D1 RISC-V processor introduced earlier this year together with a Linux capable development board, with the main difference being the integrated 64MB DDR2. Besides the built-in RAM, Allwinner D1s comes with many of the same features as D1 RISC-V SoC, but loses HDMI output and the HiFi 4 audio DSP, and Allwinner made some tweaks to the IOs with one less I2S audio interface, and general-purpose ADC. Allwinner D1s/F133 specifications: CPU – RISC core with 32 KB I-cache + 32 KB D-cache (CNXSoft: not specified, but probably the same Alibaba/T-Head Xuantie C906 RISC-V core as used in Allwinner D1) DSP – HiFi4 DSP 600MHz with 32 KB I-cache + 32 KB D-cache, 64 KB I-ram + 64 KB D-ram Memory – 64 MB DDR2 (SIP) Storage I/F – SD3.0, eMMC 5.0, SPI Nor/Nand Flash Video Engine Video decoding H.265 up […]

October 25, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

Smart Power 3 – A $45 smart power analysis tool for embedded systems developers

Hardkernel has launched a number of popular Arm SBC’s with the ODROID family over the years, but the Smart Power 3 is a different type of product, as the ESP32-based smart power meter can help embedded systems engineers optimize their hardware and software power consumption and/or check for spurious power peaks during boot up or shutdowns. In the past, we’ve reviewed relatively expansive tools like Qoitech Otii Arc or gone the DIY route, but at $45, Hardkernel offers a power monitoring solution that’s both inexpensive and easy to use, albeit with fewer features than Qoitech’s device. Smart Power 3 specifications: MCU – ESP32 dual-core microcontroller via ESP32-WROOM-32E module Output Channels – 2x output channels (Max 50W + 50W) via 2x 4mm banana jacks each Output Voltage – 3V DC to input voltage – 1V Output Current – 3A max per channel Measurement Voltage, Current, Power Maximum sampling rate: 200Hz (5msec […]