CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

December 1, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform features 3 GHz Cortex-X2 core, 10 Gbps 5G modem

A couple of weeks ago, MediaTek introduces the Dimensity 9000 5G processor with a Cortex-X2 core clocked at 3 GHz, and it was just a matter of time before Qualcomm announces its own Armv9 processor. So here we are with the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform” equipped with an octa-core CPU subsystem comprised of one Cortex-X2 core clocked at 3 GHz, Cortex-A710 and Cortex-A510 cores, LP-DDR5 memory, as well as an integrated Snapdragon X65 5G modem capable of 10 Gbps download speeds, and all of that manufactured with the latest 4nm Samsung process. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (SM8450) specifications: Octa-core Kryo CPU subsystem (details courtesy of Anandtech since Qualcomm will not usually reveal this information) 1x Arm Cortex-X2 core @ 3.0GHz with 1024KB L2 cache 3x Arm Cortex-A710 cores @ 2.5GHz with 512KB L2 cache each 4x Arm Cortex-A510 cores @ 1.80GHz in two clusters, each with an unspecified […]

November 30, 2021June 8, 2022 by Sponsored Post - No Comments

Download a free trial of the SoftNeuro Deep Learning SDK for Intel and Arm targets (Sponsored)

Jetson Xavier Tensorflow Lite vs SoftNeuro

Morpho, a global research & development company established in Japan in 2004 and specialized in imaging technology, is now offering a free trial for the SoftNeuro deep learning SDK working on Intel processors with AVX2 SIMD extensions, 64-bit Arm targets, while also leveraging OpenCL and/or CUDA. Some of the advantages of SoftNeuro are that the framework is easy to use even for those without any knowledge about deep learning, it’s fast thanks to the separation of the layers and their execution patterns, and it can run on several different hardware and OS being cross-platform. SoftNeuro relies on its own storage format (DNN format) to deliver the above advantages. But you can still use models trained with any mainstream deep learning framework. TensorFlow and Keras models can be directly converted to the DNN format, while models from other frameworks can be converted first to the ONNX format and then to the […]

ArmSoM RK3588 AIModule7 NVIDIA Jetson Nano-compatible SOM

November 30, 2021November 30, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Raspberry Pi 4 PLC Industrial controller targets IIoT applications

I’ve just noticed Boot&Work Corp was now offering an “Industrial Shields” branded PLC industrial computer powered by Raspberry Pi 4 SBC. We previously covered the company in 2017 at a time when they provided Arduino-based PLC modules optionally controlled with 10.1-inch panel PCs based on ARM Linux SBCs such as Raspberry Pi or Banana Pi. The “Raspberry Pi PLC Industrial Controller” is offered with either optoisolated outputs or relay outputs, and optional GPRS connectivity. The Linux PLC is equipped with up to 36 digital inputs, 16 analog inputs, 8 analog outputs, and 6 interrupts, as well as communication interfaces such as CAN bus, up to 2x Ethernet ports, dual RS-485, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Raspberry Pi PLC Industrial Controller basic specifications: Single board computer – Raspberry Pi 4 SBC with 2GB to 8GB RAM, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity Storage – 8GB MicroSD card Video Output – 2x Micro HDMI […]

November 30, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

HLK-W801 board features Alibaba Xuantie XT804 based MCU with WiFi 4, Bluetooth LE 4.2

Earlier this month, we wrote about the 240 MHz WinnerMicro W806 Alibaba Xuantie XT804 C-Sky microcontroller with 1MB flash, 288KB SRAM found in the $2 HLK-W806 development board. But the company has a nearly identical WinnerMicro W801 microcontroller that bumps the internal flash to 2MB, and more importantly adds a 2.4 GHz radio with WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 4.2 connectivity, and HiLink also released the HLK-W801 board that’s nearly identical to HLK-W806, except for some extra LEDs, a USB-C port instead of a Micro USB port, and a longer form factor to make space for the PCB antenna. HLK-W801 board specifications: MCU – WinnerMicro W801 32-bit Alibaba XT804 microcontroller @ 240 MHz with 2MB Flash, 288KB RAM, FPU, DSP, crypto engine, 2.4 GHz radio Connectivity 802.11b/g/n WiFi 4 up to 150 Mbps supporting station, soft AP and station+soft AP modes, WPA2 security Bluetooth 4.2 Expansion – 2x 24-pin headers […]

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Octo4a app installs OctoPrint server on Android smartphones

Octoprint is a popular open-source 3D printer controller software that runs on Raspberry Pi boards, Orange Pi Lite SBC, Amlogic TV boxes, and other devices. But considering many people may already an older, perfectly working smartphones at home, FeelFree (Filip) decided to create the Octo4a project that install an Octoprint server on Android smartphones. It makes perfect sense since many smartphones come with a USB OTG interface that can connect to the 3D printer for control, while the touchscreen display is used for the user interface, and the camera to monitor your prints. SSH could be used to access the phone Octoprint server and change the settings manually. You can access the source code and APK files on Github. You’ll need to enable third-party apps in the settings before installing the app in order to install Octoprint on the phone. The only required permission is storage, except if you’d like […]

November 29, 2021November 30, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

CaribouLite RPi HAT open-source SDR Raspberry Pi HAT tunes up to 6 GHz (Crowdfunding)

CaribouLite RPi HAT is an open-source dual-channel software-defined radio (SDR) Raspberry Pi HAT – or rather uHAT – that works in the sub-GHz ISM range and optionally the 30 MHz – 6 GHz range for the full version. Developed by Israel-based CaribouLabs, the micro HAT is equipped with a Lattice Semi ICE40LP1K FPGA, a Microchip AT86RF215 RF transceiver, two SMA antenna connectors, a Pmod expansion connector, and designed for any Raspberry Pi board with a 40-pin GPIO header. CaribouLite RPi HAT specifications: FPGA – Lattice Semi ICE40LP with 1.28 kLE RF Chipset – Microchip AT86RF215 Sub-GHz / 2.4GHz transceiver Qorvo’s RFFC5072 integrated Mixer IC (for full version only) Tuning Range CH1 Full version – 30 MHz – 6 GHz ISM version – 2.4 – 2.4835 GHz CH2 – Sub-1GHz Max Sampling Rate – 4 MSPS ADC/DAC Resolution – 13-bit Max RF Bandwidth – 2.5 MHz Transmit Power – up to […]

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

November 29, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Wireless thermal printer kit features M5Stack ATOM Lite controller

The M5Stack ATOM thermal printer kit is a desktop DIY thermal printer comprised of the company’s ATOM Lite IoT controller equipped with ESP32-Pico-D4 system-in-package and a 58mm thermal printer housed in a cardboard package. The printer can print text, graphics, barcodes, or QR code printings, and the pre-installed firmware offers two modes of operation with “AP Connect Print” where the printer is seen as an access point and can be controlled with a smartphone or computer from a web browser, and the “MQTT Notifications” mode that prints the content of MQTT messages. Highlights of the ATOM thermal printer kit: M5Stack ATOM Lite IoT controller with ESP32-Pico-D4 WiFi and Bluetooth SiP fitted with 4MB Flash 58mm thermal printer connected over UART (9600 bps 8N1) Supports for text/graphics/BarCode/QRCode Speed – 60mm/s 203dpi 8 dots/mm up to 384 dots per line Connectivity over WiFi AP hotspot connection, web-controlled printing Printing content sent via […]

November 28, 2021November 29, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 21 Comments

Toit open-source language claims to be 30x faster than MicroPython on ESP32

Developed by a team of former Google employees, Toit is a complete IoT platform with remote management, firmware updates for fleets of devices with features similar to the one offered by solutions such as balena, Microsoft Azure, or Particle edge-to-cloud platform. Toit currently works on ESP32 microcontrollers using lightweight containers, and after seeing existing high-level languages MicroPython and Javascript were not fast enough on low-end microcontrollers platforms, the team at Toit started to develop the Toit language in 2018, and has just made it open-source with the release of the compiler, virtual machine, and standard libraries on Github under an LGPL-2.1 license. One of the main reasons to switch from MicroPython to the Toit language is if your application is limited by performance or you operate ESP32 from a battery, as Toit claims up to 30x faster performance with Toit on ESP32: We went into crunch mode and some months […]