CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

July 26, 2021July 27, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Foscam SPC review – Part 2: Human detection, Android app, ONVIF support

In the first part of Foscam SPC WiFi spotlight camera review, we checked out the specifications, the package content, and some of the main components of the camera with SigmaStar SSC337DE processor and a Realtek RTL8822CS dual-band WiFi 5 module. I’ve now had time to play with the camera and tested it with the Foscam Android app, including human detection, and enabled ONVIF support to use the camera with compatible third-party apps or programs. Foscam SPC installation and setup with Android app Foscam SPC camera is designed to be wall-mounted, but for this review, I simply attached it to the branch of a small tree. Note that contrary to the other cameras I’ve tested, the camera angle can only be adjusted up and down or rotated, but there’s no direct left or right adjustment. I’ve also connected the power adapter to power up the camera, but I did not install […]

July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

TurboX C865 CPU module and 96Boards devkit feature Qualcomm QCS8250 IoT processor

Thundercomm has unveiled another Qualcomm IoT module and development kit with the TurboX C865 SOM and development kit based on Qualcomm QCS8250, based on Snapdragon 865 but for IoT applications, which follows our coverage of the company’s TurboX CM2290 and C2290 SoM & devkit based on Qualcomm QCM2290/QCS2290 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor several days ago. The new TurboX C865 system-on-module is for higher-end IoT applications with a faster processor combines with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 128G UFS storage, WiFI 6 & Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and the company also offers a 96Boards compliant development kit to help with the development of more advanced IoT products running Android 10. TurboX C865 SoM Specifications: SoC – Qualcomm QCS8250 octa-core Kryo 585 processor with Adreno 650 GPU, Adreno 665 VPU, Adreno 995 DPU, Hexagon DSP with quad HVX, Spectra 480 ISP; 15 TOPS AI processing power System Memory – 8GB LPDDR5 (PoP) Storage – 128G […]

ArmSoM RK3588 AIModule7 NVIDIA Jetson Nano-compatible SOM

July 26, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Pico 2G Expansion adds GSM/GPRS & GNSS to Raspberry Pi Pico (Crowdfunding)

You may have heard about the 2G/3G sunset with the older cellular networks being phased out in many countries. But it’s not always straightforward, as telecom operators may have to obtain regulators’ permission for the shutdown notably because of the eCall emergency services integrated into cars in Europe. Eventually, eCall will be migrated toward IMS Voice and 2G M2M services to 4G LTE IoT and 5G LPWA, but in the meantime, 2G networks are still operating in parts of the world, and UK-based SB Components has just introduced the Pico 2G Expansion board for Raspberry Pi Pico based on the SIM868 module. Raspberry Pi Pico 2G Expansion specifications: Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico board Display – 1.14-inch LCD Cellular & GNSS Connectivity SIM868 module with GPRS multi-slot class 12/10, mobile station class B GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GNSS – GPS/GLONASS/BDS Bluetooth 3.0 with audio support SIM card holder 2x SMA antenna […]

July 25, 2021July 28, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 13 Comments

Zidoo M6 RK3566 mini PC & SBC supports GbE, WiFi 6, 5G connectivity

Zidoo M6 is both a complete mini PC and a single board computer based on Rockchip RK3566 processor with up to 8GB RAM with plenty of peripherals connectivity options including built-in Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5, and support for 5G modems. Several years ago, Zidoo used to serve the TV box market, but they’ve now veered towards higher-end media players, digital signage players, and industrial applications. While we’ve already seen some RK3566 TV boxes on the market, using the AIoT processor does not make much sense in this type of product, and instead, Zidoo M6 targets AI Edge gateways, digital signage, and other AIoT products. Zidoo M6 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 with a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.8GHz, Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU with support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2. OpenCL 2.0. Vulkan 1.1, 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator, 4K H.265/H.265/VP9 video decoder, 1080p100 H.265/H.264 video encoder. System Memory […]

July 24, 2021December 24, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

Loongson’s first LoongArch processors – 3A5000 for computers, 3C5000L for servers

Loongson has officially launched the first processors based on LoongArch CPU instruction set architecture designed for made-in-China SoCs without the need to license technology made outside of China. Loongsoon LS3C5000L (3C5000L) 16-core server processor clocked at up to 2.5 GHz is now official and is apparently comprised of four LS3A5000 (3A5000) LoongArch processors designed for desktop computers and laptops. Loongson 3A5000 CnTechPost reports Loongson 3A5000 quad-core 64-bit GS464V processor runs at 2.3GHz-2.5GHz. GS464V microarchitecture comes with four fixed-point units, two 256-bit vector operations units, and two access memory units. The processor also includes two 64-bit DDR4-3200 controllers with ECC checksum support, as well as four HyperTransport 3.0 controllers with multi-processor data consistency support. Performance-wise, Loongson 3A5000 is said to achieve 26+ points in the single-core and floating-point SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks, and over 80 in the multi-core version of the benchmarks. That’s about 50 percent higher performance than the previous pin-compatible […]

July 23, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Mali-G78 GPU’s Valhall instruction set documentation released after reverse-engineering work

Collabora has been working on Panfrost open-source GPU driver for Arm Mali Bifrost and Midgard GPU for several years, and even getting official support from Arm. But apparently, that support does not include documentation for Mali-G78 GPU and other recent Arm Valhall Mali GPUs, as the company recently reverse-engineered Mali-G78 for about a month before releasing the documentation on the Valhall instruction set (PDF). Other results from the reverse-engineering include an XML architecture description that can be parsed by programs, as well as a Valhall assembler and disassembler that were used as a reverse-engineering aid. Besides Mali-G78 “Borr” GPU, the work will be useful for other Valhall GPUs include Mali-G77 “TryM’, Mali-G57 “Natt-A/B”, Mali-G68 “Ottr”, and Mali-G78AE “Borr-AE” for automotive & industrial applications. Alyssa Rosenzweig explains Collabora’s work that was based on the International edition of the Samsung Galaxy S21 phone powered by Samsung Exynos 2100 system-on-chip with a Mali-G78 […]

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 16 Comments

$5 board eases ATX power supply connection to single board computers

ZJ-012 ATX Power Supply single board computer

Many people have ATX power supplies from older desktop PCs that they may want to reuse with Arduino boards, Raspberry Pi, or other single board computers. It’s indeed possible to do so by trimming some cables and making a circuit to protect the board from over-voltage or over-current. But ZJ-012 adapter board offers a simpler solution with a 24-pin header for the ATX power supply, terminal blocks for connection to the target board, some fuses for protection, and a header to connect an on/off button. JZ-012 (also known as JZ-024) ATX power adapter board’s key features and specifications: Power Input – 20-pin or 24-pin computer ATX power supply Power output – 9-pin terminal block with +3.3V, +5V, -12V, +12V, +5V, GND with fuses for each power outputs On/Off control – Toggle switch or header for external button/switch (shorted for power on) Misc – Power indicator (red LED) Dimensions – 70 […]

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Tiny Seeeduino XIAO board gets Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU

Seeeduino XIAO is a tiny Arduino Zero compatible board with battery support that was launched last year with Microchip SAMD21G18 ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller at up to 48MHz. Seeed Studio has now launched the XIAO RP2040 board with the same form factor but upgrading to a more powerful Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core Cortex-M0+ microcontroller clocked at up to 133 MHz. XIAO RP2040 specifications: MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core Cortex M0+ up to 133 MHz, or even 252 MHz (48MHz default) with 264 kB SRAM Storage – 2MB SPI flash USB – 1x USB type C port for power and programming Expansion I/Os 2x 7-pin headers with 11x 4x analog inputs, 11x digital I/Os / PWM, 1x DAC, SPI, UART, and I2C; 2.54mm pitch 3.3V I/O voltage (not 5V tolerant) Misc – 1x user LED, power LED, 2x LEDs for serial port downloading, Reset Button/ Boot Button, RGB LED, SWD pads […]

Boardcon CM3588 Rockchip RK3588 System-on-Module designed for AI and IoT applications