CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

March 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

UNIHIKER K10 low-cost TinyML education platform supports image detection and voice recognition

UNIHIKER K10 is a low-cost STEM education platform for TinyML applications that leverages the ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller with vector extensions for workloads such as image detection or voice recognition. The UNIHIKER K10 also features a built-in 2.8-inch color display, a camera, a speaker, a 2-microphone array, a few sensors, a microSD card, and a BBC Micro:bit-like edge connector for power signals and GPIOs. It’s a cost-optimized version of its Linux-based big brother – the UNIHIKER M10 – first unveiled in 2022. Arnon also reviewed the UNIHIKER in 2023, showing how to configure it, use the SIoT platform with MQTT message, and program it with Jupyter Notebook, Python, or Visual Studio Code. Let’s have a closer look at the new ESP32-S3 variant. UNIHIKER K10 specifications: Core module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 MCU – ESP32-S3N16R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM, 16MB flash Wireless – WiFi 4 and […]

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Geniatech AIM M2 M.2 module features Kinara Ara-2 40 TOPS AI accelerator

There are plenty of M.2 AI modules based on accelerators such as Hailo-8, MemryX MX3, or Axelera AI, but the Geniatech AIM M2 module is based on the Kinara Ara-2 40 TOPS AI accelerator that we’ve yet to cover here on CNX Software. The Key-M module is designed to handle Generative AI and transformer-based models such as Stable Diffusion at a lower price point than competitors, and operates at a typical sub-2W power consumption in computer vision workloads. Target applications include AI assistants/Copilot, gaming, smart retail, physical security, and factory automation. Geniatech AIM M2 specifications: AI Accelerator Kinara Ara-2 NPU with 40 TOPS of AI power Package – 17x17mm FCBBA System Memory – 16GB RAM (4GB/8GB Option) Host interface – PCIe Gen4 x4 Security – Secure boot and encrypted memory access Misc – Heatsink cooling Supply Voltage – 3.3V Power Consumption – Under 2 Watts (typical) TDP – 12 Watts […]

ArmSoM RK3588 AIModule7 NVIDIA Jetson Nano-compatible SOM

March 14, 2025March 13, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

PicoCalc Kit is a Raspberry Pi Pico handheld terminal with a backlit STM32 QWERTY keyboard

ClockworkPi has made several Linux handheld terminals over the years such as the GameShell or DevTerm, but the PicoCalc Kit is quite different since it relies on the Raspberry Pi Pico board plus an STM32 microcontroller to handle its built-in keyboard. The PicoCalc Kit is based on the ClockworkPi v2.0 mainboard that takes an RP2040-based Pi Pico H board, connects to a 4-inch IPS display with 320×320 resolution and stereo speakers, integrates a backlit QWERTY keyboard, and ships with a 32GB SD card with an optimized BASIC firmware. PicoCalc Kit specifications: ClockworkPi v2.0 mainboard Compatible boards – Headers for Raspberry Pi Pico H/WH, and Raspberry Pi Pico 2 / 2W MCU – STM32 for keyboard and backlight programmable with the Arduino IDE or STM32 official development tools Storage – SD card slot Display – Screen connector (SPI) Audio 2x speaker connectors 3.5mm audio jack 67-key QWERTY keyboard (I2C) Expansion Connector […]

March 13, 2025March 25, 2025 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

Renesas RZ/V2N low-power AI MPU integrates up to 15 TOPS AI power, Mali-C55 ISP, dual MIPI camera support

Renesas has recently introduced the RZ/V2N low-power Arm Cortex-A55/M33 microprocessor designed for machine learning (ML) and computer vision applications. It features the company’s DRP-AI3 coprocessor, delivering up to 15 TOPS of INT8 “pruned” compute performance at 10 TOPS/W efficiency, making it a lower-power alternative to the RZ/V2H. Built for mid-range AI workloads, it includes four Arm Cortex-A55 cores (1.8GHz), a Cortex-M33 sub-CPU (200MHz), an optional 4K image signal processor, H.264/H.265 hardware codecs, an optional Mali-G31 GPU, and a dual-channel four-lane MIPI CSI-2 interface. The chip is around 38% smaller than the RZ/V2H MPU and operates without active cooling. The RZ/V2N is suitable for applications like endpoint vision AI, robotics, and industrial automation. Renesas RZ/V2N specifications CPU Application Processor – Quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz (0.9V) / 1.1 GHz (0.8V) L1 cache – 32KB I-cache (with parity) + 32KB D-cache (with ECC) per core L3 cache – 1MB (with ECC, […]

March 13, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Variscite VAR-SOM-AM62P SoM features Texas Instruments Sitara AM62P5 SoC for cost-effective multimedia applications

Variscite VAR-SOM-AM62P is a system-on-module powered by Texas Instruments Sitara AM62P5 quad-core Cortex-A53 + Cortex-R5F SoC coupled with up to 8GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB eMMC flash, and designed for cost-effective multimedia applications. The SO-DIMM module offers high speed interfaces such as gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0, a certified WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 module, and operating in the -40 to 85°C industrial range. As a VAR-SOM module, it’s pin-to-pin compatible with other modules from the family such as the VAR-SOM-6UL or VAR-SOM-IMX93. Variscite VAR-SOM-AM62P specifications: SoC – Texas Instruments Sitara AM62P5 CPU 4x Arm Cortex-A53 @ 1.4 GHz up to 12,880 DMIPS Arm Cortex-R5F real-time core up to @ 800 MHz GPU – 3D GPU with OpenGL ES 3.2 & Vulkan1.2 VPU – H.264/H.265 Video Encoder/Decoder No PRU System Memory – 1GB to 8GB LPDDR4 Storage – 8GB to 128GB eMMC flash Networking Gigabit Ethernet PHY (Analog Devices ADIN1300) […]

March 13, 2025March 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Thundercomm TurboX C6690 SoM runs Android 15 on Qualcomm DragonWing QCS6690 SoC for terminal equipment

Unveiled at Embedded World 2025, Thundercomm’s TurboX C6690 is a SoM (System-on-Module) powered by a 4nm Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6690 octa-core SoC, and designed for Android 15-based terminal equipment such as industrial handheld devices, industrial tablets, edge computing, and smart retail applications. The LGA system-on-module features a multi-chip package that combines 8GB LPDDR4x memory with 256GB UFS storage, and offers MIPI and DP (USB) display interfaces, four MIPI CSI camera interfaces, a USB 3.1 interface, a PCIe Gen2 interface, and various low-speed I/Os such GPIO, I2C, UART, and SPI. Thundercomm TurboX C6690 SoM specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6690 CPU – Octa-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU 7-series (1x Kryo Prime core @ 2.9GHz, 3x Kryo Gold @ 2.7GHz, 4x Kryo Silver @ 2.0GHz) GPU – Qualcomm Adreno GPU 7-series DSP – Qualcomm Hexagon DSP with HVX and HMX ISP – Qualcomm Spectra ISP 665 image processing VPU Video Encode – Up to […]

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

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Semtech LR2021 “LoRa Plus” transceiver supports LoRa Gen 4, Amazon Sidewalk, Meshtastic, wM-BUS, Wi-SUN FSK, and Z-Wave

Semtech LR2021, the first chip in the LoRa Plus family, supports LoRa Gen 4 technology with both terrestrial and satellite networks in the Sub-GHz, 2.4 GHz ISM bands, and licensed S-band, while keeping backward compatibility with previous-generation LoRa devices. But it goes beyond just supporting LoRa and LoRaWAN networks, since it features expanded physical layer modulations for fast long-range communication (FLRC) enabling compatibility with various low-power wireless protocols such as Amazon Sidewalk, Meshtastic, Wireless M-Bus (Wm-BUS), Wi-SUN FSK, and Z-Wave when integrated with third-party stacks. Semtech LR2021 key features and specifications: Terrestrial and non-terrestrial network (NTN), Sub-GHz, 2.4GHz ISM and licensed S-band radio. Frequency Ranges 150-960 MHz 1600-2500 MHz Multi-PHY compatibility enables low-power wireless protocols with third-party stacks. FLRC up to 2.6 Mbps, LoRa up to 200 kbps Modulation – FSK, LoRa, LR-FHSS, FLRC, O-QPSK, OOK Multi-region operation with single switch-less front-end design. +22 dBm to -10 dBm transmitter Rx […]

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Tiny Silicon Labs BG29 Bluetooth LE SoC measures just 2.8 x 2.6mm for wearables and sensors

Yesterday, we wrote about the world’s smallest microcontroller (TI MSPM0C1104), which measures just 1.38mm2 in its smallest package. However, it is designed for general-purpose applications without built-in wireless connectivity. If you need Bluetooth LE in a tiny form factor, Silicon Labs BG29 wireless SoC, with a 2.8x 2.6mm package, is worth a look. The BG29 features a Cortex-M33 core clocked at up to 76.8 MHz, up to 256KB SRAM, up to 1MB flash, various digital and analog peripherals, and security features that make it suitable for Bluetooth LE applications such as wearable health and medical devices, asset trackers, and battery-powered sensors. Silicon Labs BG29 (EFR32BG29) specifications: CPU core – Arm Cortex-M33 @ 76.8 MHz with DSP instruction and floating-point unit Memory – Up to 256 kB RAM data memory Storage – Up to 1 MB flash program memory Wireless – 2.4 GHz radio Protocols – Bluetooth 5.4 Low Energy (LE) […]