Luxonis has introduced a prototype of the M8 Controller Box, an industrial I/O expansion module for OAK4 AI vision edge AI cameras powered by a Qualcomm DragonWing QCS8550. Connected through the camera’s M8 interface, it adds GPIO, relay, CAN, serial, and USB connectivity, allowing OAK4-based systems to interface directly with sensors, actuators, PLCs, motors, and other industrial equipment for machine vision and automation applications.
The prototype module features 16 GPIOs, four 16A relays, CAN 2.0, RS232, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, an isolated strobe output, onboard audio, three buttons, and three status LEDs. It is powered directly from the OAK4 M8 connector, and supports DIN rail and VESA mounting.
Luxonis M8 Controller Box specifications:
- MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ @ 133 MHz with 264KB SRAM
- Host interface
- M8 connector for connecting Luxonis OAK4 cameras (standalone mode only)
- M8 passthrough port
- Audio
- 3.5mm headphone/AUX jack with mic input
- Onboard buzzer/speaker and
- Speaker auto-disconnects when 3.5mm port is used
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 Type-A downstream ports (shared 500mA current limit)
- Serial – RS232 interface
- Expansion – 16x GPIOs (3.3V logic level, reverse voltage and ESD protection; 50mA max combined current)
- Other I/O
- Isolated strobe driver output (supports 5–24V strobe lights)
- 4x SPDT / Latching power relays (up to 16A, 400VAC max switching voltage)
- Supports both CAN 2.0A and 2.0B, with up to 1 Mbps data rate
- Misc
- 3x physical tactile buttons
- 3x status LEDs
- Power
- 5V supplied directly via the OAK4 M8 connector (no external power supply required for basic operation)
- 2x 3.3V power outputs for external sensors (450mA max combined current)
- Dimensions – 123 x 78 x 29 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight – 300 grams
- Mounting – VESA 75 mm mounting holes; DIN rail mountable (clip included)
The M8 Controller Box is currently in its “PR1” prototype phase, meaning it provides early access to developers and professionals before the final production units are released. Luxonis notes that CAN Bus, USB-A, UART/RS232, LEDs, buttons, relays, and GPIOs are fully supported in this hardware revision, while the strobe output is only partially supported. The controller also supports FSync (Frame Synchronization) splitter functionality through the M8 interface for synchronizing multiple cameras; additional features like M8 passthrough and ADC/I2C/SPI interfaces will be added later.
On the software side, GPIO and peripheral control are exposed via the USB-to-interfaces (u2if) protocol, and applications are run directly on the OAK4 device using the oakctl CLI tool. Additionally, the oak-examples GitHub repo includes Python examples covering relay control, CAN communication, GPIO, LED and audio control, and barcode detection.
Previously, we have written about various edge AI vision cameras for industrial applications, including the Arducam KingKong and EDATEC ED-AIC2020 industrial cameras, as well as Luxonis’s OAK Thermal PoE AI camera. These products combine AI processing and cameras in a single device, but the new M8 Controller Box takes a different approach. It acts as a dedicated hardware breakout module, giving OAK4 cameras direct physical control over external industrial environments, bypassing the need for a separate PLC or host PC entirely.
The Luxonis M8 Controller Box (PR1 prototype) is available for $249 on the company’s store. The package includes the controller box, an M8 cable, a DIN rail mount clip, and plug-in screw terminals. As a prototype evaluation kit, it is designed for professional and development use and is not certified for end-user or consumer applications. Some additional information is available on the company’s blog.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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