Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - No Comments on PicoCore MX8MN is a Tiny NXP i.MX 8M Nano Computer-on-Module

PicoCore MX8MN is a Tiny NXP i.MX 8M Nano Computer-on-Module

The PicoCore MX8MN Nano carries the NXP i.MX 8M Nano F&S Elektronik Systeme has announced the development of the smallest i.MX 8M based CoM yet: the PicoCore MX8MN Nano. Previously we had reported on the Congatec Conga-SMX8 Nano which was a fairly small CoM compliant with SMARC 2.0 standard. The PicoCore MX8MN is based on the NXP i.MX 8M Nano CPU with 1 to 4 Arm Cortex-A53 cores and a Cortex-M7 real-time core. The Nano is set to carry up to 8GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC, with optional WiFI/BT and support for -40º C to 85º C temperature ranges. Similar to Predecessor The PicoCore MX8MN Nano is very similar in structure to the PicoCore MX8MM Mini CoM, but with a different i.MX 8M Mini processor featuring the same Arm Cortex-A53 cores, but the Cortex M4 real-time core is changed to a more powerful Cortex-M7 core in the MX8MN Nano. The MX8MN Nano has no photo on the product page …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Toradex Launches New Verdin Arm SoM Family Starting with iMX8M Mini/Nano Modules

Toradex Launches New Verdin Arm SoM Family Starting with iMX8M Mini/Nano Modules

Verdin iMX8M Mini / Nano

So far, Toradex had two Arm-based system-on-module families with the smaller, lower-power Colibri and more powerful Apalis modules. The Colibri form factor was first defined in 2005, and the company is still maintaining it, but since then new interfaces have emerged, so Toradex has now designed a new low-power module family called Verdin. Toradex Verdin modules offer more I/Os with a 260-pin edge connector, include a battery-ready design with a wide input voltage range (3.3 to 5V), low power 1.8V IOs, the ability to easily extend power management to carrier board peripherals, and off-the-shelf thermal solutions. The modules are also tested for EMC, shock and vibration tolerance, and “Toradex Direct Breakout” is said to simplify signal routing on carrier boards as high speed, impedance critical signals are routed from the source IC to the edge connector on the Verdin module in such a ways to limit complexity on the carrier board. Verdin iMX8M Mini/Nano Modules The first Verdin SoM’s are …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments on Toradex AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit Leverages Amazon Web Services for AI and ML Applications

Toradex AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit Leverages Amazon Web Services for AI and ML Applications

Toradex AI Embedded Vision AWS Starter Kit

Toradex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and NXP Semiconductors collaborated to create the AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit aiming to ease the development of cloud-connected computer vision and machine learning applications in industries such as industrial automation, agriculture, medical equipment, and many more. The AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit includes the following items: Toradex Apalis iMX8 System on Module (SoM) powered by NXP i.MX 8QuadMax applications processor Toradex Ixora Carrier Board Allied Vision Alvium 1500 industrial-grade MIPI CSI-2 camera All required cables and a 12VDC (30W) power supply Full software stack, including source code for running the device as well as for cloud deployment Extensive documentation 50 USD AWS credit The kit will help developers meet the must-have requirements of smart connected devices including secure connectivity, remote monitoring, OTA updates, maximum uptime & reliability, compact form factor, cost-optimized hardware, computer vision and machine learning algorithms optimized for low-power hardware, and more. Alex Dopplinger, industrial marketing manager at NXP explains The step-by-step …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Kontron Launches the Smallest i.MX 8M Mini Module with 30x30mm Form Factor

Kontron Launches the Smallest i.MX 8M Mini Module with 30x30mm Form Factor

Kontron Smallest i.MX 8M Mini Module

Introduced in 2018, NXP i.MX 8M Mini is the first i.MX processor from the company manufactured with a 14nm process, and the low-power processor is found in several compact modules such as Variscite VAR-SOM-MX8M-MINI (38×28 mm), SolidRun i.MX 8M Mini SoM (47×30 mm), or Compulab UCM-iMX8M-Mini (38×28 mm). The smallest i.MX 8M Mini module we’ve covered so far is TechNexion XORE-IMX8M-Mini LGA system-on-module that takes just 30×30 mm of space. The TechNexion module is now joined by Kontron SoM SL i.MX8M Mini module with the same 30x30mm form factor, but a few more pins (267 vs 225). Kontron SoM SL i.MX8M Mini specifications: SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Mini quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.6 GHz with one Arm Cortex-M4 real-time core @ 400 MHz, as well as 2D GPU and 3D GPU System Memory – 1GB LPDDR4 RAM (option up to 4GB) Storage – 8GB eMMC flash (option up to 128GB), 2MB NOR Flash 267-pin on bottom of the …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on ASUS Tinker Edge T SBC Launched for $168 and Up

ASUS Tinker Edge T SBC Launched for $168 and Up

Buy ASUS Tinker Edge T

ASUS unveiled Tinker Edge T & CR1S-CM-A SBCs based on Google Coral Edge TPU system-on-module featuring both NXP i.MX 8M processor and Google Edge TPU co-processor for AI acceleration in May 2019, but at the time none of the boards were available. But earlier this month, ASUS officially announced the board, and it can now be purchased on various sites including Provantage (~$168.35) and  Physical Computing (21,600 JPY ~ $200). It is also listed on Connection for about $198 but currently out of stock. Edge TPU module SoC – NXP i.MX 8M quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor with Arm Cortex-M4F real-time core,  GC7000 Lite 3D GPU ML accelerator – Google Edge TPU coprocessor delivering up to 4 TOPS System Memory – 1 GB LPDDR4 RAM Storage – 8 GB eMMC Flash memory Wireless Connectivity – Wi-Fi 2×2 MIMO (802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4/5GHz) Bluetooth 4.2 Baseboard Storage – MicroSD card slot Networking – Gigabit Ethernet port (via RTL8211F-CG) Video Output – MIPI DSI connector, …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on Linux 5.5 Release – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS and RISC-V Architectures

Linux 5.5 Release – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS and RISC-V Architectures

Linux 5.5 Changelog

Linux 5.5 has just been released by Linus Torvalds: So this last week was pretty quiet, and while we had a late network update with some (mainly iwl wireless) network driver and netfilter module loading fixes, David didn’t think that warranted another -rc. And outside of that, it’s really been very quiet indeed – there’s a panfrost driver update too, but again it didn’t really seem to make sense to delay the final release by another week. Outside of those, it’s all really tiny, even if some of those tiny changes touched some core files. So despite the slight worry that the holidays might have affected the schedule, 5.5 ended up with the regular rc cadence and is out now. That means that the merge window for 5.6 will open tomorrow, and I already have a couple of pull requests pending. The timing for this next merge window isn’t optimal for me – I have some travel and other things …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments on MNT Reform 2 Open Source DIY Arm Linux Modular Laptop Coming Soon (Crowdfunding)

MNT Reform 2 Open Source DIY Arm Linux Modular Laptop Coming Soon (Crowdfunding)

MNT Reform 2

We first covered MNT Reform in fall of 2017, when it was a prototype for a DIY and modular laptop powered by NXP i.MX 6QuadPlus processor, and with plans to eventually use i.MX 8 hexa-core processor. Last year they designed several beta units of Reform to get feedback for a dozen users, and have now fully redesigned the laptop based on an NXP i.MX 8M system-on-module with the crowdfunding campaign expected to go live in February on Crowd Supply. MNT Reform 2 specifications: SoM – Boundary Devices Nitrogen8M SOM with SoC – NXP i.MX 8MQuad quad-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.5 GHz, 1x Arm Cortex-M4F real-time core Vivante GC7000Lite 3D GPU System Memory – 4GB LPDDR4 Storage – Probably none Networking – Atheros Ethernet MAC chip (AR8035) 200 pin SO-DIMM edge connector exposing USB 3.0, PCIe, MIPI DSI, etc… Dimensions – 67.6mm x 48.4mm Motherboard Storage – SD card slot, M.2 SSD support Video Output Texas Instruments SN65DSI86 MIPI DSI to …

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on iWave Systems Launches NXP i.MX 8QuadMax / i.MX 8QuadPlus SBC

iWave Systems Launches NXP i.MX 8QuadMax / i.MX 8QuadPlus SBC

NXP i.MX 8QuadMax SBC

NXP i.MX 8 series family offers plenty of options from the i.MX 8X Cortex-A35 processor to i.MX 8QuadMax octa-core processor with two Arm Cortex-A72, four Arm Cortex-A53, and two Arm Cortex-M4F cores. We already covered plenty of i.MX 8  hardware on CNX Software, including a fair amount of i.MX 8QuadMax systems-on-module such as Toradex Apalis iMX8, iWave Systems iW-RainboW-G27M SMARC 2.0 SoM, Advantech ROM-7720 Qseven 2.1 computer-on-module, and others. But for some unknown reasons, there haven’t been that many i.MX 8QuadMax single board computer, and AFAICR we only wrote about Seco SBC-C43 board so far. But there’s now another option thanks to iWave Systems iW-Rainbow-G27S Pico-ITX SBC equipped with a choice of i.MX 8QuadMax or i.MX 8QuadPlus processor and up to 8GB RAM. iW-Rainbow-G27S specifications: SoC (one or the other)— NXP i.MX8 with VPU and HiFi4 DSP: NXP i.MX 8QuadMax with 2x Cortex-A72 cores, 4x Cortex-A53 cores, 2x Cortex-M4F real-time cores, 2x Vivante GC7000XVSX GPU, HiFi 4 DSP NXP i.MX …

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