AAEON PICO-ARU4 might be the world’s first Pico-ITX SBC powered by Intel Core Ultra 5/7 “Arrow Lake” (Series 2) processor family. More specifically, it’s available with the Core Ultra 5 225U or Core Ultra 7 255U, both with a 15W TDP. It ships with up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, offers 2.5GbE and GbE networking, HDMI and eDP interfaces for up to two independent displays, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB 2.0 headers, two M.2 sockets for storage (NVMe SSD) and wireless expansion, two RS-232/422/485 headers, a 4-bit GPIO header, SMBus/I2C, and more. AAEON PICO-ARU4 specifications: Arrow Lake SoC (one of the other) Intel Core Ultra 5 225U 12-core (2P+8E+2LPE) processor @ up to 4.8 GHz turbo frequency, 12MB cache, 4x Xe-core Intel Graphics (8 TOPS), and Intel AI Boost (12 TOPS); PBP: TDP 15W Intel Core Ultra 7 255U 12-core (2P+8E+2LPE) processor @ up to 5.2 GHz, 12MB cache, […]
NXP i.MX 952 processor supports local dimming for AI-enhanced automotive and industrial HMIs
NXP has recently introduced the i.MX 952 applications processor, a new member of the i.MX 95 series, designed for AI-powered automotive and industrial applications, including driver monitoring, child presence detection, and in-cabin HMIs. The i.MX 952 features up to four Arm Cortex-A55 cores with Cortex-M7 and M33 microcontroller cores, and is compliant with ISO 26262 ASIL B and SIL2/SIL3 standards. It integrates an eIQ Neutron NPU for AI-based sensor fusion, a 500 Mpixel/s ISP with RGB-IR support, and is the first processor with built-in local dimming for better display efficiency. Security features include EdgeLock Secure Enclave with post-quantum cryptography, meeting ISO 21434 and IEC 62443 standards. It can be interfaced with NXP’s PF09 PMIC, PF53 regulator, Trimension UWB, and IW693/AW693 Wi-Fi 6/6E SoCs, and is pin-to-pin compatible with other members of the i.MX 95 family. NXP i.MX 952 specifications: CPU Up to 4 Arm Cortex-A55 cores with 32KB + 32KB L1-cache, 64KB L2 […]
Microchip PIC32-BZ6 BLE 6.0, Thread, and Matter wireless MCU integrates touch and motor control
Microchip has recently introduced the PIC32-BZ6 family of single-chip, multiprotocol wireless MCUs, also available as RF-certified modules, and designed for smart home, industrial automation, and automotive applications. The module supports Bluetooth LE 6.0, IEEE 802.15.4-based Thread and Matter, and proprietary mesh protocols. For wired connectivity, there are two CAN-FD ports, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet MAC, and a USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver. Other features include CVD-based touch sensing and motor control interfaces for interactive and real-time applications. As a secure MCU, the PIC32-BZ6 integrates a hardware-based security engine, a secure boot ROM, and encryption accelerators, along with OTA update capability for long-term device management. The microcontroller offers up to 54 GPIO pins, multiple pin and package options (up to 132-pin VQFN), and automotive-grade variants rated for -40°C to +125°C operation. Microchip PIC32-BZ6 specifications: MCU Core – 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP extensions Memory 512 KB multi-port SRAM (with […]
Firefly EC-AGXOrin – Jetson AGX Orin 64GB AI inference system supports up to 8 GMSL2 cameras
Firefly EC-AGXOrin is an NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin 64GB-powered AI inference system, similar to the AAEON BOXER-8645AI and Vecow RAC-1000 rugged Edge AI systems, and designed for edge AI applications such as in-vehicle computing, robotic control, machine vision, intelligent video analytics, and mobile robots. The device features eight GMSL2 connectors (input via two 4-pin Mini FAKRA interfaces) and supports up to 22-channel 1080p or 8K, 30fps H.265 video decoding. It delivers 275 TOPS of AI performance through the NVIDIA module, and integrates 64GB LPDDR5 RAM, 64GB eMMC storage, and offers M.2 NVMe and MicroSD card storage options. Other ports include a 10GbE RJ45 jack, five GbE jacks, USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0, RS232, RS485, CAN, and the system also supports WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 4G/5G cellular connectivity, and GPS/GNSS. Firefly EC-AGXOrin specifications: SoM – Jetson AGX Orin module with CPU – 12-core Arm Cortex-A78AE v8.2 64-bit processor with 3MB L2 + […]
TI C2000 F28E12x low-cost real-time MCUs feature C28x DSP core for sensorless motor control
Texas Instruments (TI) has launched the F28E12x series of ultra-low-cost C2000 real-time MCUs for motor control based on a 160 MHz C28x DSP core with up to 128 KB flash, 16 KB SRAM, and standard peripherals including SPI, SCI, I²C, and UART, delivering about 30% more performance than earlier C2000 devices. The F28E12x series also integrates various control peripherals, a high-speed ADC, and a programmable gain amplifier, enabling fast Field-Oriented Control (FOC) for sensorless motors at speeds exceeding 120,000 rpm. Other Features include vibration compensation algorithms for up to 60% speed ripple reduction, reduced acoustic noise, higher startup torque, and smoother operation. With built-in communications, support for TI’s InstaSPIN software, and multiple package options, these MCUs are well-suited for applications such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, and power drills. Texas Instruments C2000 F28E12x specifications: MCU core – C28x 32-bit DSP core @ up to 160 MHz (equivalent […]
OMBAR DC42 Dash Cam Review – A 4K+1080p dash cam with dual-band WiFi and GPS
We’ve been sent the OMBAR DC42 Dash Cam for review. It’s a car dash cam kit with a 4K UHD front camera and a 1080p FHD rear camera, each with a wide F1.8 aperture that allows more light for clear images day and night. The kit ships with a 64GB microSD card and supports cards with up to 256GB capacity. The distraction-free, screenless camera supports dual-band (2.4 + 5GHz) WiFi connectivity, GPS location recording to show driving routes, voice guidance, and in-car audio recording. The dash cam also includes accident detection with a G-sensor and a 24-hour parking mode, but the latter requires the optional OMBAR 3-lead hard-wire kit, which sadly was not included in our kit. In this review, we will start with the specifications of the OMBAR 42 dash car, go through an unboxing, report our experience installing the cameras in our car (spoiler: it’s much easier than […]
ADLINK SBC35-MTL – A 3.5-inch Intel Core Ultra SBC with up to 96GB DDR5, SBC-FM I/O expansion
ADLINK SBC35-MTL 3.5-inch SBC for high-performance edge AI applications is built around Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) SoCs with integrated AI Boost NPU, and is designed to run real-time AI applications in a small footprint. The SBC supports up to 96GB DDR5 memory, 4K quad-display output (HDMI, DP, eDP, USB-C), dual 2.5GbE, and MIPI-CSI for AI cameras. Storage options include SATA and NVMe via M.2, with expansion through M.2 B-Key and E-Key. There is also ADLINK’s SBC-FM connector for additional I/O options. Other features include TPM 2.0, USB/serial I/O, wide 12–24V input, and a compact fanless design rated for 0°C to 60°C operation. ADLINK SBC35-MTL specifications: Meteor Lake SoC – Intel Core Ultra with either 15W (MTL-U) or 28W (MTL-H) TDP options 15W (MTL-U) Intel Core Ultra 5 125U 12-core (2P+8E+2LPE) processor @ 1.3 / 4.3 GHz with 12MB cache, Intel 4Xe LPG graphics @ 1.85 GHz, Intel AI Boost […]
Atum A3 Nano development board combines Agilex 3 FPGA and USB-Blaster III programmer (Crowdfunding)
Terasic’s Atum A3 Nano is a compact FPGA development board built around Altera’s largest Agilex 3 FPGA (A3CZ135BB18AE7S). The FPGA features 135K logic elements, embedded memory blocks (6.89 Mbit M20K, 1.4 Mbit MLAB), and 368 multipliers, making it suitable for demanding applications such as robotics, automotive systems, smart city infrastructure, consumer electronics, and advanced image processing. Measuring just 85 x 70 mm, the Atum A3 Nano board includes 64 MB SDRAM, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, a microSD card slot, and an onboard USB-Blaster III programmer accessible via a USB Type-C port. Expansion options include a 40-pin GPIO header and two PMOD headers, and the board also features user I/Os like LEDs, buttons, and switches. Additionally, it supports add-ons such as displays, cameras, wireless modules, and motor control kits. Atum A3 Nano specifications: FPGA – Altera Agilex 3 A3CZ135BB18AE7S 135,110 logic elements 6.89 Mbit M20K, 1.4 Mbit MLAB 368 18×19 multipliers 4 I/O […]




