can News - Page 2 of 15 - CNX Software

August 5, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

ESP32 Bus Pirate open-source firmware works on off-the-shelf hardware

ESP32 Bus Pirate is an open-source firmware inspired by the original Bus Pirate from Dangerous Prototypes, which turns off-the-shelf (ESP32-S3) hardware into a multi-protocol hacker’s tool. It supports sniffing, sending, scripting, and interacting with various digital protocols (I2C, UART, 1-Wire, SPI, etc.) via a serial terminal or web-based CLI. It’s been tested on Espressif ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 development board, M5Stack Cardputer, M5StickC Plus2, Atom S3 Lite, M5Stamp S3, and LILYGO T-Embed (CC1101) boards. ESP32 Bus Pirate firmware highlights: Interactive CLI via USB serial – For faster performance and high responsiveness Web interface (over WiFi) – No cable needed to the host, works from any web browser Supported Modes HiZ (default) – High-Z is a safe mode where all outputs are disabled and all power supplies are turned off I2C (scan, glitch, slave mode, dump) SPI (flash, SD card, slave mode) UART / Half-Duplex UART (bridge, read, write) 1-WIRE (ibutton, temp sensor) 2-WIRE […]

August 2, 2025August 16, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

NV8600-Nano AI developer kit Review – Part 1: NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano 8GB devkit unboxing and first boot

AAEON has sent me an NV8600-Nano AI developer kit equipped with an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano 8GB for review. I’ll start the review with an unboxing to check out the board itself and accessories, before booting it to the preinstalled Ubuntu 22.04 OS (JetPack 6.2). In the second part of the review, I’ll test the board and software in more detail, including some benchmarks and features testing with a focus on AI demos using the provided USB and Raspberry Pi cameras. NV8600-Nano AI developer kit Unboxing I received two packages: one for the NV8600-Nano AI developer kit itself, and a smaller one for a “Full HD Machine USB 2.0 camera”. The exact part number can be found on a sticker: NV8600-KIT-JP620N-A1-1010. It also lists basic information like Orin Nano 8GB, four Ethernet ports, six USB 3.0 ports, two MIPI connectors, a 40-pin GPIO header, CAN Bus and COM ports, and […]

July 25, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Arduino Nano R4 board launched for $12.10 with Renesas RA4M1 microcontroller

Arduino has shrunk the UNO R4 with the Arduino Nano R4 board equipped with the same 48 MHz Renesas RA4M1 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller, but offered in a much more compact form factor. It’s closer to the UNO R4 Minima in terms of functionality, since it lacks the ESP32 wireless module and LED matrix found in the UNO R4 WiFi board. The new Nano R4 still features a USB-C port, an I2C Qwiic connector, and two 15-pin GPIO headers with castellated holes for expansion. Arduino Nano R4 specifications: Microcontroller – Renesas RA4M1 Arm Cortex-M4F MCU @ 48 MHz with 32KB SRAM, 256KB flash, 8KB EEPROM USB – 1 x USB Type-C port for power and programming Expansion 2x 15-pin GPIO headers 21x digital I/Os Analog 8x 14-bit analog input pins, 1x Op Amp using A1, A2, and A3 pins 12-bit analog DAC 6x PWM 1x UART, 1x I2C (5V), 1x […]

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

D-Robotics RDK X5 development board features Sunrise X5 octa-core SoC with 10 TOPS BPU for ROS projects

The D-Robotics RDK X5 is an upgraded AI development board built around the Sunrise X5 octa-core SoC and designed for more demanding ROS-based applications. Compared to the Sunrise X3-based RDK X3 and Horizon X3 AI development boards, which feature a 4-core CPU and 5 TOPS BPU, the RDK X5 comes with an 8-core Cortex-A55 SoC, a 10 TOPS NPU, and 8GB of RAM, doubling both the AI power and memory for demanding workloads. The board also features various I/O options with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, CAN FD, and PoE support, whereas the X3 is limited to Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and optional PoE. The X5 also adds four USB 3.0 ports and 4K 60 FPS video output, making it suitable for complex computer vision, robotics control, and machine learning applications. D-Robotics RDK X5 development board Specifications SoC – Sunrise X5 SoC with 8x Arm Cortex-A55 cores @ 1.5GHz 10 TOPS BPU (Neural Processing […]

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Calixto Systems introduces i.MX93 VERSA SO-DIMM SoM and EVK with NXP i.MX 93 Edge AI SoC

India-based Calixto Systems has unveiled the i.MX93 VERSA SO-DIMM system-on-module (SoM) powered by an NXP i.MX 93 Arm Cortex-A55/M33 SoC with Ethos-U65 micro NPU for Edge AI applications, as well as an evaluation kit (EVK). The system-on-module features up to 2GB LPDDR4x RAM, 16GB eMMC flash, a gigabit Ethernet PHY, and exposes various I/Os through a 200-pin SO-DIMM edge connector, such as MIPI DSI, LVDS, and parallel RGB display interfaces, MIPI CSI and Parallel camera interfaces, dual GbE (on PHY on-module, one on carrier), and more. The i.MX93 VERSA module targets smart industrial automation, healthcare, retail, and connected edge systems with specific size, performance, and power efficiency requirements. i.MX93 VERSA specifications: SoC – NXP i.MX 93 CPU Up to 2x Arm Cortex-A55 up to 1.7 GHz 2x Arm Cortex-M33 up to 250 MHz GPU – PXP 2D GPU with blending/composition, resize, color space conversion NPU – Arm Ethos-U65 NPU @ […]

May 30, 2025May 30, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

DFRobot Edge101 ESP32 industrial IoT controller offers isolated RS485 and CAN Bus interfaces

DFRobot Edge101 is an industrial-grade IoT controller built around the ESP32 MCU, designed as a bridge between development boards and industrial IoT systems. Housed in a full metal enclosure, it comes with various protection features including surge, ESD, lightning, overvoltage, and reverse polarity protection, and supports continuous 24/7 operation in harsh environments. It integrates RS-485, CAN bus, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and RTC, and supports expansion via a PCIe slot for 4G LTE cellular communication, making it suitable for automation, environmental monitoring, and remote data acquisition in industrial or outdoor settings. The IoT controller also offers flexible mounting options such as DIN rail or ear mounting. DFRobot Edge101 specifications: Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX6 microcontroller @ up to 240 MHz Memory – 520 KB SRAM, 16 KB RTC SRAM Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.2 Storage – 4MB SPI NOR flash, MicroSD card slot Connectivity […]

May 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

NXP OrangeBox 2.0 V2X automotive domain controller features NXP i.MX 94 SoC

NXP OrangeBox 2.0 automotive domain controller

NXP OrangeBox 2.0 is an NXP i.MX 94-powered V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) automotive domain controller development platform designed for modern vehicles. It works as a centralized controller between the vehicle’s gateway and its wired and wireless technologies, with features like Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth 5.3, UWB, 5G cellular, and secure car access for automotive zone controllers, smart car access systems, and V2X communication systems. It’s the first i.MX 94 platform we’ve covered here, and NXP says the OrangeBox 2.0 delivers up to 4x the performance of its predecessor – the OrangeBox – based on an NXP i.MX 8XLite SoC. The i.MX 94’s Cortex-A55, Cortex-M7, and Cortex-M33 cores, and the eIQ Neutron NPU enable AI features such as an intelligent firewall and predictive maintenance. For cybersecurity, it includes post-quantum cryptography support, an EdgeLock secure enclave, and a functional safety island that meets ISO 26262 ASIL-B standards. Connectivity options include dual 2.5 Gbps and triple […]

May 19, 2025 by Debashis Das - 6 Comments

Waveshare RA4M1-Zero mini development board features secure boot, firmware encryption, and castellated design

RA4M1 Zero Mini Development Board versions

Waveshare RA4M1-Zero is a mini development board built around the Renesas RA4M1 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 MCU running at 48MHz. The MCU also features 256KB of flash memory, 32KB of SRAM, 8KB of EEPROM, and a built-in Floating Point Unit (FPU). Hardware peripherals include a 14-bit ADC, a 12-bit DAC, a CAN bus controller, an onboard USB 2.0 interface, and WS2812 RGB LED. The MCU also supports firmware encryption, secure boot, and tamper-proof security features to ensure application safety. Its small size (23.5 x 18mm) and castellated module design make it suitable for space-constrained applications, including IoT devices, industrial control systems, secure embedded systems, and compact sensor nodes. RA4M1-Zero mini development board specifications: MCU – Renesas RA4M1 (R7FA4M1AB3CFM) as found in the Arduino UNO R4 CPU 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F @ 48MHz Memory – 32KB SRAM Storage – 256KB Flash, 8KB EEPROM USB – USB 2.0 device interface via USB Type-C connector […]