Advantech i.MX 8M plus-based AI-native platforms aim to empower the industrial edge
Advantech, an early access partner of NXP, has released a series of i.MX 8M Plus-based products the RSB-3720 2.5″ PICO-ITX SBC, the EPC-R3720 compact edge AI box PC system, and the ROM-5722 SMARC 2.1 COM.
These artificial intelligence (AI)-native platforms feature up to 2.3 TOPS, and empower AI and edge computing in smart vision-based edge devices that require a small footprint, low latency, high power efficiency, and advanced precision. The RSB-3720 and EPC-R3720 deliver a highly integrated one-stop service with UIO40-Express, modular application-oriented I/O expansion boards, and AIM-Linux to Vision AI applications.
AI engine enables image processing
Advantech i.MX 8M Plus-based solutions (ROM-5722, RSB-3720, and EPC-R3720) are powered with up to 4 core 1.8GHz Cortex-A53 processors supported by a Cortex-M7 co-processor for handling real-time tasks. This is accelerated by two image signal processors (ISPs) and a dedicated neural network processor (NPU) at up to incredible 2.3 TOPS. These deliver powerful image and AI inferencing capabilities while consuming less power than doing the calculations by the core CPUs alone.
Such features enables the platform for artificial intelligence applications like object detection, recognition, classification, and pose estimation. Advantech AIM-Linux modular Linux software services integrate many types of application add-ons and Edge AI inference engines/libraries mainly based on the NXP eIQ toolkit.
For easy and fast start Python based demo programs empower AI inference using mainstream inference engines including Arm NN, TensorFlow Lite and ONNX.
Advantech developed factory-focused AI models that run on our EPC-R3720 Edge Vision AI system. These augment efficiencies by helping calculate, monitor line productivity, and improve safety.
Flexible I/O eases application deployment
Edge AI applications including facial recognition and product assembly optimisation require premium camera inputs. ROM-5722, RSB-3720, and EPC-R3720 provide 2 x MIPI-CSI camera inputs for connection with 2 x built-in ISPs — enabling intelligent vision-based systems. These solutions accommodate multiple displays via 4Kp30 HDMI, one dual channel LVDS (configurable as two single channel LVDS) and one 4-lane MIPI-DSI. Likewise, they provide the I/O needed for advanced network and peripheral connection connectivity like two GbE LANs. Expansion for WLAN and WWAN are available.
RSB-3720 features an UIO40-Express mechanical design for connection with application-oriented I/O expansion boards. Developers can simply select I/O extension boards for more serial ports (RS-232, RS-485), isolated DI/DOs, USB 2.0, and four port GbE Ethernet hub. In addition, Advantech’s AIM-Linux includes embedded Linux BSP based on the long-term-support (LTS) version, and peripheral drivers for diverse software requirements.
Ubiquitous deployment
Advantech’s RSB-3720, EPC-R3720, and ROM-5722 are adaptable to applications in vide variety of environments by supporting wide operating temperatures and high vibration resistance (-40 ~ 85 ºC/-40 ~ 185 ºF; 3.5Grms for board and 3.5Grms for box respectively). Advantech’s WISE-DeviceOn provides fast and simple setup for multiple IoT device solutions. It provides real-time device management, firmware over-the-air maintenance, failure analysis, and operation efficiency optimisation on the same dashboard for comprehensive device control.
For more information on Advantech’s Arm computing products and services, visit here.
Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN