New SMARC Module supports AI-based point-of-sale applications

The Kontron SMARC-fA3399 module with Arm® Rockchip processor is suitable for high performance applications and is leading regarding price/performance ratio – a dedicated software community continuously pushes the application spectrum

Kontron, a global leader in IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), is launching the new fA3399 SMARC module, which uses the Rockchip RK3399K Arm® processor. In the benchmark of Arm®-based modules, the new module has the highest performance compared to its price, with six processor cores, which are derived from an energy-saving dual-core Arm® Cortex®-A72 and quad-core Cortex®-A53.

The robust module complies with the new SMARC 2.1 module standard with dimensions of 82 x 80 mm and is designed for the extended temperature range of -20 to +85 degrees Celsius. The module includes 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB Low-Power Double Data Rate (LPDDR4) SDRAM Memory down; displays can be connected via LVDS, DP and HDMI and an Arm® Mali-T860MP4 GPU ensures high performance for 2D and 3D graphic displays. Other connections include two Gbit Ethernet ports, three PCIe interfaces, six USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 interface.

The Rockchip-CPU offers a perfect platform for non-critical applications around POS/POI like digital signage, retail or kiosk. Here, price pressure and speed are important drivers, because time-to-market is crucial to quickly place new contents/contexts close to the end customer.
Experiments are often based on the agile concept of the minimum viable product (MVP) and in this environment of customer communication, new possibilities of Artificial Intelligence are also used, which requires high computing power. This applies, for example, to advertising or information terminals that use AI image recognition algorithms to display adaptive content – depending on the gender and age of the recipients. Another example is supermarket scales that automatically recognize which fruit or vegetables are to be weighed.

All common Linux operating systems are supported, and since the processor is very well established in the maker environment, a large community is continuously developing the open source applications further on.

Sample quantities are available from Q1/2021. Kontron is also planning a 3.5″ board with this CPU.

more information: https://www.kontron.com/products/boards-and-standard-form-factors/smarc/smarc-fa3399.html

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