ASUS Announces Tinker Edge T

Single-board computer for AI application features the Google Edge TPU, ARM processor, an advanced power design and tools for easy system setup.

Taipei, Taiwan, January 7, 2020 ASUS today announced Tinker Edge T, a single-board computer (SBC) specially designed for AI applications. It features the Google Edge TPU, a machine learning (ML) accelerator that speeds up processing efficiency, lowers power demands and makes it easier to build connected devices and intelligent applications. With this onboard ML accelerator, Tinker Edge T is capable of performing four tera-operations per second (TOPS) using only 0.5 watts per unit of computation. It is also optimized for TensorFlow Lite models, making it easy to compile and run common ML models.

NXP i.MX 8M processor

With its powerful and modern quad-core ARM-based NXP i.MX 8M processor, Tinker Edge T offers a powerful solution for graphics, machine vision, video, audio, voice and safety-critical applications. Tinker Edge T features 1 GB of LPDDR4 dual-channel memory, the 4th generation of low-power DDR DRAM technology, offering faster speeds and even lower power consumption for improved system performance and efficiency. Tinker Edge T also comes equipped with an onboard 8 GB eMMC and SD 3.0 interface that offers significantly faster read and write speeds for the OS, applications and file storage.

Advanced power design

Most SBC motherboards only offer a 15-watt (5V 3A) power design, which can cause device and system instability when there are multiple connected devices. Other SBCs have power designs that lower the performance of their I/O ports. Tinker Edge T has a special power design that, together with a DC head power supply, delivers up to 45 watts of power, enabling stable system operation and full I/O performance, even with multiple connected devices. Additionally, an exclusive power-protection design activates automatically if the supplied current and voltage change significantly, effectively protecting the board and all connected devices.

More connectivity options for developers

Tinker Edge T features a rich I/O interface, including one MIPI-DSI connection for displays and touch screens, and two MIPI-CSI connections for compatible cameras to enable computer vision for applications such as depth measurement, smart vending machine QR code payment systems and interactive advertising. Tinker Edge T has a maker-friendly design that offers many carefully considered features to provide a superior experience for first-time builders and seasoned hobbyists alike. Programmable LEDs let makers develop custom lighting behaviors, such as system notifications and status indicators, and the color-coded GPIO header makes it easy to recognize respective pin headers. Tinker Edge T also features a full-size HDMI port, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, gigabit LAN and integrated WiFi and Bluetooth for internet and network connectivity.

Multi-platform tools

ASUS provides a robust API and SDK that enables users to deploy machine-learning models to Tinker Edge T easily for applications such as image classification and object detection. Additionally, Tinker Edge T comes with a cross-platform OS flash tool that enables easy OS image flashing to SD cards and USB drives, enabling users to get their system up and running quickly.