BeagleBone®︎ AI - Technical Specifications

What is the BeagleBone AI?

BeagleBone AI, a new addition to the BeagleBoard.org BeagleBone family, is a high-end Single Board Computer aimed at developers interested in implementing machine-learning and computer vision with simplicity. BeagleBone AI simplify the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily application via the TI C66x digital-signal-processor (DSP) cores, two dual-core ARM Cortex-M4 co-processors for real-time control, two dual-core Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) subsystems and four Embedded Vision Engines(EVEs) supported through an optimized TIDL machine learning OpenCL API with pre-installed tools. The BeagleBone AI also has an additional dual-core PowerVR SGX544 3D GPU and a Vivante GC320 2D graphics accelerator. Focused on everyday automation in industrial, commercial and home applications.

BeagleBone AI comes in a similar form-fact as BeagleBone Black and compatible with many BeagleBone Cape add-on boards make it easy to extend the functionality.

Processors and RAM

Dual 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A15 with out-of-order speculative issue 3-way superscalar execution pipeline for the fastest execution of existing 32-bit code
2 C66x Floating-Point VLIW DSP supported by OpenCL
4 Embedded Vision Engines (EVEs) supported by TIDL machine learning library
2x Dual-Core Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) subsystems (4 PRUs total) for ultra low-latency control and software generated peripherals

Memory: 1GB RAM and 16GB on-board eMMC Flash

Connectivity

Gigabit Ethernet
802.11ac 2.4/5GHz WiFi via the AzureWave AW-CM256SM
Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth Low Energy via the AzureWave AW-CM256SM

USB Type-C for power and superspeed dual-role controller
USB type-A host

Audio and Video

IVA-HD subsystem with support for 4K @ 15fps H.264 encode/decode and other codecs @ 1080p60
Vivante GC320 2D graphics accelerator
Dual-Core PowerVR SGX544 3D GPU

Additional Features and Connectivity

2x46 expansion headers compatible with many BeagleBone cape add-on boards
- 16-bit LCD interfaces
- 4+ UARTs
- 2x I2C ports
- 2x SPI ports
- Lots of PRU I/O pins
Zero-download out of box software environment
Self-hosted web IDE with local compilers, libraries and examples
Debian distribution (initially version 9.9, 10.0 available)
Linux kernel support (initially 4.14, with 4.19 and 5.2 available)
Connectivity via USB gadget (network/serial), WiFi access point and station, Ethernet, and serial debug header

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Top Comments

jomoenginer over 6 years ago in reply to clem57

According to the Beaglebone AI GitHub/WiKi, there are no Capes listed as being supported with this board thus far.

https://github.com/beagleboard/beaglebone-ai/wiki/Cape-Compatibility

It states:

Future home of the compatible cape list.

There was an issue posted 10 days ago regarding the overlays though.

https://github.com/beagleboard/beaglebone-ai/issues/18
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jomoenginer over 6 years ago in reply to Sean_Miller

Sean_Miller wrote:

In one of the videos on the Beaglebone AI (can't find it now), it was stated that it has "AI on the chip". If anyone else has heard that kind of claim, what does that actually mean?
"AI on the chip" - Artificial information on the chip?

They at least have been working on this for a few years; like since 2013 or so.
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1319796
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Sean_Miller over 6 years ago

In one of the videos on the Beaglebone AI (can't find it now), it was stated that it has "AI on the chip". If anyone else has heard that kind of claim, what does that actually mean?
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clem57 over 6 years ago in reply to coolkedar

They have the normal capes that should work. Of course you can design your own or just breadboard what you wish.
Yes coolkedar you can...
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coolkedar over 6 years ago

Can I attach various sensors like accelerometer , temperature sensors to it?
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cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to jomoenginer

Sorry jomoenginer , you'll have to ask on the online store about that one.
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jomoenginer over 6 years ago in reply to jomoenginer

I noticed the "Buy Now" price on Newark lists the BB AI at $156.29 US which is much more than the listed $118 I have seen. Does this include a Tariff adjustment? I mean, it's 3x the price of a RasPi 4 and more than a Google Coral, so I still don't see why one would choose this over the other options outside of the open architecture of the BB.
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cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to jomoenginer

Thanks for the Quake 3 tips, I've been able to get a solid 125fps from it before
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jomoenginer over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

cstanton wrote:

I think jomoenginer , you should put one to the RoadTests & Reviews when it comes along and see if it meets up with your expectations and you can show what it's capable of
That might be a good plan. Hopefully I can disprove my initial thoughts of the board.

Regarding your Quake note previously, If found this set of instructions to work without issue and Quake 3 runs pretty good on the RasPi 4 2Gb.
https://raspberrytips.com/install-play-quake-3-raspberry-pi/

One note, the BB boards have historically been more of a development and/or prototyping board since the processor is more open source. However, for someone looking to build their 2020's widget, I am not sure of the benefits of using 2012 technology like the ARM Cortex-A15 in doing so.
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cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to jomoenginer

I think jomoenginer , you should put one to the RoadTests & Reviews when it comes along and see if it meets up with your expectations and you can show what it's capable of
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