How Would You Roadtest the MaaXBoard?

Question

I was sent some info on a new dev board called the MaaXBoard.

The MaaXBoard is based on the NXP i.MX 8M applications processor, and it's good for embedded computing and applications for AI at the edge, industrial automation, multimedia, and IoT applications -- all topics of interest on element14.

The MaaXBoard uses NXP’s i.MX 8M family of applications processors, which are based on the Arm Cortex-A53 and Cortex-M4 cores, providing audio, voice and video processing. The MaaXBoard has a range of capabilities making it ideal to investigate AI, IoT and multimedia applications, offering designers everything they need to support and create a Linux, Android, Windows 10 IoT Core or other OS-based system. The platform’s on-board peripherals include 2GB of DDR4 memory, a Gigabit Ethernet port, dual USB 3.0 host ports, HDMI output, MIPI-DSI, MPI-CSI, WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, MicroSD card slot and eMMC storage.

Here's some tech specs:

Processor
- NXP i.MX 8M Processor with Quad Arm Cortex-A53 and single Cortex-M4F
Memory
- 2GB DDR4 SDRAM
- 8GB eMMC
- MicroSD Slot
Communications and User Interface
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Dual USB 3.0
- MIPI-DSI
- MIIP-CSI
- HDMI
- Supports up to 4k resolution
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
- Onboard Ceramic Antenna (Default)
- External Antenna supported
- Audio Expansion
User I/O
- 40 Pin Low Speed Expansion Interface
- Raspberry Pi Hat Compatible
- Digital I/O voltage: 3.3V
Other
- Voltage Regulators
- USB Type C 5V/3A Power input
- Operating Temperature: 0~70°C
Mechanical
- 85mm x 56mm x 12mm form factor

Question: How would you roadtest this dev board?

Gough Lui · Answer

Probably best to refer to the Embest/Avnet pages as well - http://www.embest-tech.com/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=117&Id=388&Fid=t3:117:3 Heatsink sold separately - it looks like that chip might get a bit hot without it! Nice to see it supports Android 9.0/Yocto Sumo 2.5 with Kernel 4.14.78. It might look roughly Raspberry Pi compatible, but perhaps would be suited to more serious head-less roles for serving data from storage or running micro-services. With the touch-screen, it could probably be suitable for home automation interfaces ... but I think this is perhaps a bit powerful for me . I've still got plenty of Raspberry PI 1 Model A/B+'s still running and serving me just fine. - Gough

crisdeodates · Answer

rscasny , I would definitely love to roadtest this board. This is, in simple terms, Raspberry Pi with 8 GB onboard storage which is a great advantage. Hoping to know more about this board and understand its capabilities. I could use this to upgrade my autonomous ground vehicle which currently uses a raspberry pi. A worthy candidate for IoT applications. With the given specs, not sure about the AI capability though. Glat to know that it is scalable, thanks to Rpi compatible headers. So a long list of HATs waiting and ready for plug and play applications. Also wondering how the audio expansions ports would be useful. It got a cleaner aesthetic appeal than the other boards of this genre. Waiting to scavenge on more information.. overall, this is a serious Rpi killer board..

fmilburn · Answer

There is additional information in the documents section here: https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-93814

jafoste4 · Answer

Hi Gough, The heatsink actually comes packaged with each MaaXBoard. Please see the product brief. 5371-PB-AES-MC-SBC-IMX8M-G-V1-v6a.pdf Thx, Josh

Jan Cumps · Answer

phoenixcomm wrote:

rscasny For me there are two drawbacks.

one. I still owe you a road test, so Im out!
two. when I looked at the man page it did not show a RJ45 and for my Smarthab WIFI is OUT!

Isn’t that gigabit Ethernet connector RJ-45?

phoenixcomm · Answer

God just use GOOGLE! https://www.variscite.com/product/system-on-module-som/cortex-a53-krait/dart-mx8m-nxp-imx-8m/

dougw · Answer

This system has a really nice suite of all the latest hardware features. I especially like the camera interfaces. It would make a very nice time-lapse video camera system for 3D print jobs and electronics project assembly videos. It would run off a power supply so no danger of batteries dying over long print jobs and the high speed Ethernet provides ready access to the video data by video editing computers.

clem57 · Answer

To me this is like a Raspberry Pi on steroids. So a useful test would include comparing the two feature by feature. I would use this in the RF projects as an SDR radio attached to the USB 3.0. and compare the data speeds. Clem

jafoste4 · Answer

Hi, Just to make you aware\, the link you showed above is to a different board. The MaaXBoard and all of its information can currently be found here. MaaXBoard: A Low-Cost SBC Based On NXP i.MX 8M Processor Thanks, Josh

How Would You Roadtest the MaaXBoard?

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