Arduino has released its Linux-capable Portenta X8 edge AI board, as well as a new attachment called the Portenta Max Carrier, which turns it into a single-board computer-style all-in-one device.
The Arduino Portenta X8 was announced in March as the company's first system-on-module to run the Linux kernel, utilizing a powerful nine-core computing subsystem that includes four Arm Cortex-A53 application processors, three Arm Cortex-M4 real-time cores, and two Arm Cortex-M7 microcontroller cores. The Portenta X8 is a dramatic move for Arduino, targeting a range of use-cases like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and edge AI, and is now available to buy.
Those eager to get started with the board will be pleased to learn that Arduino is also releasing a carrier board, the Portenta Max Carrier, which offers the features of a single-board computer in a compact footprint and is compatible with both the Portenta X8 and the older Portenta H7 board designs.
Two USB Type-A female ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, an RJ11 port exposing an FD-CAN bus, a mini-PCI Express (mPCIe) slot, an RJ12 with RS232/433/485 bus, stereo audio in and out plus a dedicated microphone input, a connector for an external speaker, and a microSD slot for additional storage are all included on the Portenta Max Carrier. There's an on-board JLink OB/Blackmagic probe for debugging, as well as support for an 18650 battery.
However, the carrier extends beyond physical links. The board also comes with two pre-installed wireless communication modules: the Murata CMWX1ZZABZ-078 for LoRa connectivity and the u-blox SARA-R412M-02B for Cat M.1 and NB-IoT cellular connections.
The Arduino team says, "You can combine this Arduino Pro carrier with current Portenta modules to make them into single-board computers or reference designs for Industry 4.0 — lowering your deployment time to nearly nothing."
"This enables you to quickly prototype and create high-performance projects like remote management of industrial machinery and equipment, smart digital kiosks that improve user experience, and bespoke HMI dashboards to remotely control smart appliances, lighting, and systems in your home or workplace."
The Portenta X8 is available to purchase now for $239 on the Arduino Store; the Portenta Max Carrier will be available later this month for $335, with interested parties urged to sign up to be alerted when orders go live.
