NVIDIA Jetson is a series of innovative embedding systems used by developers to create breakthrough AI solutions in a variety of sectors. As one of the world’s top hardware platforms for AI on the edge, Jetson is equally beneficial for students and tech enthusiasts to obtain hands-on experience with AI through a variety of creative projects.
Nvidia Jetson is a family of embedded computer boards manufactured by Nvidia. The Jetson TK1, TX1, and TX2 versions are all powered by an Nvidia Tegra processor (or SoC) with an ARM architecture central processing unit (CPU). Jetson is a low-power system meant to speed up machine learning applications.
This blog will cover the fundamentals of the Jetson Nano, including its onboard specifications, benefits, drawbacks, and application. Then, we’ll go over the many applications for which this board may be utilised.
WHAT IS JETSON NANO?
The NVIDIA jetson nano developer kit is the most recent addition to the jetson series of development boards. Jetson nano is powered by a 64-core ARM Cortex-A57 CPU. It features a 1.43 GHz clock speed and a Maxwell GPU with 128 CUDA cores capable of 472 GFLOPs (FP16). This development board was developed to be the optimal foundation for studying, constructing, and educating the many AI possibilities. The NVIDIA Jetson Nano kit is ideal for learning and developing artificial intelligence and robotics.
The platform is made up of modules, which offers small form factor, high-performance edge processors. It also provides the JetPack SDK for software acceleration and a rich ecosystem to aid in the creation of unique AI applications. The NVIDIA Jetson system is high-performance and power-efficient, making it one of the best and most popular platforms for developing AI-based edge devices (Edge Machine Learning).
- microSD card slot for main storage
- 40-pin Expansion Header
- Micro USB port for 5V power input, or for Device Mode
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- USB 3.0 Ports(x4)
- HDMI Output port
- DisplayPort Connector
- DC Barrel Jack for 5V power Input
- MIPI CSI-2 Camera Connectors
The NVIDIA JetPack SDK includes a Linux operating system (OS), CUDA-X accelerated libraries, and APIs for machine learning domains such as deep learning, computer vision, and others. It also works with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, Caffe, Keras, and others, as well as computer vision libraries such as OpenCV.
Network Connectivity:
Even though wireless connectivity chips are not included, you may connect the board to the internet wirelessly using adapter USB pins:
- Wired – An RJ45 Ethernet connector is supplied for wired internet connection to the board.
- WLAN – Wireless networks can be accessed by inserting a compatible USB wireless networking device.
- WPAN – Access Bluetooth connection by plugging in a compatible USB Bluetooth adaptor.
LED Behavior on Ethernet Ports:
- Green LED: This indicates that the ether gigabit connection is operational. It will be turned off if there is no ethernet connection or if the gigabit connection is slower than 1 gigabit/second.
- Amber LED: If there is traffic passing via the port, the amber LED will flicker.
SPECIFICATIONS OF JETSON NANO:
| GPU | 128-core Maxwell |
| CPU | Quad-core ARM A57 @ 1.43 GHz |
| Memory | 4 GB 64-bit LPDDR4 25.6 GB/s |
| Storage | microSD (not included) |
| Video Encode | 4K @ 30 | 4x 1080p @ 30 | 9x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) |
| Video Decode | 4K @ 60 | 2x 4K @ 30 | 8x 1080p @ 30 | 18x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) |
| Camera | 2x MIPI CSI-2 DPHY lanes |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet, M.2 Key E |
| Display | HDMI and display port |
| USB | 4x USB 3.0, USB 2.0 Micro-B |
| Others | GPIO, I2C, I2S, SPI, UART |
| Mechanical | 69 mm x 45 mm, 260-pin edge connector |
Benefits of Jetson Platform:
The NVIDIA Jetson systems provide a variety of advantages that make them popular among professionals, software developers, and students alike. The following are some of its benefits.
Modular Flexibility
The NVIDIA Jetson range comprises modules suitable for both small and big businesses. You may select from a variety of modules that are ideal for constructing everything from simple AI applications to extremely complicated machines.
- Unified Software
The NVIDIA Jetson is backed by unified software architectures, which greatly simplifies the job of software developers. When upgrading their work on additional Jetson modules, the uniform method saves developers the trouble of repeating code.
- Jetson Nano can analyse several sensors in parallel and execute many contemporary neural networks on each sensor stream.
- It also supports a wide range of popular AI frameworks, making it simple for developers to include their chosen models and frameworks into the solution.
Drawbacks of Jetson Nano
- When the price is taken into account, it has relatively few downsides.
- It does not include an internal WiFi module.
- Also, they haven’t incorporated Bluetooth to the board
- On the PCB, there are just two PWM pins.
APPLICATIONS:
- Robotics:
Py Bullet
ROS
Realsense (Depth camera)
Made for AI - Aside from the obvious applications in Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and robotics, the NVIDIA Jetson Nano may be used in real-world applications like as automated voice recognition, object categorization, and geomapping.
The Latest NVIDIA Jetson Devices
Every NVIDIA Jetson module is a standalone hardware kit. It includes a CPU, GPU, high-speed connections, memory, power management, and other features. Jetson devices are available in a variety of power efficiency, performance, and form factor configurations, making them appropriate for usage in a wide range of sectors. The following edge devices or modules are part of the NVIDIA Jetson range.
If you want to construct a complicated AI application with a small budget, the Jetson nano development kit is a fantastic option. It includes a more powerful ARM cortex software that aids in the management of all the different tiers of applications.