For years, Artificial Intelligence has been synonymous with massive, air-conditioned data centers, crunching data far away in the cloud.

But what if you could bring that same AI “brain” directly to where the action happens—on a noisy factory floor, in a remote farm, or even inside a drone soaring high above? - That’s the promise of Edge AI, and it’s exactly what the EdgeAI-ORN, Compulab’s customizable industrial AI computer platform, delivers.

The EdgeAI-ORN is designed to put advanced AI capabilities right at the point of action, enabling on-device processing for faster speed, higher reliability, and greater security in mission-critical applications. Think of it as a rugged body, built to endure harsh conditions, carrying a powerful AI brain that can think on the spot.

The Brain: NVIDIA Jetson Orin Modules for Scalable AI Horsepower

At the heart of the EdgeAI-ORN lies the powerful NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ NX/Nano modules. These are the brains that let professionals choose the ideal level of AI performance for their workload.

AI power is often measured in TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second)—a metric of how much data the system can process and how fast.

The EdgeAI-ORN platform scales across multiple Jetson Orin options:

• Jetson Orin™ NX 16GB: Up to 157 TOPS
• Jetson Orin™ NX 8GB: Up to 117 TOPS
• Jetson Orin™ Nano 8GB: Up to 67 TOPS
• Jetson Orin™ Nano 4GB: Up to 34 TOPS

This flexibility lets you balance performance and efficiency, with power consumption ranging from 7W to 40W, depending on the module.

For storage, the EdgeAI-ORN supports M.2 Key-M PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe SSDs (up to 2280 size). (Note: Orin Nano modules are limited to NVMe Gen 3.)

The Senses: Versatile Camera Input Options

A powerful brain needs sharp senses—and in Edge AI, cameras are key.

The EdgeAI-ORN offers exceptional flexibility with its modular front plate, which can be swapped with an expansion board to support different industrial camera interfaces. In effect, the device can change its “face” to suit its mission.

Available input options include:

• 4× USB 3.2 (10Gbps) ports for high-speed cameras
• Optional 4× PoE 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, delivering both data and power over a single cable—ideal for industrial setups
• Optional 4× GMSL2 deserializer inputs for rugged, high-bandwidth cameras (e.g., robotics, autonomous vehicles)
• Optional 4× FPD-Link IV deserializer inputs for high-end industrial cameras
• Optional 4× MIPI-CSI (4-lane) inputs via FFC connectors for embedded vision applications

The Body: Built Like a Tank

The real world is tough—extreme heat, freezing cold, vibrations, and electrical noise. The EdgeAI-ORN is built to thrive in these conditions with a MIL-STD-810G-compliant design for superior shock and vibration resistance.

Key rugged features include:

• Wide temperature support: -25°C to 75°C, suitable for deserts or icy sites
• Fanless heat sink design: The enclosure itself acts as a heat sink, enabling silent, reliable operation with zero moving parts. (An optional external fan is available for high-power configurations.)
• Isolated I/O: Built-in surge protection for RS-232/422/485, CAN bus, plus 2× GPI and 2× GPO for industrial control
• Wide DC power input: 9V–36V via a twist-locking connector, supporting varied field power sources

Connectivity & Remote Management: Always Online

For remote deployments, staying connected and manageable is essential. The EdgeAI-ORN provides:

• Wired networking: 1× 2.5GbE and 1× 1GbE RJ45
• Wireless expansion: M.2 Key-E for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and M.2 Key-B for LTE/5G modems
• Optional Out-Of-Band (OOB) management: A dedicated, secure control channel—accessible via its own Ethernet or modem—for remote diagnostics, reboots, and troubleshooting, even if the OS has crashed
• Local recovery tools: A USB recovery port and serial debug console

You Are the Architect: Customization at the Core

The EdgeAI-ORN isn’t a fixed product—it’s a platform you design around your needs.

The customization process is straightforward:

1. Choose your AI horsepower: Select the right Jetson Orin module
2. Define your “senses”: Pick the camera interfaces required
3. Add connectivity: Wi-Fi, LTE, or 5G as needed
4. Select the housing: Fanless or enhanced cooling, depending on deployment conditions

Final Thoughts

By combining NVIDIA Jetson power with a rugged, customizable Compulab enclosure, the EdgeAI-ORN shifts the paradigm: instead of sending data to a distant cloud, the AI comes to where it’s needed most.

With its powerful brain, adaptable senses, and virtually indestructible body, the EdgeAI-ORN enables AI applications in environments once considered impossible.

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