Taiwanese firm Via Technologies has launched the SoM-9X35 starter kit to accelerate time-to-market for retail, commercial and industrial edge AI devices.

Featuring a flexible platform powered by the quad-core MediaTek i350 processor, the starter kit comes with a 17.8cm LCD panel and touch panel display, a 13MP HD camera module, and dual speakers and microphone to provide an integrated package for jumpstarting device development.

Dual-band 802.11 ac wifi, Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0 and optional 4G support provide the seamless connectivity required for various use cases.

“As AI moves increasingly to the edge, the demand for powerful and affordable edge devices with the power and flexibility to run intelligent vision applications such as facial, object, gesture and motion recognition is rising at an exponential rate,” said Richard Brown, VP of international marketing at Via Technologies. “By combining the core compute, video and display components in a single package, the Via SoM-9X35 starter kit enables our customers to jumpstart the development of innovative devices to take advantage of these burgeoning market opportunities.”

The kit is on sale worldwide, and comprises the following components:

• Module powered by a 2.0GHz MediaTek i350 Cortex-A53 quad-core SoC for AI and ML applications
• VAB-935 8.9cm SBC form factor carrier board with array of IO and connectivity features, including HDMI, Mipi DSI and Mipi CSI support as well as dual-band 802.11ac wifi, a 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet port, and Bluetooth 5.0
• 17.8cm 1024×600 Mipi LCD panel plus touch panel display
• 13MP camera module
• Two speakers and microphone

It can also be purchased as a discrete module and in combination with the Via VAB-935 carrier board. Hardware and software customisation services can speed time to market and reduce development costs.

Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Via’s global network links the high-tech centres of the USA, Asia and Europe, and spans a customer base that includes many of the world’s leading hi-tech, industrial and transportation companies.