Banana Pi BPI-AI2N SoM Features Renesas RZ/V2N SoC and 15 TOPS AI
This compact 260-pin module combines quad-core Cortex-A55 processing with a powerful DRP-AI3 accelerator, robust networking, and an optional Jetson-style carrier board.
Banana Pi has introduced the BPI-AI2N, a SoM and companion carrier board designed for demanding Vision AI applications. At the heart of the SoM is the Renesas RZ/V2N microprocessor, with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 setup alongside a highly efficient 15 TOPS (sparse) DRP-AI3 accelerator. This hardware combination makes the module excellent for machine vision, edge computing, and AI-accelerated multimedia tasks.
The BPI-AI2N-Core SoM comes in a compact 69.6 x 45 mm form factor and routes its I/O through a 260-pin SO-DIMM edge connector. Memory and storage are well-provisioned out of the box, ensuring smooth operation for edge AI models and heavy workloads.
Banana Pi BPI-AI2N development kit, showing the BPI-AI2N-Core SoM in the SO-DIMM slot of the BPI-AI2N-Carrier board
Banana Pi BPI-AI2N-Core SoM Specifications:
- SoC: Renesas RZ/V2N
- CPU: Quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz, Arm Cortex-M33 @ 200 MHz
- GPU: Arm Mali-G31 3D graphics engine (GE3D) with OpenGL ES 3.2 and OpenCL 2.0 FP
- VPU (Encode & Decode)
- H.264: Up to 1920×1080 @ 60 fps (or up to 4K @ 30 FPS)
- H.265: Up to 3840×2160 @ 30 fps
- AI accelerator: DRP-AI3 delivering up to 4 dense TOPS / 15 sparse TOPS
- Interface: Connects via 260-pin SO-DIMM edge connector
- System Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 32GB eMMC flash, 64 MB SPI NAND flash, and EEPROM
- Networking: 2x RealTek RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet controllersHost
- Misc: Bootstrap switch
- Power Supply: built-in on-module PMIC
- Dimensions: 69.6 x 45 mm
- Temperature Range: -40°C to 85°C
To simplify development, Banana Pi offers a dedicated carrier board that looks very similar to an NVIDIA Jetson Nano baseboard, though it uses a proprietary pinout. It expands the SoM’s connectivity, providing everything needed for a complete Vision AI development kit.
The top and bottom of the Banana Pi BPI-AI2N-Core module include key components, including the Renesas RZ/V2N SoC, memory, storage, and networking interfaces.
Top and bottom layout diagrams of the Banana Pi BPI-AI2N-Carrier board, with its extensive I/O interfaces, expansion slots, and networking ports.
Banana Pi BPI-AI2N carrier board Specifications:
- SoM: Banana Pi BPI-AI2N-Core (also future-compatible with the upcoming RZ/V2H-based BPI-AI2H)
- Storage: M.2 Key-M 2280 socket for NVMe SSD, MicroSD card slot
- Display Interface: 1x MIPI DSI connector
- Camera Interfaces: 2x MIPI CSI connectors
- Networking: 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 portsWiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 via RTL8821CU USB module
- USB: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB Type-C OTG and power port
- Expansion: 40-pin GPIO header
- Debugging: 3-pin Debug UART header (unpopulated), USB Type-C console port
- Misc: Sleep, Power, and Recovery buttons; 3-pin fan connector (5V, PWM); RTC with CR1220 battery holder
- Power Supply: 12V via USB-PD (Type-C) or DC jack
- Dimensions: 100 x 79 mm
On the software side, the BPI-AI2N platform currently supports Yocto and Armbian distributions based on the Linux 6.1 kernel. Banana Pi also provides open-source hardware documentation, including PDF schematics and basic specifications, available via its developer wiki.
The Banana Pi BPI-AI2N hardware is currently available on AliExpress. The standalone BPI-AI2N-Core module is priced at around $266, while the carrier board costs an additional $26.70. Optional accessories, such as a camera module, heatsink with PWM fan, and a MIPI-to-HDMI adapter, are also available to complete the kit.
Images used courtesy of Banana Pi