Engicam SmarCore iQ6 SMARC Module Runs Qualcomm IQ-615 Processor With Adreno GPU

The Engicam has presented the SmarCore iQ6, which is a small SMARC 2.2 System-on-Module (SoM) relying on the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-6 platform, and incorporates processing, multimedia acceleration, and connectivity capabilities in a small form factor to fit the embedded system of industrial applications, IoT devices, and edge computers. It is also designed to be used in industrial automation, smart vision, HMI devices, robotics and intelligent edge gateway.

The SmarCore iQ6 is not the same as a full single-board computer, but the primary processing hardware is on the same board with external interfaces exposed on a carrier board. This design enables developers to develop custom embedded products, and it takes less time and is less complex to develop the products.

SmarCore iQ6 SMARC System-on-Module

Processing Hardware

At the heart of the SmarCore iQ6 is the Qualcomm IQ-615 processor, which uses a heterogeneous CPU architecture combining high-performance and power-efficient cores. The processor features two Kryo Gold cores based on ARM Cortex-A76 technology running up to 1.9 GHz, alongside six Kryo Silver cores derived from Cortex-A55 operating up to 1.6 GHz. This configuration allows the module to balance performance and power efficiency, making it suitable for workloads such as AI processing, multimedia tasks, and industrial control.

The platform also integrates an Adreno GPU, enabling hardware acceleration for graphics and compute workloads. The GPU supports modern graphics APIs, including OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan, DirectX 12, and OpenCL 2.0, which helps in applications requiring advanced graphics rendering or GPU-accelerated computing.

Memory and Storage

The SMARC module can support LPDDR4X memory with 8 GB capacities and has enough bandwidth to support multimedia and AI loads. To provide onboard storage, the module includes 8 GB of eMMC flash, and can have any larger capacity depending on configuration.

A combination of high-speed memory and embedded storage enables the module to execute embedded Linux or Android systems with high efficiency, supporting huge applications and datasets.

Multimedia and Vision Capabilities

The module is made to handle multimedia and computer vision loads. It also provides two MIPI-CSI camera interfaces, and the developers can use these interfaces to interface the cameras with machine vision or imaging applications. The video subsystem contains several codec decoders, which are: H.265, H.264, VP9, VP8, and MPEG-2, with a resolution of up to 4K and with a video encoding of 1080p, 60 frames per second.

To be connected to a display, the platform has several output capabilities, such as MIPI-DSI, DisplayPort/eDP, LVDS, and HDMI (through converters). The flexibility of the module enables its use in embedded displays in kiosks, industrial control panels and in digital signage systems.

Connectivity and Interfaces

The SmarCore iQ6 offers a broad range of high-speed and peripheral interfaces to be incorporated into embedded gadgets. The networking support is Gigabit Ethernet, and the expansion and peripherals are connected via PCIe Gen2, USB 3.0, and various USB 2.0 connections.

As well, the module has a few standard embedded interfaces, including UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO and several I2S audio interfaces that can be used to communicate with sensors, controllers, and other external devices. Such interfaces enable the module to be easily incorporated into industrial controls or IoT devices.

Development and Carrier Boards

To simplify development, Engicam offers compatible carrier boards such as the X.TOUCH 2.0 development board. Ports such as HDMI, LVDS, dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB ports, RS-232/RS-485 serial interfaces, CAN bus and M.2 expansion slots with Wi-Fi or WWAN connections are exposed by this board. This allows developers to evaluate the module quickly and develop applications without designing custom hardware initially.

Applications

Thanks to its processing power, multimedia support, and industrial connectivity, the SmarCore iQ6 can be used in several embedded applications, including:

• Industrial automation systems
• Smart cameras and vision processing
• Edge AI and IoT gateways
• Human-machine interface (HMI) devices
• Robotics controllers
• Digital signage and kiosks

As of writing, the SmarCore iQ6 SMARC System-on-Module is not freely available on the official site in terms of its price. The prices usually vary with the configuration chosen, RAM, storage capacity, temperature range and the number of orders. It is already offered to industrial clients and developers via Engicam, and interested purchasers can enquire about quotes, sample evaluation, or development package directly with the company.

Images used courtesy of Engicam