Summary of “SWORDTAIL” I.MX6 SBC OFFERS NIMBLELINK CELLULAR EXPANSION
The Swordtail is a rugged, fanless single-board computer featuring an NXP i.MX6 Cortex-A9 processor. Designed for industrial and IoT applications, it integrates dual or quad-core CPUs, soldered DDR3L RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a NimbleLink Skywire socket for cellular expansion. It supports various storage options including MicroSD and eMMC, offers extensive I/O interfaces like HDMI and LVDS, and operates reliably in extreme temperatures from -40°C to 85°C.
Parts used in the Swordtail SBC:
- NXP i.MX6 Quad or DualLite Processor
- Vivante GC2000 GPU
- Soldered DDR3L SDRAM (1GB or 2GB)
- MicroSD slot
- eMMC (MLC) socket
- Single-band 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi module
- Bluetooth 4.2 radio
- NimbleLink Skywire socket
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- HDMI v1.4 port
- 24-bit LVDS display interface
- USB 2.0 host ports
- CAN 2.0B interface
- RS-232 debug port
- GPIO/DIO pins
- I2C interface
- PWM outputs
- 6-axis accelerometer/magnetometer
- Optional antennas
- Optional cables
Low power Arm-based i.MX6 Cortex®-A9 processor with soldered-on RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® and fanless operation.
The Swordtail single board computer is a complete Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®enabled, Arm®-based embedded computer. Models are available with power-efficient, dual-core or quad-core i.MX6 CPUs. These boards are designed for applications that demand rugged, power-efficient solutions such as industrial machine automation, transportation, medical, kiosk, and industrial IoT applications. Swordtail boards have been designed to enable transactions and transmission of maintenance or diagnostic information without the presence of a wired data connection. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios are included on board, and a NimbleLink Skywire™ socket supports a wide range of optional cellular and other wireless plug-ins.
Unlike Arm-based “modules”, Swordtail is a complete board-level computer. Additional carrier boards, connector boards, or I/O expansion boards are not required for operation. Swordtail boards are delivered with on-board soldered-down RAM, ready to plug-in and run. To simplify mounting and future upgrades, the Swordtail leverages the COM-Express standard for its footprint and mounting points.
The Following Specifications Were Listed For The Swordtail SBC
- Processor — NXP i.MX6 Quad or DualLite (4x or 2x Cortex-A9 cores @ up to 800MHz); Vivante GC2000 GPU
- Memory/storage:
- 1GB (DualLite) or 2GB (Quad) DDR3L SDRAM soldered, with up to 4GB optional
- MicroSD slot (bootable) with optional 8GB card containing Linux
- eMMC (MLC) socket with up to 32GB optional bootable storage
- Wireless:
- Single-band 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2
- NimbleLink Skywire socket (20-pin) for cellular and other wireless expansion
- Optional antennas
- Networking — Gigabit Ethernet port with network boot, latching connector
- Media I/O:
- HDMI v1.4 port with audio
- 24-bit LVDS for up to 1366 x 768 with backlight and I2C touch (with interrupt input)
- Other I/O:
- 2x USB 2.0 host ports
- CAN 2.0B
- RS-232 debug
- 8x GPIO/DIO (3.3V)
- I2C
- Up to 3x PWM (reduces GPIO lanes)
- Other features — 6-axis accelerometer/magnetometer; 10-year lifecycle support; optional cables
- Operating temperature — -40 to 85°C with 0.5 linear meters per second airflow
- Shock/vibration resistance — per MIL-STD-202G (vibration Method 204/214A; shock Method 213B)
- Altitude resistance — to 4,570 meters
- Power — 8-17 VDC input (12V nominal); consumption: 2.2W idle,; 2.7W (DualLite) or 3W (Quad) typical operating
- Dimensions — 95 x 95 x 21.4mm; compatible with COM Express Compact footprint and mounting holes
- Weight — 68 g
- Operating system — bootable Yocto 2.1 Linux OS; compatible with other-friendly OSes
Like all VersaLogic products, the Swordtail SBC is engineered and tested to be rugged. It is fully validated for operation in unforgiving environments where extreme temperatures and mechanical shock and vibration occur. Each component has been carefully sourced, and the design optimized and validated, to ensure reliable operation in the field.
Read more: “SWORDTAIL” I.MX6 SBC OFFERS NIMBLELINK CELLULAR EXPANSION
- What processor does the Swordtail use?
The board uses NXP i.MX6 Quad or DualLite processors with up to 4x or 2x Cortex-A9 cores running at up to 800MHz. - How much memory is included on the board?
It comes with 1GB of DDR3L SDRAM for DualLite models or 2GB for Quad models, with optional upgrades up to 4GB. - Can the Swordtail operate without wired connections?
Yes, it includes onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios to enable transactions and data transmission without wired data connections. - Does the board require additional carrier boards to function?
No, unlike Arm-based modules, the Swordtail is a complete board-level computer that requires no additional carrier or connector boards. - What wireless expansion options are available?
A 20-pin NimbleLink Skywire socket supports a wide range of optional cellular and other wireless plug-ins. - What is the operating temperature range?
The board is rated for operation between -40°C and 85°C with specific airflow requirements. - Is the Swordtail compatible with COM Express standards?
Yes, the board leverages the COM-Express Compact standard for its footprint and mounting points. - What operating system boots from the device by default?
The board features a bootable Yocto 2.1 Linux OS and is compatible with other friendly OSes.
