Standardized Edge AI Power: Jetway Drops the SMC-ARK1 SMARC 2.1 Module

Standardized Edge AI Power: Jetway Drops the SMC-ARK1 SMARC 2.1 Module

When building industrial automation systems, medical devices, or high-end vision inspection rigs, custom hardware design is a double-edged sword. Designing an entire board from scratch around a complex processor takes months and risks locking you into a proprietary footprint.

Jetway is offering a far smarter route with the launch of the SMC-ARK1.

By pairing the high-performance Rockchip RK3588 processor with the widely adopted SMARC 2.1 industry standard, Jetway has delivered a plug-and-play compute core that gives system integrators massive AI performance alongside long-term hardware upgradeability.

High-Octane Compute & 6 TOPS NPU

At the center of the SMC-ARK1 sits Rockchip’s flagship RK3588 processor, built on a power-efficient 8nm process:

  • Octa-Core CPU Architecture: Combines four high-performance Cortex-A76 cores (up to 2.4 GHz) with four energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores (up to 1.8 GHz) to handle heavy multi-threaded workloads.
  • Integrated 6 TOPS NPU: Features an onboard Neural Processing Unit capable of up to 6 TOPS of INT8 AI inference, making it a natural fit for real-time computer vision, object tracking, and local machine learning models.
  • Flexible Memory Configurations: Scalable with up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB of high-speed eMMC storage.

Heavyweight Multimedia & Dual 2.5GbE Networking

In smart cities and automated factories, video processing and fast networking are critical. The SMC-ARK1 handles both without breaking a sweat:

  • 8K Media Pipelines: Supports native 8K @ 60fps video decoding (H.265/VP9/AVS2) and 8K @ 30fps encoding, making it an absolute monster for multi-camera video analytics and digital signage.
  • Multi-Display Output: Simultaneously drives up to three independent display outputs via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and eDP/MIPI-DSI interfaces.
  • Dual 2.5GbE Interfaces: Exposes twin 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet lines directly through the SMARC MXM connector for high-throughput IP camera feeds and industrial network backhauls.

The SMARC 2.1 Advantage: Built for Industrial Longevity

The real value of the SMC-ARK1 is its adherence to the SGET SMARC 2.1 standard (measuring a compact 82 mm x 50 mm):

  • Modular Upgrades: Because it uses a standardized 314-pin MXM 3.0 connector, engineers can design a single custom carrier board and swap out the compute module as future processors emerge.
  • Industrial Hardening: Engineered to operate reliably across demanding thermal ranges, making it ready for sealed, fanless industrial enclosures.
  • Broad OS Support: Ships with software support for Linux distributions (including Ubuntu and Debian) alongside Android, ensuring rapid deployment across existing enterprise software stacks.

The Verdict: A Future-Proof Choice for Edge AI

Whether you are developing smart traffic management hubs, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), or intelligent industrial gateways, the Jetway SMC-ARK1 hits the sweet spot. It combines the raw power of the RK3588 with the peace of mind that comes from standardized, upgradeable SMARC hardware.

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