D-Robotics RDK X5 AI Single Board Computer 8GB RAM 10 TOPS NPU for ROS 2 Robotics

Specifications

• SoC : D-Robotics Horizon BPU edge-AI processor
• CPU : Octa-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.5 GHz
• AI Processing (NPU) : 10 TOPS Horizon BPU (Bayes Processing Unit)
• System Memory : 8GB LPDDR4x RAM
• Storage Expansion : MicroSD card support with UHS-I interface; onboard storage configuration to be confirmed for the supplied variant
• Video Output : 1× full-sized HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K @ 60fps)
• Camera Interfaces : 2× 2-lane MIPI-CSI camera interfaces (supports dual simultaneous image sensors)
• Networking : 1× RJ45 GigaBite Network port
• Wireless Connectivity : Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax, 2.4GHz / 5GHz) and Bluetooth 5.4 (BLE)
• USB Ports : 2× USB 3.0 Type-A host ports, 2× USB 2.0 Type-A host ports, 1× USB Type-C (power input and OTG debugging)
• Development Environment : RDK Studio and NodeHub
• AI Capabilities : Supported LLMs, 2D/3D object detection, stereo depth perception and image classification
• Robotics Applications : SLAM, VSLAM, VIO, navigation, language interaction and grasping
• Robotics Software : ROS 2 and TogetheROS.Bot support

Minimum hardware to get started:

• Regulated 5V 4A (20W minimum) USB Type-C power adapter : required to maintain clean power delivery without voltage sag when all eight CPU cores and the 10 TOPS BPU NPU are executing high-concurrency neural inference pipelines simultaneously.
• High-speed Class 10 / UHS-I MicroSD card (32GB minimum) : necessary to flash the official Ubuntu 22.04 LTS OS image and provide reliable read/write speeds for OS swap space, ROS 2 workspace builds, and model weights.
• USB-to-TTL UART serial debug cable (3.3V logic) : essential for accessing the boot console, monitoring early kernel boot sequences, and debugging network connectivity before SSH or graphical display outputs are active.

Safety Warnings:

• Power Voltage & Stability Warning: The RDK X5 requires a clean, regulated 5V DC supply via USB Type-C capable of at least 4A. Never power the board via standard 500mA PC USB ports or low-current phone chargers, as voltage dips during NPU execution spikes will cause instantaneous brownout kernel panics and corrupted SD card filesystems.
• GPIO Logic Level Conflict: The 40-pin expansion header operates strictly at 3.3V logic levels. Connecting 5V digital logic signals directly to any GPIO pin will permanently destroy the SoC's internal I/O pads. Always implement an active bi-directional logic level converter when interfacing with 5V sensors, Arduino boards, or legacy 5V devices.

Accessories
Included in the Box:

• 1× D-Robotics RDK X5 AI Single Board Computer

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the D-Robotics RDK X5 AI Single Board Computer?
  The D-Robotics RDK X5 is an AI computing platform designed for robotics, computer vision, and edge AI applications. It combines an octa-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor with a 10 TOPS BPU to accelerate supported AI inference workloads. It is suitable for developing intelligent robots and autonomous perception systems.
• What are the main specifications of the RDK X5 8GB version?
  The RDK X5 features an eight-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor running at up to 1.5 GHz, 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, a 10 TOPS BPU, and a 32 GFLOPS GPU. It also provides MIPI CSI camera interfaces, USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, CAN FD, and GPIO connectivity for robotics development.
• Does the RDK X5 support ROS 2?
  Yes, the RDK X5 supports robotics development using ROS 2 and the D-Robotics software ecosystem. Developers can use compatible ROS 2 packages and examples to build applications involving sensors, computer vision, perception, and robot control. Package compatibility depends on the installed software image and ROS 2 distribution.
• Which operating system does the RDK X5 support?
  The RDK X5 platform supports Ubuntu 22.04 according to the manufacturer's hardware specifications. Developers should use the appropriate D-Robotics system image and software packages for the board to ensure compatibility with its hardware acceleration and peripheral drivers.
• Can I connect two MIPI CSI cameras to the RDK X5?
  Yes, the RDK X5 provides two four-lane MIPI CSI camera interfaces. These interfaces enable camera-based applications such as stereo vision, object detection, and visual perception. However, camera sensor compatibility, supported resolutions, and simultaneous operation depend on the camera modules and the installed drivers.
• Does the RDK X5 support Sony IMX219, Sony IMX477, and OmniVision OV5647 cameras?
  Camera compatibility depends on the specific sensor, camera module, and software release. Before purchasing a camera, check the official RDK X5 camera compatibility documentation to confirm that its driver is included in your installed image. Do not assume that every third-party camera module works without additional configuration.
• What is the purpose of the 10 TOPS BPU?
  The BPU, or Bayes Processing Unit, is a dedicated AI accelerator designed to speed up supported neural-network inference workloads. It can help run applications such as object detection, image classification, and visual perception more efficiently than relying on the CPU alone. Actual performance depends on the model, supported operators, precision, and software optimization.
• What connectivity options are available on the RDK X5?
  The RDK X5 provides four USB 3.0 host ports, a USB Type-C device interface, Gigabit Ethernet with PoE support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, HDMI output, and a CAN FD interface. It also exposes GPIO and peripheral interfaces for connecting compatible sensors, controllers, and other robotics hardware.
• Can the RDK X5 be used for autonomous robots and computer vision projects?
  Yes, the RDK X5 is designed for AI-driven robotics and edge computing. It can support projects involving object detection, stereo perception, visual tracking, and intelligent sensor processing. A complete autonomous robot may additionally require cameras, motor controllers, sensors, actuators, and suitable robotics software.
• What power supply is required for the RDK X5?
  The manufacturer's RDK X5 development-board specifications list a 5V/5A power supply. Use a compatible, adequately rated power adapter and cable to ensure stable operation, particularly when connecting cameras and USB peripherals. Confirm the power requirements of your exact board revision and connected accessories before use.