SolidRun’s HummingBoard 8P Edge AI is a compact vision-computing kit that combines an NXP i.MX 8M Plus system-on-module with a Hailo-8 M.2 accelerator. SolidRun advertises up to 28 TOPS for the combination—26 TOPS from Hailo-8 and 2 TOPS from the i.MX 8M Plus—while CNX lists the i.MX NPU at 2.3 TOPS. Those are vendor and published specification figures, not an independent benchmark of frame rate or latency.
What the HummingBoard 8P Edge AI is
The board is built for local camera and streaming-video inference rather than cloud-only processing. Its HummingBoard carrier exposes camera, display, networking and expansion interfaces, while the NXP i.MX 8M Plus SOM supplies the host CPU and integrated NPU. A Hailo-8 module connects through M.2 PCIe to handle the heavier neural-network workloads.
The host processor is a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 running up to 1.8GHz. Memory and storage configurations reach 8GB of LPDDR4, 128GB of eMMC and removable microSD storage.
How much AI performance does it provide?
SolidRun’s headline figure is up to 28 TOPS combined: 26 TOPS attributed to the Hailo-8 and 2 TOPS to the i.MX 8M Plus. CNX describes the i.MX 8M Plus NPU as 2.3 TOPS. Because these numbers use different source and measurement language, they should not be treated as one independently verified benchmark.
#1 Best Overall
- High Performance CIX SoC - OrangePi 6 Plus 32G adopts CIX CD8180/CD8160 SoC, built-in 12-core 64-bit processor + NPU processor, integrated graphics processor, equipped with 16GB/32GB /64GB LPDDR5, and provides two M.2 KEY-M interfaces 2280 for NVMe SSD,as well as SPI FLASH and TF slots to meet the needs of fast read/write and high-capacity storage; It is equipped with 45 Tops computing power to support a variety of end-side large-model applications and a rich end-side AI scene.
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TOPS describes theoretical tensor-operation throughput. It does not establish the frames per second, end-to-end latency, thermals or model accuracy an application will achieve. Those results depend on the network, input resolution, compiler/runtime, camera pipeline and whether work runs on the Hailo accelerator, the NXP NPU or the CPU. No independent performance test is established for this kit here.
Connectivity for cameras, displays and networks
Camera input
A MIPI-CSI connector targets embedded camera modules. SolidRun documents an optional Basler daA3840-30mc 4K/8MP camera capable of up to 30fps. USB cameras can also use either of the two USB 3.0 ports, although the capture format and bandwidth must match the application.
Display and audio
HDMI provides an external display output, and an optional HDMI touchscreen is offered for interactive prototypes. The carrier includes an audio codec, useful when a demonstrator needs sound as well as video.
Rank #2
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- RICH SOFTWARE & HARDWARE FEATURES: Includes a user-programmable addressable RGB LED connected to GPIO48 for visual feedback. Fully compatible with popular development environments like PlatformIO and supports high-level programming with MicroPython, enabling rapid development for projects from home automation to robotics.
- IDEAL FOR RAPID PROTOTYPING: The combination of a powerful core, extensive I/O, and native USB support makes this board a dream for quickly developing and testing IoT devices, smart sensors, and wearable technology concepts. We provide comprehensive after-sales support: complete digital documentation including user guides and technical references is available through our store customer service, and our support team is ready to assist with installation, programming, and troubleshooting to help you get started quickly.
Networking and wireless
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports support wired camera or backhaul designs, with Power over Ethernet support through an 802.3af Class 0 PoE sink. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth cover wireless control and data links. A micro-USB debug port, status LEDs, a reset/configurable button and an RTC are included for development and deployment tasks.
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The documented software stack includes TensorFlow, TensorFlow Lite, Keras, PyTorch and ONNX. SolidRun provides Linux BSP material plus Debian, Buildroot and Yocto resources, allowing a quick development image or a more controlled product build.
Three documented demonstrations cover object detection, license-plate recognition and multistream detection. They show the intended workflow—camera capture, model execution and result handling—but do not constitute a guaranteed performance specification for every model or camera.
Rank #3
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- 🍊[RISC-V Co-Processors]: Designed with RISC-V architecture co-processors, it provides enhanced technology options for real-time control, efficient motion handling, quick startup, low-power standby, and improved system security.
- 🍊[Comprehensive Connectivity]: Offers extensive connectivity with Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe 2.0, USB 2.0, dual MIPI-CSI and MIPI-DSI ports, and a 40-pin expansion interface, allowing versatile integration.
- 🍊[Multi-OS Compatibility]: Supports Ubuntu, Debian, and Android 13, making it versatile for applications across industrial control, intelligent education, and beyond.
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Power, size and operating conditions
| Specification | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Board size | 100 × 70mm PCBA |
| Input power | 7–36V |
| PoE | 802.3af Class 0 PoE sink |
| Hailo-8 consumption | 2.5W typical, according to SolidRun |
| Maximum system power | 10W reported by SolidRun/CNX |
| Temperature options | Commercial 0–70°C or industrial −40–85°C variants |
The 10W figure is a reported maximum for the system, while the 2.5W value applies to the Hailo-8 module under SolidRun’s stated conditions. Actual consumption varies with camera load, networking, storage, display and model activity. Plan cooling and power delivery around the complete enclosure and workload, not the accelerator figure alone.
What comes in the kit
SolidRun’s launch description says the starter kit includes the BSP, preloaded models, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth hardware and antenna, heatsink, power adapter and related starter hardware. The optional camera and touchscreen bundle adds the Basler camera and a 7-inch display.
Launch pricing and whether it is worth it
Launch coverage listed a standard kit at $590. CNX’s October 17, 2023 report listed an $854 bundle with the Basler camera and 7-inch touchscreen. These are launch-era figures, not a current quote; taxes, shipping, stock and configuration can change.
Rank #4
- Powered by 26 Tera-Operations Per Second (TOPS) Hailo-8 AI Processor.
- 2.5W typical power consumption
- Enabling real-time low latency and high-efficiency AI inferencing on the edge devices
- Supports TensorFlow TensorFlow Lite, ONNX, Keras, Pytorch frameworks
- Supports Linux and Windows.
The standard kit makes the most sense when you need a supported Hailo-8 integration, NXP-specific I/O and a ready development baseline. It can reduce the effort of sourcing a carrier, accelerator, power supply, cooling and camera separately. The bundle is easier to evaluate as a complete vision demonstrator, but its value depends on whether the included camera and touchscreen match your final design.
For a low-cost general-purpose single-board computer, the price is high. For an edge-AI prototype that needs dual Ethernet, PoE, MIPI-CSI, industrial-temperature options and an established Linux/AI software path, those integrated capabilities may justify the premium. Confirm the current HummingBoard 8P configuration, Hailo-8 M.2 variant, accessories, warranty and availability before ordering.
Checks to make before deploying a project
- Confirm that your chosen model is supported by the Hailo software toolchain or can be converted to a compatible format.
- Verify the camera’s MIPI lane, resolution, frame-rate and connector requirements; 4K at 30fps is documented for the optional Basler model, not every camera.
- Measure end-to-end throughput and latency with your own model and preprocessing pipeline; TOPS alone is not a frame-rate promise.
- Budget for heatsinking, enclosure airflow and a power supply suitable for the board, peripherals and PoE load.
- Check whether you need the commercial or industrial temperature variant before purchasing.
- Validate current pricing and stock, since the published $590 and $854 figures date from the launch period.
Bottom line
The HummingBoard 8P Edge AI is a purpose-built edge-vision platform, not merely an SBC with an add-on accelerator. Its combination of Hailo-8 throughput, i.MX 8M Plus host processing, camera/display I/O, dual Gigabit Ethernet with PoE and broad Linux framework support is well suited to prototyping local video analytics. Treat the 28-TOPS claim as an attributed specification, benchmark your own models, and verify today’s kit price before deciding whether the integrated hardware saves enough engineering time to warrant its cost.
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