Certified with FCC, CE, UKCA, and VCCI for Global Markets
With demand for AI edge computing continuing to grow, Retronix announced that its Sparrow Hawk AI edge computing platform has officially entered mass production and is now available to the global market. The platform is powered by the automotive-grade
SoC R-Car V4H from Renesas Electronics, delivering up to 30 TOPS (Dense) AI inference performance. Sparrow Hawk is designed to support a wide range of edge AI applications, including robotics, smart manufacturing, and other intelligent edge systems.
According to Retronix, Sparrow Hawk integrates high-performance AI computing capabilities with a comprehensive I/O expansion architecture, enabling diverse edge computing scenarios such as computer vision, industrial automation control, and smart device development. The platform provides a wide range of interfaces including PCIe, USB 3.0, DisplayPort, CAN-FD, AVB Ethernet, and MIPI CSI/DSI. It also features an expansion connector compatible with industry-standard accessories, allowing developers to flexibly integrate peripheral modules and accelerate AI application development and deployment.
“We are pleased to see the global launch of Retronix’s Sparrow Hawk Edge AI Computing Platform, powered by the automotive-grade R-Car V4H SoC,” said Aish Dubey, Vice President and Head of the SoC Division at Renesas Electronics. “We value our collaboration with Retronix and look forward to continuing our work together to bring more innovation to the edge AI ecosystem.”
Regarding product compliance, Sparrow Hawk has obtained several international certifications, including FCC, CE, UKCA, and VCCI. These certifications indicate that the product meets international standards for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), safety regulations, and other regulatory requirements, enabling Sparrow Hawk to be legally marketed and deployed in major regions including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
Core Value: Leading Hardware Design for the Open-Source Ecosystem
Beyond strong hardware specifications, Sparrow Hawk adopts an “Upstream First” software strategy in its development process, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for developers:
- Superior AI Inference Performance: Sparrow Hawk is equipped with the R-Car V4H SoC, providing up to 30 TOPS of deep learning computing capability. It features four Arm® Cortex®-A76 cores and three Cortex®-R52 cores, enabling it to handle complex computer vision, robot path planning, and smart monitoring tasks with an excellent performance-to-power ratio.
- "Out-of-the-Box" Readiness and High Compatibility: The Sparrow Hawk uses a compact form factor of 146 mm x 90 mm and includes expansion interfaces compatible with industry-standard accessories. This design allows developers to immediately begin application development without designing circuits from scratch.
- Flexible Debian and Yocto BSP Support: To meet diverse application needs, Sparrow Hawk fully supports two major software distributions. The Debian BSP is primarily aimed at industrial applications, providing a familiar software installation experience, while the Yocto BSP continues the high performance and reliability DNA of the R-Car series in the automotive field.
- Comprehensive GitHub Development Resources and Forums: Developers can access source code, Startup Guides, and detailed technical tutorials directly through the R-Car Open Source Community GitHub page. The community has established FAQ and Q&A forums, allowing global developers to communicate with experts in real-time and accelerate the transition from prototype to production.
Product and Development Kit Options
To satisfy different levels of development needs, Sparrow Hawk offers dual memory versions and complete development kits, making it easy for developers to choose the appropriate configuration based on their application scenarios:
- •Basic Kit: Includes the Sparrow Hawk SBC itself, available with two memory specifications: 8GB LPDDR5 or 16GB LPDDR5.
- Complete Kit: Provides a "Ready-to-Use" experience including the SBC and several development accessories: a 32GB high-speed microSD card, a universal cooling fan (Fan HAT), and a debug serial cable.
Product Availability Information
The Sparrow Hawk single-board computer and development kits are now officially available. Initial global sales will be launched through Shimafuji Electric (
http://www.shimafuji.co.jp/en/products/2207), followed by broader availability through major electronic component distributors such as Mouser Electronics and Digi-Key Electronics.
Retronix Technology will work closely with Renesas Electronics to provide comprehensive technical support for developers and customers worldwide.
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