M5Stack LLM630 Compute Kit: A Powerful Edge AI Development Platform

The M5Stack LLM630 Compute Kit is an advanced Edge AI development platform powered by the Axera Tech AX630C AI SoC. Designed for on-device large language model (LLM) and computer vision (CV) processing, the LLM630 Compute Kit eliminates the need for cloud connectivity, enabling real-time AI processing at the edge.

Key Features and Specifications

Processing Power

• SoC: Axera Tech (Aixin) AX630C
• CPU: Dual-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 GHz (32KB I-Cache, 32KB D-Cache, 256KB L2 Cache)
• NPU: 12.8 TOPS @ INT4, 3.2 TOPS @ INT8
• ISP: Supports 4K @ 30fps video processing

Memory and Storage

• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4 (2GB system memory + 2GB for hardware acceleration)
• Storage: 32GB eMMC 5.1 flash and microSD card slot

Connectivity

• Networking:

- Low-profile Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port (JL2101B-N040C)

- 2.4GHz WiFi 6 via ESP32-C6 SoC with an external SMA antenna

• USB: 1x USB 2.0 OTG Type-C port
• Camera & Display:

- 2-lane MIPI DSI for display (up to 1080p @ 30fps)

- 4-lane MIPI CSI for camera input (up to 4K @ 30fps)

Additional Features

• Audio: 5-pin microphone and speaker header
• Sensors: 6-axis BMI270 motion sensor
• Expansion Ports:

- 4-pin 2.0mm PORTA Grove (I2C)

- 4-pin 2.0mm PORTC Grove (UART)

- 8-pin 1.25mm pitch FUNC header (system wake, power management, external LED control, I2C, etc.)

• Debugging: USB-C to UART via CH9102F USB to TTL chip
• Power:

- 5V/2A via USB-C

- 1.25mm connector for 3.7V Li-ion or Li-polymer battery

- AW32001ECSR charging chip, BQ27220YZFR battery detection chip

• Physical Dimensions: 90.3 x 31.6 x 12mm, 22.9 grams
• Operating Temperature: 0°C - 40°C

Edge AI Applications

The M5Stack LLM630 Compute Kit is designed for a variety of applications, including:

• Smart Homes – Enabling automation and AI-powered control systems
• Security Monitoring – Enhancing real-time threat detection with CV models
• Smart Retail – Assisting in customer interactions and inventory management
• Smart Agriculture – Enabling AI-driven monitoring and analysis
• Interactive Robotics – Supporting intelligent robotics with speech and vision capabilities
• STEM Education – Providing an affordable, hands-on AI learning platform

Software and AI Support

The LLM630 Compute Kit is compatible with the StackFlow AI framework, which integrates AI capabilities for speech, vision, and LLM tasks. It supports Jupyter Notebook, making AI model training and development more accessible. The device runs Ubuntu 22.04 and allows LLM and CV model installations via .deb packages.

In performance tests, the Axera AX630C compares favorably to Jetson Orin Nano (10W mode), running models like Inception v1, MobileNet v1, and Yolov3s at a lower cost. It also supports models like Qwen2.5-0.5/1.5B and Llama3.2-1B, making it a viable alternative to Raspberry Pi 5 + Hailo-8 setups or Rockchip RK3588 SBCs.

Pricing and Availability

M5Stack sells the LLM630 Compute Kit for $69.99 on AliExpress and the company’s official store. While it is currently out of stock due to the Chinese New Year break (January 21 - February 4), it may soon become available on M5Stack’s Amazon store as well.

With its powerful AI processing capabilities, affordability, and rich connectivity options, the M5Stack LLM630 Compute Kit stands out as an excellent choice for developers and researchers exploring on-device AI solutions.

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