Announcing Tachyon, Particle’s first ever single-board computer

Hey flying peter,

there is a built in 64GB UFS flash memory (so lots faster than eMMC) - much more reliable that some SD Card.

For ethersim, we're working the details on how to best support RSP / third party SM-DP+ servers (which is what is needed for eSIM services like Apple/Google have on their phones) - watch this space as we work this part of the product out!

Yes - the tachyon is free for 100 devices, just like our microcontroller platform.

You will be able to enable/disable that plan at will - no restrictions.

Thanks!

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This looks awesome! Finally a powerful Qualcomm based SBC that one can purchase directly!

The company I work for is currently evaluating the RK3588 for our clients next generation product. But this looks like a great alternative! I see the following benefits:

  • US based companies; Both Particle and Qualcomm
  • Double the NPU speed; 12 TOPS vs 6 TOPS on the RK3588
  • Higher overall performance
  • Better Mainline Linux support?

A few questions:

  • Does this have Bluetooth and GPS?
  • Would a cheaper SKU without 5G/or without the antenna be possible?
  • Will higher memory SKU's be possible in the future?
  • Would dual displays over USB-C DP Alt Mode work? This is a necessity for our clients product; The current generation product uses a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B for it's dual display support.
  • What kind of discount could one expect if buying in higher volumes? (+100 units)

Thanks! I love your excitement! Tachyon does seem like a great fit for your company.

Yes to both, Bluetooth is BLE 5.2

  • Would a cheaper SKU without 5G/or without the antenna be possible?

That's not something we're currently exploring but if the demand is there then we'd look into exploring it

  • Will higher memory SKU's be possible in the future?

Yes, we're considering making an 8GB RAM / 128GB Flash variant of Tachyon as a stretch goal for the Kickstarter.

  • Would dual displays over USB-C DP Alt Mode work? This is a necessity for our clients product; The current generation product uses a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B for it's dual display support.

I thiiiiink so but am not 100% sure. @mrlambchop mind confirming?

  • What kind of discount could one expect if buying in higher volumes? (+100 units)

I'd be happy to put you in touch with our sales team who could discuss this in more detail.

So this is some exciting news with the Tachyon. I quickly signed up for the Kickstarter to get my hands on this new hardware once it's available. I think I was #25 and it's my first Kickstarter project I backed. I expect the Tachyon opens up an entire new world of real world and business scalable use cases to the Particle community. My perception is, RPis have their place, but it is difficult to actually build a "product" around a RPi. Tachyon will change the game regarding that.

I've been on my own Particle learning journey the last 5 years or so. I’d like to think I've learned a good portion of the Particle ecosystem (Electrons, Boron's and P2s at least). I have a good idea of how to leverage it to for building a product around an IoT use case. Historically these use cases were mostly "simple" IoT applications involving sensing and actuating.

My perception is Tachyon will be an entire new ecosystem/platform best suited for for more advanced use cases way beyond simple sensing and actuating such as ML, AI, computer vision, etc. at the edge. Overall, this sounds like an exciting future that I'd like to partake in.

So my question... what skills, knowledge and learning would be most applicable to start chewing on now in order to partake in this exciting future?

I already have a few RPis that I've dabbled in (runs a 3D printer using OctoPrint, runs my CNC using CNC JS, I've spun up simple Python Scripts on them before) but I'd still consider myself a novice as it pertains to working with a SBC. In these other use cases, I simply followed some tutorial to load and tweak an image in the past.

Do we expect applications on the Tachyon to be programmed in Python instead of the Pseudo C++ used today? Should I continue refining my Python skills and maybe learn more of AI/ML and computer vision in Python? If not, then what would be the right framework to learn? Anyone out there have good you tube series, Udemy courses, or other good content that would be applicable to skill up in to put the Tachyon to use?

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Yes, you'll typically program it using high level languages like Python or node.js.

For machine learning, Qualcomm has its own AI hub with pre-built models for Qualcomm QCM6490. Of course you can create your own as well.

this is a good question and its not a easy one to answer because it depends on the cable used and the monitor. I will do some more digging before I loop back!

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@Colleen
To everyone at Particle,

Congratulations on achieving the 1000 backers milestone in record time.

Awesome!

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Hi, Question regarding Particle cloud connectivity.

Is there facility to use the Particle Tachyon as an Edge IoT Linux instance and not be leveraging the Particle cloud for any purpose? Essentially using it as a standalone SBC with cellular connectivity?

Cheers

Is there facility to use the Particle Tachyon as an Edge IoT Linux instance and not be leveraging the Particle cloud for any purpose

Yes. It's a full Linux computer with normal network capabilities and does not need to use the Particle cloud for sending and receiving data.

It does, however, need to use the Particle SIM, because there is no 4FF plastic SIM card socket on it.

Hey rickkas7! Thanks heaps for the reply mate, appreciated!

Regarding the e-sim from Particle, is there any region restrictions on them? e.g - Would they work in Australia?

Cheers

The final list of countries have not been determined, but Australia would definitely be on the list. The list will probably similar to this list for the Particle EtherSIM.

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Thanks mate, appreciate the reply and looking forward to gtting my hands on one!

Is there any information on active/idle power consumption? I know Snapdragon running Android (i.e. phones) can have really low idle consumption (down to 10mA, if memory serves). Will Tachyon have the same capabilities? Maybe depending on OS configuration?

Hi @Colleen I added the battery pack to my pledge and then started thinking about the description.
It says that Tachyon can monitor the battery temperature, but the connector seems to have only 2 pins.
Is there an external temp sensor I need to add? How will it work?
Thanks!

Continuing the discussion from Announcing Tachyon, Particle’s first ever single-board computer:
Can we still buy Add-Ons after the Kickstarter Closed?
If possible, I'd like to add 2 Pimoroni NVMe Base (@ $18ea)
Thanks

Hey Guys!

Did you finish the shape of the board already?

I you’ll like to start developing a case for my tackyon. It would help if you have a .stl so I can print a takyon model! =)

Keep the great work!

Best regards

From a number of pictures from their kickstarter pages it’s a 3 pin battery and this SBC comparison table also says it’s 3 pin

Hey guys, no news about this? (tackyon dimensions?)

I don't have the exact dimensions to the millimeter, but it's the same form-factor as a Raspberry Pi and is designed to fit in many existing Raspberry Pi cases.

Because of slight variations in connectors and antennas I'd probably wait a little longer until the final dimensons are released.