Unlocking the Power of a Custom RK3566 SBC

“A single‑board computer is more than a CPU on a PCB—it’s the heartbeat of your product.”

Why Choose the RK3566

  • Quad‑core Cortex‑A55 up to 1.8 GHz
  • Mali‑G52 GPU with OpenGL ES 3.2 & Vulkan 1.1
  • Optional 0.8 TOPS NPU for lightweight edge‑AI inference
  • Rich I/O: MIPI‑DSI/CSI, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0, PCIe 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet
  • Long‑term availability on Rockchip’s industrial roadmap (≈ 10 years)

These specs deliver snappy Android 11/13 and mainline Linux performance without blowing the BOM budget.

Off‑the‑Shelf vs. Custom

PCB layout – Off‑the‑shelf boards fix connectors and outline; custom boards match your mechanical envelope.
Power & thermals – Generic boards use broad‑range regulators; custom boards optimize rails and cooling.
Software – Generic images serve everyone; custom BSPs are tuned to your displays, cameras, sensors, and security model.
Lifecycle & branding – Custom designs align component sourcing, offer silk‑screen logos and guaranteed EOL notice.

Key Customization Options

  1. Memory & storage: LPDDR4/4X up to 8 GB; eMMC, microSD, or NVMe
  2. Wireless: Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, LTE/5G via M.2, or none for EMI‑sensitive designs
  3. Displays: Dual MIPI‑DSI channels for multi‑screen kiosks
  4. Audio: On‑board Class‑D amp or external codec headers
  5. Form factor: SOM + carrier, Pico‑ITX, or fully bespoke outline
  6. Thermal: Heat‑spreader studs, optional fan header, or passive sink only

Typical Use‑Cases

  • Smart control panels for HVAC, elevators, vending machines
  • 4 K digital‑signage players with touch‑enabled UX
  • Industrial gateways running Linux PREEMPT_RT
  • Edge‑AI cameras performing real‑time pose estimation on the NPU
  • Medical devices needing secure boot and FDA‑class peripherals

From Idea to Mass Production

  1. Requirements workshop – I/O, mechanical envelope, regulatory goals
  2. Schematic & PCB layout – DFM reviews in Altium or Allegro
  3. Android & Linux BSP adaptation – driver porting, HAL tweaks, CTS/GTS compliance
  4. Prototype bring‑up – serial console, JTAG, automated smoke tests
  5. Certification – CE, FCC, RoHS, optional IEC 60601‑1 for medical
  6. Manufacturing & QA – ICT, functional jig, unit‑level calibration
  7. Lifecycle support – security patches, quarterly OTA, supply‑chain monitoring

Performance Snapshot

Geekbench 5 multi‑core – Generic board 1 340 vs. Custom board 1 515 (+13 %)
TFLite MobileNet v2 – 32 ms vs. 27 ms (‑16 %)
Memory‑timing and thermal tweaks prove hardware + firmware co‑design matters.

Your Next Step

Need a cost‑efficient board that boots Android or Linux in seconds and just works with your peripherals? A custom RK3566 SBC delivers.



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