TACHxNA Tachyon Single Board Computers

Introduction

Particle’s TACHxNA Tachyon family is a compact single-board computer platform for connected edge computing. Built around the Qualcomm QCM6490 eight-core processor, the boards combine CPU, graphics, AI processing, wireless connectivity, cellular networking, and positioning capability in an 85 mm × 56 mm format.

The family is technically notable for integrating 5G sub-6 GHz connectivity alongside Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and multi-constellation GNSS, while also providing camera, display, PCIe, USB Type-C, and Raspberry Pi-compatible expansion interfaces. Two configurations are offered: the TACH8NA with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS storage, and the TACH4NA with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB UFS storage.

What it does

Tachyon SBCs provide a computing platform for embedded workloads that need local processing together with several wired and wireless integration options. The Qualcomm QCM6490 uses an eight-core Kryo 670 CPU configuration comprising one 2.7 GHz core, three 2.4 GHz cores, and four 1.9 GHz cores. Graphics are handled by an Adreno 643 GPU, while the onboard NPU is rated for up to 12 TOPS of AI processing.

For connected systems, the platform includes 5G sub-6 GHz cellular, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and GNSS. Peripheral connectivity includes two PCIe lanes, USB Type-C 3.1 with DisplayPort and power delivery, a four-lane DSI display interface, and a 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible expansion header.

The board also supports two four-lane CSI camera interfaces with an ISP and more than 20 pre-integrated camera sensors. Secure boot and an encrypted filesystem are listed security features.

Applications

Potential uses that follow from the available interfaces, connectivity, and local AI capability include:

• Connected embedded systems requiring cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GNSS connectivity
• Edge-processing systems using one or two camera interfaces
• Embedded vision integrations using supported pre-integrated camera sensors
• Compact display-and-compute systems using DSI or USB Type-C DisplayPort output
• Prototypes and custom hardware integrations using the 40-pin expansion header or PCIe lanes
• Portable or battery-powered computing systems, using USB Type-C or lithium-ion battery power input

Design considerations

The TACHxNA boards measure 85 mm × 56 mm, with a stated height of 18.5 mm from the top of the antenna to the bottom of the feet and an approximate weight of 55 g. Mechanical clearance should therefore account for the antenna and feet as well as attached USB Type-C, camera, display, PCIe, and expansion-header hardware.

Power can be supplied through USB Type-C or a lithium-ion battery. Designs using the USB Type-C interface should account for its combined USB 3.1, DisplayPort, and power-delivery roles. The specified operating temperature range is -17°C to +65°C.

Selection between variants depends on memory and storage requirements: TACH8NA provides 8 GB RAM with 128 GB UFS storage, while TACH4NA provides 4 GB RAM with 64 GB UFS storage.

Availability and further information

The source and datasheet links on this page provide further information on the Particle TACHxNA Tachyon SBC family, its variants, supported interfaces, and integration details.