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Apr 15, 2023

Mixtile Edge 2 Kit mini PC/IoT gateway supports an external 20Ah battery pack

Mixtile Edge 2 Kit is a mini PC/IoT edge computer powered by a Rockchip RK3568

Mixtile Edge 2 Kit is a mini PC/IoT edge computer powered by a Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor coupled with up to 4GB RAM and 32GB flash that features a 12V SATA + SMBUS port that allows the insertion of a 20Ah battery pack lasting up to 12 hours for locations where power may be intermittent.

The 3.5-inch industrial mini PC also offers Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi 6 connectivity, three USB 3.0 ports, plus expansion with M.2 and mPCIe sockets, as well as a similar U.2 connector found in the company's Mixtile Blade 3 SBC powered by Rockchip RK3588 processor, but routed to different interfaces.

Mixtile Edge 2 Kit specifications:

The U.2 connector does not feature PCIe Gen 3.0 like in the RK3588 board, but PCIe 2.0 instead which also allows for USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, SPI and I2S interfaces, and Mixtile currently showcases a router add-on with four Ethernet ports and a Hi-Fi add-on with RCA sockets and an S/PDIF input.

The 20Ah battery pack relies on the 12V SATA power port on the other side of the enclosure and seems to include five 18850 batteries with a 4,000 mAh capacity. It should be especially useful for wind or solar-powered installations, and it's better than using a separate power bank since the SMBUS should be able to report the battery voltage and other parameters to allow for a clean power off in case the battery is about to be depleted.

The company also offers the Mixtile Edge 2 SBC without enclosure for customers preferring to implement their own housing or mounting solution.

Software support includes Android 11 with Linux containers (Mixtile OS) like initially announced for the Blade 3 but based on customers’ feedback, I’ve read Mixtile changed their mind for the latter and now plans to make a proper Linux image without Android running in the background. Hopefully, it will be the same for Edge 2, but the documentation only mentions Mixtile OS at this time. The mini PC and SBC can be used for autonomous vehicles, NAS (Network Attached Storage), AI & deep learning, IoT gateways, router (with the add-on), an edge gateway, and more.

The Kit sells for $212 and up depending on options (2GB/16GB vs 4GB/32GB configuration) and whether you’re in a rush, or can wait for 40 days for a 15% discount. It's the same for the Mixtile Edge 2 SBC, except the price starts at $195. Alternatively, you’ll also find those on Aliexpress. None of the add-on seem to be available at this time. More details may be found on the product page.

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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