Rubik Pi FAQ
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE RUBIK PI
We have answered the most important questions about the new Rubik Pi for you:
- What is the Rubik Pi?
- What is the Qualcomm Dragonwing chipset?
- What is the difference between the Rubik Pi and other single board computers?
- Is the Rubik Pi compatible with Raspberry Pi accessories and software?
- What operating systems can the Rubik Pi run?
- What are the technical specs of the Rubik Pi?
- How much RAM, storage, and processing power does the Rubik Pi have?
- What is the power consumption of the Rubik Pi?
- How efficient is the Pubik Pi in terms of energy use, especially for IoT or edge computing?
- What kind of projects can I use the Rubik Pi for?
- Can the Rubik Pi be used in industrial or commercial applications?
- How does the Rubik Pi perform in AI or machine learning tasks?
- What networking options are available with the Rubik Pi?
- Does the Rubik Pi have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?
- Can I expand the Rubik Pi with additional modules or accessories?
- What kind of developer support is available for the Rubik Pi?
- Are there any software libraries or SDKs available for Rubik's Pi?
- How easy is it to set up and use the Rubik Pi?
- What is the price of the Rubik Pi?
- What is the availability of the Rubik Pi?
- Where can I buy the Rubik Pi?
- What kind of customer service can I expect from Rubik Pi?
- Is the Rubik Pi future-proof?
- Does the Rubik Pi support software updates, or will it quickly become obsolete?
- Can I run custom or proprietary applications on the Rubik Pi?
- How does the Rubik Pi handle thermal management?
- What are the future plans for Rubik Pi?
Interested in the Rubik Pi?
>> Then don't miss the perhaps most important interactive Rubik Pi launch event for development enthusiasts!
RUBIK Pi 3, a lightweight development board based on Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6490 platform, is the first Pi built on Qualcomm AI platforms for developers. The ultra-compact and lightweight microcomputer (measuring only 100mm x 75mm) also features memory, storage, and a variety of interfaces and functions, such as support of USB Type-A (1x 2.0, 2x 3.0), USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C with DP (4K@60), Camera, HDMI OUT (4K@30), 1000M Ethernet port, 40pin header connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.2, M.2 M-key connector, Micro USB and RTC, etc..
Qualcomm Dragonwing is a brand portfolio launched by Qualcomm to showcase its range of industrial and embedded IoT, enterprise and networking solutions. This portfolio integrates advanced AI, high-performance computing and connectivity technologies to provide customized hardware, software and services.
The Rubik Pi has a more powerful and advanced (6nm) SoC from Qualcomm than other SBCs. It also includes an integrated AI accelerator (NPU) directly on the SOC. Both DDR and UFS are already present on the board (8GB and 128GB by default). It is based on a SoC and SoM that are commercially available for custom designs, making it a perfect platform for development and prototyping.
Rubik Pi uses some of the Raspberry Pi interfaces, such as the famous pin header or camera connectors. This makes it possible to use most of the Raspberry Pi accessories directly on the Rubik Pi. Some accessories like the "high resolution camera", "camera module 2 and 3", the fan or the power supply are supported out of the box. Other accessories might require SW bring up.
At release date, the Rubik Pi will come with Qualcomm Linux, Yocto Kirkstone / Scarthgap based, that has been created under the "developer first" approach. This is meant to simplify the development, increase productivity, improve time to market, and enhance collaboration through streamlined development processes. It will maintain upstream compliance.
During 2025, additional operating systems are confirmed (Android, Debian ) and planned (Ubuntu, Windows on ARM)
- Platform: Qualcomm® QCS6490
- Memory: RAM 8 GB LPDDR4x, ROM 128 GB UFS 2.2
- Video: 1 x HDMI 1.4 output (up to 4K 30 Hz), 1 x DP over USB Type-C (up to 4K 60 Hz), 2 x camera connector (4-lane MIPI CSI D-PHY)
- Audio: 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
- Connectivity: 1 x USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Gen 1), 2 x USB Type-A (USB 3.0), 1 x USB Type-A (USB 2.0), 1 x 1000M Ethernet (RJ45), 1 x UART for debug (over Micro USB), 1 x M.2 Key M connector (PCIe 3.0 2-lane), 40-pin LS connector supporting various interface options: - Up to 28 x GPIO, Up to 2 x I2C, Up to 3 x UART, - Up to 3 x SPI, - 1 x I2S (PCM), - 1 x PWM channel,
- Others: 1 x Power on button, 1 x EDL button, 1 x RGB LED, 2-pin RTC battery connector, 4-pin PWM fan connector
- Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth: BT 5.2
- On-board PCB antenna
- Operating temperature: 0 ~ 70°C
- Dimensions: 100mm x 75mm x 25mm
By default, the Rubik Pi comes with 8GB LPDDR4x and 128GB UFS2.2. The processor (QCS6490) is an 8-core CPU with integraged GPU and NPU, providing a total of 12 AI TOPS.
It depends on the connected peripherals. Without, the approximate power consumption can be around 8W (with 100% load on CPU, GPU and DSP). CPU only use cases (100% load) can be as low as 4W. Sleep mode can do down to around 5mA @4.2V"
The Rubik PI is engineered for industrial IoT applications, emphasizing a balance between high performance and energy efficiency. The SoC beeing manufactured using a 6nm process, it delivers robust computing capabilities suitable for demanding edge computing tasks while maintaining low power consumption. Specific energy consumption metrics are not publicly disclosed. However, its design incorporates advanced features aimed at optimizing power usage, making it well-suited for IoT and edge computing applications where energy efficiency is crucial.
The Rubik Pi is a versatile hardware platform, often used for a variety of projects, particularly those in the areas of IoT, edge computing, and embedded systems. Here are some types of projects you can consider using the Rubik Pi for:
- Edge Computing
- IoT Applications
- Industrial applications
- Robotics Projects
- Wearable or partable devices, hand helds
- Communication and Networking Systems
- Learning and Educational Projects
- Media and Entertainment
- Security Systems and connected cameras
- Digital Signage
- Retail and payment
- Smart Home
Yes, the Rubik Pi, which is a Qualcomm DragonWing-based computer, can be used in industrial and commercial applications, but its suitability depends on the specific use case and the environment in which it will be deployed. The Rubik Pi is highly flexible and can be integrated into a wide variety of applications, such as automation, IoT (Internet of Things), data collection, and monitoring systems. It can be used for controlling machinery, managing sensors, and even running simple industrial control software. It is not inherently designed for real-time operations, which can be a limitation in certain industrial applications that require precise timing (e.g., motion control). However, there are DragonWing IQ series available and some plans for Rubik Pi on it, that would solve this problem., Furthermore, there are real time extensions in software, that might be a solution.
The Qualcomm DragonWing SoC often comes with dedicated AI/ML hardware, such as the Hexagon DSP (Digital Signal Processor), which accelerates machine learning tasks like object detection, voice recognition, and image processing. This hardware acceleration allows the Rubik Pi to handle more complex AI workloads, such as running neural networks or performing inference tasks much faster than typical Raspberry Pi-based devices. With the powerful architecture of the Qualcomm DragonWing SoC, the Rubik Pi can run major machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow Lite, Caffe, PyTorch, and ONNX. These frameworks are supported and can benefit from the hardware acceleration provided by the SoC. Qualcomm also provides software tools like the Qualcomm AI Engine, which is designed to help optimize AI workloads and accelerate the execution of deep learning models on devices like the Rubik Pi.
The Rubik Pi supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 5G is possible by using an add-on HAT, which is also available from Atlantik Elektronik.
Yes, it supports Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.2.
Yes, the Rubiik Pi is well designed for expensions. Leveraging the famous RaspberryPi pin header, it can be used with almost any Raspberry Pi Hat (SW bringup might be needed). Furthermore, it is an easy and fast option to create your own expension board and connect it via the pin header.
The Rubik Pi will have a common support forum where users can ask questions. Professional support for commercial projects is available from the Atlantik Elektronik FAE team.
Qualcomm Linux is a comprehensive package of software, tools, and documentation meticulously designed for Qualcomm's IoT platforms. It offers a unified Linux distribution that caters to multiple System-on-Chips (SoCs), featuring essential components such as the UEFI bootloader, the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel, Yocto, and carefully selected drivers. This ensures a consistent and seamless developer experience across all targets.
The Qualcomm Linux software stack extends support to all processors, subsystems, and components within the platform, encompassing the CPU, GPU, VPU, DPU, NPU, PMICs, and more. It extensively utilizes upstream open-source software (OSS) while incorporating patched upstream and downstream drivers as needed to ensure compatibility and optimal functionality.
The Rubik Pi comes with all the necessary documentation - but for an even quicker start, we recommend attending one of our Rubik Pi hands-on events.
The price will be €179. Further packages with accessories will be available soon.
The Rubik Pi is available and can be purchased in our ATE-Store. >> Buy the Rubik Pi here.
The Rubik Pi is available and can be purchased in our ATE-Store. >> Buy the Rubik Pi here.
| Professional support for commercial projects is available via Atlantik Elektronik FAE team. Contact us here. |
The Qualcomm QCS6490 is a long-lasting product that will be available until at least 2036, making it a very future-proof design option.
As this is a long-life product, software updates will be available for a long time to come and security updates will be available until at least 2036.
| Yes, absolutly. The Rubik Pi has been designed as a development platform for your own applications. |
There are several ways to cool the Rubik Pi. We recommend using the Raspberry Pi fan available as an accessory from the ATE Store for heavy duty applications.
The Rubik Pi is designed for a long future. Although not yet confirmed, there are plans to run several different Qualcomm DragonWing SoCs on it. An easy migration to Dragonwing QCS5430 or QCS8550 is possible on request. There are also plans for further industrial variants using the DragonWing IQ series.