The Axion – A Modular RK3576-Based Carrier + SOM Designed for XR, AI and High Power Compute At A Low Form Factor

Project Introduction

The Axion is a modular computing platform built around the Rockchip RK3576 System on Module (SOM), developed for LLMs, real-time processing, and extended reality (XR/VR) development. The SOM is closed-source (This may change one day), while the mainboard is fully open-source. 

Project Function

The Axion platform is perfect for the following applications:

• AI inference at the edge using the onboard NPU

• VR and XR headsets requiring low-latency display and sensor IO

• Robotics or embedded systems needing high-throughput video and sensor data

• Developers and startups who want an open mainboard design with a powerful SOM core

This board was made specifically to run the XRUIOS and Project Replicant

The XRUIOS: Coming soon
Project Replicant: https://walkerdev.itch.io/project-replicant

Project Parameters (Subject To Change, Draft)

• Processor: Rockchip RK3576 (quad-core Cortex-A72 + quad-core Cortex-A53)

• NPU: Up to 6 TOPS AI compute for on-device inference

• RAM: 16GB soldered on SOM

• Storage: 128GB eMMC on SOM; M.2 NVMe slot on mainboard

• Display: Micro HDMI on SOM (4K@120Hz)

• Camera Support:

  • SOM: Dual MIPI CSI (DPHY split mode)

  • Mainboard: Additional MIPI CSI (DCPHY)

• Connectivity:

  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 onboard

  • Ethernet optional via expansion

• Expansion:

  • Molex GPIO connector

  • Dual micro USB-C (via ribbon), UART header, RTC, watchdog, x4 

• Form Factor:

  • SOM: 2x2 inches

  • Mainboard: 5x2 inches

  • M.2 slot on rear, 4-screw mounting

• LEDs: Debug and status LEDs matching Firefly reference layout

• Power Input: USB-C PD support

Principle Analysis (Hardware Description)

The Axion hardware is split into two primary components:

1. Alice - System On Module Board (SOM)

   • Acts as the central processing unit

   • Integrates RAM, CPU, NPU, eMMC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth

   • Exposes key I/O lines to the mainboard via B2B/BGA connector

   • Can Run By Itself

2. Eugeo - Mainboard:

   • Provides all breakouts and interfaces: USB, HDMI, MIPI, GPIO, UART

   • Includes power regulation, M.2 storage, and LED indicators

   • Designed for rapid iteration, modular upgrades, and user customization

   • Fully open-source (schematics and board files available)

   • Can be as minimalized as you want, should include connector to RTC (VIA FPC) minimum
3. RTC Board
   
   • Gives board access to RTC based functions 

Software Code

We want to include four default templates in the future; this includes 

1. A Monado Based Standalone headset with AR Functionality, Synthetic Camera Based Hand Tracking and Inside Out Based Tracking

2. A baseplate for creating XR Controllers (As part of our Glove and Controller project)

3. A version running the XRUIOS (A Linux Based OS we created for XR) aand

4. A version running Project Replicant on the XRUIOS

Notice

We are working with Lontium to ensure the board works; for now however, this is given *as is* until we print out the first batch and test it. 

Atop the current license, please adhere to the Malicious Affiliation Ban, which you can read more about below

https://github.com/Walker-Industries-RnD/Malicious-Affiliation-Ban/blob/main/README.md