Datasheet: Linux-Based SBCs

SBCs Running Linux Bring Enterprise Power to the Network's Edge

- By Curtis Franklin, Editor-In-Chief

A new generation of single-board computers (SBCs) is putting Linux control and analytics within reach for embedded system engineers working across many different application categories and hardware platforms.

Single-board computers (SBCs) have evolved from niche educational tools into a diverse ecosystem powering everything from home labs to autonomous robots. What began with early hobbyist boards has matured into a sophisticated category of compact, power-efficient systems capable of running full Linux distributions. Today's SBC landscape spans multiple architectures, performance tiers, and application domains, reflecting the growing need for small, reliable, and flexible compute platforms at the edge.

At the center of this ecosystem is the Raspberry Pi 5, a board that continues to define the mainstream SBC experience. Yet the Pi 5 is no longer the only game in town. A new generation of high-performance ARM boards—such as the Orange Pi 5 and Khadas VIM series—has emerged to serve developers who need more CPU power, AI acceleration, or richer multimedia capabilities.

The rise of AI and machine learning has reshaped the SBC category more dramatically than any other trend. NVIDIA's Jetson Orin Nano brings datacenter-class inference performance to palm-sized boards, enabling real-time perception in drones, robots, and industrial inspection systems. These platforms integrate with CUDA, TensorRT, and robotics frameworks, making them a go-to choice for engineers. Meanwhile, boards like the Particle Tachyon blend edge AI with robust connectivity and cloud-native device management, signaling a shift toward integrated, fleet-scale IoT deployments.