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Description
Tachyon is a 5G-connected single-board computer (SBC) that takes the technology inside a modern smartphone and packs it into a Raspberry Pi form factor to power portable and remote computing devices. With a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC, an AI accelerator, and Particle’s application infrastructure, Tachyon combines all of the edge computing power, connectivity, and software necessary to embed intelligence into anything, anywhere.
Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC + AI accelerator
At the heart of Tachyon is the Qualcomm QCM6490 — an SoC that takes the power of a Snapdragon and packages it into an IoT-friendly package with upstream Linux support and a 10-year longevity guarantee.
The QCM6490 features an octa-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU, making Tachyon one of the most powerful single-board computers on the market. In addition, Tachyon has a Qualcomm Adreno 643 GPU and a Qualcomm Hexagon 770 DSP containing an AI accelerator capable of delivering 12 TOPS. It can drive 4K displays, consume high resolution video from two cameras, and run powerful AI/ML models to detect objects in video streams, classify sounds in audio streams, and process language.
Tachyon is capable of doing real work wherever you deploy it — at home, at work, or far afield.
Global 5G connectivity + Wi-Fi 6E
Upgrading the processor is only the beginning. We want to make it easy to deploy these things anywhere, and that means blazing-fast 5G connectivity.
Not only does Tachyon come with 5G connectivity operating at up to 2.5Gbs (with LTE fallback and an integrated custom cellular antenna!), but it comes pre-loaded with Particle’s embedded EtherSIM+ with free cellular telemetry and an optional low-cost data plan (more details below).
Sending gobs of data? Don’t worry, Tachyon has a Wi-Fi 6E connection for blazing fast connectivity over your Wi-Fi network, again with a built-in antenna.
Tachyon will come in two regional variants — North America and Rest of World. For a complete list of countries supported by Tachyon EtherSIM, check this table.
Expanding its capabilities
Tachyon is a powerful computer in its own right, but it really comes alive when connecting displays, cameras, sensors, and other peripherals.
But where are the usual big blocky USB and Ethernet ports, you ask? Well, don’t let the fancy cellular antenna make you think we forgot about wires and cables. Tachyon has dual USB-C connectors, automatically operating in both device and host modes depending on the attached cable. One of the USB-C 3.1 connections supports Display Port Alt Mode, which means you can connect Tachyon directly to a USB-C capable monitor (up to 4K), or use a USB-C Hub (such as the one we are offering as an add-on!) to add USB ports, HDMI and a gigabit Ethernet port. Oh, and for those familiar with Android development, we are using Fastboot and ADB so you can plug the device straight into your computer to power and control it over a single cable.
Of course, Tachyon also contains a Raspberry Pi-compatible 40-pin connector, plus support for cameras, displays, and PCIe peripherals connected via ribbon cables. Whether you’re using off-the-shelf peripherals, Raspberry Pi HATs, or building Tachyon into a custom PCB, Tachyon can handle whatever you throw at it.
Ubuntu + Yocto
A single-board computer is only as good as its software. We want to provide a software experience with “a low floor and a high ceiling;” it should be easy for anyone to get started, while at the same time highly capable and completely under your control.
Our software experience starts with Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 from Canonical.
Ubuntu has made a name for itself with its user-friendly design and robust support community, making it an excellent choice for both newcomers and experienced users. Mac and PC users should feel right at home with a familiar desktop experience, and Debian’s vast repository of software ensures that you have all the tools you need at your fingertips.
For headless applications (i.e. no display), we’ll also be providing support for a headless Ubuntu build that supports A/B partitions, enabling atomic OS upgrades out in the field.
Advanced users may prefer a more controlled environment and have stronger opinions on what should be in their Linux distribution; for these users, we will be supporting Yocto. Superusers who want to try running any other distribution or even operating systems — have at it! The chipset we’re using has upstream Qualcomm Linux support, as well as support for Android 13 and Windows 11.
Remote access + telemetry + OTA
Particle’s application infrastructure includes everything you need to deploy an intelligent device — including device management, OTA software updates, connectivity management, and data automation. Our platform is included for free with Tachyon, for up to 100 devices per account — and that includes a low data rate cellular plan for device management and telemetry!
EtherSIM+
So how do you actually use that 5G connectivity? Embedded into Tachyon is the next generation of Particle’s EtherSIM — a reprogrammable, 5G-capable eSIM, providing flexible and tailored connectivity options in 40 countries.
Particle’s platform comes with built-in low-bandwidth connectivity to support remote telemetry and device management — free for your first 100 devices.
Specs
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Octa-core Qualcomm® Kryo™ CPU (1x 2.7GHz, 3x 2.4GHz, 4x 1.9GHz).
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5G sub-6Hz cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E with on-device antennas
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8GB RAM and 128GB with built-in UFS storage
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Adreno 643 GPU and 12 TOPS NPU
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USB-C 3.1 PD with DisplayPort and PD, 2x PCIe lanes, and DSI 4-lane
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2 x CSI 4-lane with ISP, supporting 20+ pre-integrated camera sensors
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Powered by USB-C or lithium-ion battery with integrated battery charger
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Secure boot and encrypted filesystem
Payment & Security
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Frequently asked questions
What is Particle & do I need a device to use Particle's platform?
Particle is the leading integrated IoT Platform-as-a-Service for developers and enterprises to build world-class intelligent connected products. Our devices serve as the entry point to our platform as they are pre-integrated with the full capabilities of Particle PaaS.
What kinds of projects can I build with Particle?
Particle’s platform enables IoT projects with broadly diverse use cases by providing the foundational technology for standard IoT connectivity, with the ability to customize hardware and software interfaces, and workflows, to your unique project or product needs. From tracking the location of your moving asset, to monitoring equipment to reduce your maintenance costs, to measuring air quality to meet regulatory standards, and nearly any other use case you can imagine, Particle unlocks the promise of IoT for any use case.
Which kit is the best for me / how do I choose?
Particle’s portfolio of devices supports a wide range of connectivity options, form factors, and peripherals, all with the same common architecture and software platform. You can choose the most appropriate device by reviewing your use case requirements, and stage of development.
If you need further assistance, reach out to us to discover how Particle devices can support your project.
Can I buy Particle’s devices in bulk?
Yes, all of our modules and antennas can be purchased in bulk on the wholesale store.
Where can I find resources to learn more about my devices?
We recommend you start by going to our device platform guide and reviewing relevant datasheets, tutorials, and specs of the device of your choosing. You can also connect with our community to learn more about Particle devices, the Particle cloud, and all things related to IoT.
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