Particle (or “Spark” as the OGs call it), the pioneer of the Internet of Things (IoT) platform-as-a-service, is back on Kickstarter with a new campaign for a whole new kind of product. A far cry from the 72MHz Spark Core Wi-Fi-enabled microcontrollers of 2013, the new Particle Tachyon is a 2.7GHz single-board computer (SBC) with 5G connectivity and an astounding 12 TOPS of AI-optimized GPU acceleration.
When I met privately with Particle CEO Zach Spara in April, I was introduced to the new device amid a flurry of impressive numbers and acronyms. But perhaps the most useful tip Zach shared with me about the Raspberry Pi-enabled 5G AI IoT SBC was to think of the device as similar to a smartphone. Though similar to the Pi in terms of form factor, Tachyon forgoes many of the built-in accessories found on other SBCs, instead utilising a USB-C port. This also includes a DisplayPort/HDMI output, which I was particularly excited to hear.
When you start thinking of this as Ubuntu running on a Nothing One with GPIO, the story really becomes compelling. First, the same Qualcomm silicon is used and supported across the various devices, which means less concern over supply chain issues. Besides all the great specs like the octa-core CPU, 5G modem with integrated antenna, and Wi-Fi 6E, one thing that really intrigued me is that it has 64GB of built-in storage rather than relying on a microSD card. The cost of dongles, adapters, and add-ons can be pretty steep with some SBCs, so I was intrigued by the fact that I can just plug this into the same docking station I use with my Ubuntu-powered laptop and it’s basically ready to go. However, in addition to the Pi-style 40-pin GPIO, the Tachyon also has the same camera connector as the Pi, making it perfect for machine vision projects. And since it’s Particle, you naturally get a top-notch enterprise-grade platform to run it on.
As always, remember that Kickstarter is not a store. Donating money doesn’t guarantee you’ll get what’s promised, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get anything at all. But Particle has been in the business for over 10 years, has earned a strong reputation among makers and experts, and already has prototype devices in their hands. Get on Kickstarter while the Super Early Bird prices are still available, and get your hands on one of these amazing new products. Get Tachyon, a particle from the future!
