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How to Use Orin Nano: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

Image of Orin Nano
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Introduction

The NVIDIA Orin Nano is a compact, high-performance computing platform designed for AI and robotics applications. It is powered by the NVIDIA Orin system-on-chip (SoC), which integrates advanced GPU capabilities, making it ideal for edge computing tasks, real-time processing, and AI inference workloads. The Orin Nano is specifically engineered to deliver exceptional performance in a small form factor, enabling developers to build intelligent systems for a wide range of use cases.

Explore Projects Built with Orin Nano

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
Arduino Nano-Based OLED Clock with RTC and LiPo Battery Charging
Image of RTC for Keyboard: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
This circuit features an Arduino Nano connected to an OLED display and a DS3231 real-time clock (RTC) module for displaying the current time. The Arduino Nano is powered through a toggle switch connected to its VIN pin, with power supplied by a TP4056 charging module that charges and manages two 3.7V LiPo batteries connected in parallel. The OLED and RTC module communicate with the Arduino via I2C, with shared SDA and SCL lines connected to the A4 and A5 pins of the Arduino, respectively.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Arduino Nano Controlled Inductive Sensor with OLED Display
Image of Digital RPM Sensor: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
This circuit features an Arduino Nano microcontroller interfaced with a 0.96" OLED display and an inductive sensor. The Arduino Nano provides power to both the OLED and the sensor, and communicates with the OLED via I2C (using A4 for SDA and A5 for SCK). The inductive sensor is connected to the A3 pin of the Arduino, likely for sensing metallic objects and sending the signal back to the microcontroller for processing.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Arduino Nano and OLED Display for Real-Time Data Visualization
Image of OLED Display: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
This circuit consists of an Arduino Nano microcontroller connected to a 0.96" OLED display. The Arduino Nano provides power to the OLED display and communicates with it using the I2C protocol via the A4 (SDA) and A5 (SCK) pins.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Arduino Nano-Based Heart Rate and Oxygen Monitor with OLED Display
Image of Pulse Oximeter- Anurag Deb: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
This circuit is a health monitoring system that uses an Arduino Nano to interface with a MAX30102 heart rate and oxygen sensor and a 0.96" OLED display. The system measures heart rate and blood oxygen levels, displaying the results on the OLED screen, and includes a pushbutton for user interaction.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Explore Projects Built with Orin Nano

Use Cirkit Designer to design, explore, and prototype these projects online. Some projects support real-time simulation. Click "Open Project" to start designing instantly!
Image of RTC for Keyboard: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
Arduino Nano-Based OLED Clock with RTC and LiPo Battery Charging
This circuit features an Arduino Nano connected to an OLED display and a DS3231 real-time clock (RTC) module for displaying the current time. The Arduino Nano is powered through a toggle switch connected to its VIN pin, with power supplied by a TP4056 charging module that charges and manages two 3.7V LiPo batteries connected in parallel. The OLED and RTC module communicate with the Arduino via I2C, with shared SDA and SCL lines connected to the A4 and A5 pins of the Arduino, respectively.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of Digital RPM Sensor: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
Arduino Nano Controlled Inductive Sensor with OLED Display
This circuit features an Arduino Nano microcontroller interfaced with a 0.96" OLED display and an inductive sensor. The Arduino Nano provides power to both the OLED and the sensor, and communicates with the OLED via I2C (using A4 for SDA and A5 for SCK). The inductive sensor is connected to the A3 pin of the Arduino, likely for sensing metallic objects and sending the signal back to the microcontroller for processing.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of OLED Display: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
Arduino Nano and OLED Display for Real-Time Data Visualization
This circuit consists of an Arduino Nano microcontroller connected to a 0.96" OLED display. The Arduino Nano provides power to the OLED display and communicates with it using the I2C protocol via the A4 (SDA) and A5 (SCK) pins.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer
Image of Pulse Oximeter- Anurag Deb: A project utilizing Orin Nano in a practical application
Arduino Nano-Based Heart Rate and Oxygen Monitor with OLED Display
This circuit is a health monitoring system that uses an Arduino Nano to interface with a MAX30102 heart rate and oxygen sensor and a 0.96" OLED display. The system measures heart rate and blood oxygen levels, displaying the results on the OLED screen, and includes a pushbutton for user interaction.
Cirkit Designer LogoOpen Project in Cirkit Designer

Common Applications and Use Cases

  • Autonomous robots and drones
  • Smart cameras and video analytics
  • Industrial automation and IoT devices
  • AI-powered medical devices
  • Edge AI systems for real-time decision-making
  • Natural language processing and computer vision tasks

Technical Specifications

The Orin Nano is available in multiple configurations to suit different performance and power requirements. Below are the key technical details:

Key Specifications

Parameter Value
GPU Architecture NVIDIA Ampere
GPU Cores Up to 1024 CUDA cores
Tensor Cores 32
CPU Quad-core ARM Cortex-A78AE
Memory Up to 8GB LPDDR5
Storage eMMC 5.1 (16GB)
AI Performance Up to 40 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second)
Power Consumption Configurable: 7W to 15W
Connectivity 1x Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2, PCIe Gen 3
Operating System Support Linux-based JetPack SDK

Pin Configuration and Descriptions

The Orin Nano is typically used with a carrier board that provides access to its I/O pins. Below is a table summarizing the key pin configurations:

GPIO and I/O Pins

Pin Number Pin Name Description
1 3.3V Power Provides 3.3V power output
2 GND Ground pin
3 GPIO_1 General-purpose input/output pin
4 GPIO_2 General-purpose input/output pin
5 I2C_SCL I2C clock line
6 I2C_SDA I2C data line
7 UART_TX UART transmit pin
8 UART_RX UART receive pin
9 SPI_MOSI SPI Master Out Slave In
10 SPI_MISO SPI Master In Slave Out
11 SPI_CLK SPI clock line
12 SPI_CS SPI chip select

Usage Instructions

The Orin Nano is designed to be integrated into custom hardware solutions or used with NVIDIA's developer kits. Below are the steps to get started:

Setting Up the Orin Nano

  1. Power Supply: Ensure a stable power supply (7W to 15W) is connected to the carrier board.
  2. Operating System: Download and flash the NVIDIA JetPack SDK onto a microSD card or eMMC storage. JetPack provides the necessary drivers, libraries, and tools for development.
  3. Peripheral Connections: Connect peripherals such as a monitor (via HDMI), keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet for network access.
  4. Boot the System: Insert the microSD card (if applicable), power on the device, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Using the Orin Nano with an Arduino UNO

The Orin Nano can communicate with an Arduino UNO via UART, I2C, or SPI. Below is an example of using UART communication:

Example Code for Arduino UNO

// Arduino code to send data to the Orin Nano via UART
// Ensure the Orin Nano is connected to the Arduino's TX and RX pins

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize UART communication at 9600 baud rate
  delay(1000);        // Wait for the Orin Nano to initialize
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println("Hello from Arduino!"); // Send a message to the Orin Nano
  delay(1000);                           // Wait 1 second before sending again
}

Example Code for Orin Nano (Python)


Python code to receive data from the Arduino UNO via UART

Ensure the correct serial port is specified (e.g., /dev/ttyUSB0)

import serial

Initialize UART communication

ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyUSB0', 9600, timeout=1)

while True: data = ser.readline().decode('utf-8').strip() # Read and decode data if data: print(f"Received: {data}") # Print the received message


Important Considerations and Best Practices

  • Cooling: Use an appropriate heatsink or fan to prevent overheating during high-performance tasks.
  • Power Supply: Ensure the power supply meets the voltage and current requirements to avoid instability.
  • Software Updates: Regularly update the JetPack SDK to access the latest features and security patches.
  • Peripheral Compatibility: Verify that connected peripherals (e.g., cameras, sensors) are supported by the Orin Nano.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Common Issues and Solutions

  1. Device Does Not Boot:

    • Ensure the power supply is connected and providing sufficient power.
    • Verify that the microSD card or eMMC storage contains a valid JetPack image.
  2. Overheating:

    • Check that the cooling solution (heatsink or fan) is properly installed.
    • Reduce the power mode if the workload allows.
  3. No UART Communication:

    • Confirm that the TX and RX pins are correctly connected between the Orin Nano and Arduino.
    • Ensure the baud rate matches on both devices.
  4. Peripheral Not Detected:

    • Verify that the peripheral is compatible with the Orin Nano.
    • Check the connections and ensure the necessary drivers are installed.

FAQs

Q: Can the Orin Nano run AI models out of the box?
A: Yes, the Orin Nano supports AI frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX. Pre-trained models can be deployed using NVIDIA's TensorRT for optimized inference.

Q: What is the maximum resolution for video processing?
A: The Orin Nano supports video processing up to 4K resolution at 60 FPS.

Q: Can I use the Orin Nano for battery-powered applications?
A: Yes, but ensure the battery can provide sufficient power (7W to 15W) and consider power optimization techniques.

Q: Is the Orin Nano compatible with Raspberry Pi HATs?
A: Compatibility depends on the specific HAT and its interface. GPIO-based HATs may require additional configuration.

This concludes the documentation for the NVIDIA Orin Nano. For further assistance, refer to the official NVIDIA developer resources.