> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.arkelectron.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.arkelectron.com/products/embedded-computers/sima-modalix/ark-just-a-jetson-modalix-bundle.md). # ARK Just A Jetson Modalix Bundle ARK Just A Jetson carrier, SiMa.ai Modalix SOM, heatsink and fan. Optional NDAA 480GB M.2 NVMe SSD. The carrier is the same hardware as [ARK Just A Jetson](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson.md). This page covers SOM differences only. {% hint style="info" %} The ARK carrier is NDAA. The SOM is SiMa.ai. {% endhint %} ## Carrier Hardware {% content-ref url="/pages/QoFTB30a2YpQPrYwhPWS" %} [ARK Just A Jetson](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson.md) {% endcontent-ref %} Use the JAJ [Hardware Reference](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson/hardware.md) for pinout, power, and 3D models. Do not use the JAJ [Flashing Guide](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson/developer/flashing-guide.md) or [USB-C Console](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson/developer/usb-c-console.md) gadget login. ## Where to Start Do not use NVIDIA SDK Manager or L4T. The SOM boots from built-in eMMC; an NVMe SSD is not required. 1. Apply the ARK carrier overlay to the running eLxr image — [ark-meta-simaai](https://github.com/ARK-Electronics/ark-meta-simaai). The overlay ships as a versioned release package: ```bash curl -LO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ARK-Electronics/ark-meta-simaai/main/packaging/provision_from_package.sh chmod +x provision_from_package.sh BOARD=sima@ ./provision_from_package.sh jaj ``` `cat /etc/ark_modalix` afterwards reports which overlay release the board carries. 2. Install the ARK-OS `modalix` package — see [ARK-OS](#ark-os). 3. ML tooling — [SiMa.ai Palette](https://developer.sima.ai/) and [SiMa.ai hardware docs](https://developer.sima.ai/hardware). SiMa eLxr default login: user `sima`, password `edgeai`, hostname `modalix`. ARK-OS services run as `sima`. ## Interface Differences | Interface | Modalix | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | UART2 | Works as a console | | CAN | No CAN interface | | HDMI | Works only if the Modalix SOM was ordered with the HDMI option. ARK units will not have HDMI. | | PCIE2 | Only works when HDMI is not used. On ARK units (no HDMI), PCIE2 is available | | M.2 Key E | No PCIE | | USB-C | USB 3.0 works as a host. USB 2.0 on that connector goes to an FTDI console on the SOM (not Jetson gadget device mode) | | UART0 | Works without flow control (no RTS/CTS) | | UART1 | Does not work | | Ethernet | Carrier gigabit Ethernet works on stock eLxr, before the ARK overlay is applied | Do not install the Jetson Wi-Fi 6E / Remote ID M.2 option — M.2 Key E has no PCIE on Modalix. The JAJ [Ports and Serial](/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson/hardware/connections.md) UART map (`/dev/ttyTHS*`) is for NVIDIA Jetson modules. ## Console UART2 is the console. USB-C USB 2.0 is an FTDI console on the SOM. USB-C USB 3.0 is host only. Do not use the Jetson USB-C gadget login (`jetson` / `192.168.55.1`). The SOM has no USB device controller at all (`/sys/class/udc` is empty), so no USB gadget networking of any kind is available — this is not just a different gadget address. ## Recovery If the eMMC image is unbootable, reflash eLxr with SiMa's netboot path — `./flash.sh JAJ --netboot` in [ark-meta-simaai](https://github.com/ARK-Electronics/ark-meta-simaai), which drives `sima-cli` over TFTP. There is no NVIDIA Force Recovery mode on this SOM. ## Storage Boots from on-module eMMC. M.2 Key M NVMe is optional extra storage. ## Display / PCIe ARK-sold Modalix SOMs do not include HDMI. Because HDMI is unused, PCIE2 is available. M.2 Key M is still NVMe. M.2 Key E has no PCIE. ## ARK-OS ARK-OS is a Debian package, not a full OS image. Flash eLxr first, then install the `modalix` platform on the board (user `sima` must exist): ```bash curl -fSLO https://github.com/ARK-Electronics/ARK-OS/releases/download/v1.3.0/ark-os-modalix-bookworm_1.3.0_arm64.deb sudo apt-get install -y ./ark-os-modalix-bookworm_1.3.0_arm64.deb ``` Use `apt-get install`, not `dpkg -i` — the package has dependencies (nginx, gstreamer) that only apt resolves. The package is named `bookworm` while eLxr 12 reports its own codename, `aria`. They are ABI-compatible; the bookworm build is the one to install. If you use `packaging/install_ark_os.sh` instead, pass `--codename=bookworm`, or it will look for an `aria` asset that is not published. Do not install the `jetson` package. ARK-UI is at (or the board's IP). Do not use `jetson.local` or USB-C gadget networking. Compared with [ARK-OS](/software/ark-os.md) on Jetson: * No `jtop` / jetson-stats * No `jetson-can` (no SOM CAN) * No `rid-transmitter` * FMU reset / VBUS GPIO helpers are no-ops until mapped * mavlink-router still uses the USB flight-controller path when an FC is on USB {% content-ref url="/pages/UeK3tIjBLKOTDOsePSXc" %} [ARK-OS](/software/ark-os.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ## Performance Vendor peak ratings, not a lab benchmark: | Module | Peak TOPS | Rated power | | --------------------------- | ------------------------- | ----------- | | SiMa.ai Modalix | 50 TOPS (BF16/INT8/INT16) | sub-10W | | NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano 8GB | 40 TOPS; Super 67 TOPS | 25W | | NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB | 100 TOPS; Super 157 TOPS | 40W | Modalix has higher TOPS per watt than Orin Nano Super and Orin NX Super at those rated points. Peak TOPS on Super NX is higher. ## External * [SiMa.ai MLSoC Family](https://sima.ai/mlsoc-family/) * [SiMa.ai Developer Center (Palette)](https://developer.sima.ai/) * [SiMa.ai Hardware Docs](https://developer.sima.ai/hardware) * [ark-meta-simaai](https://github.com/ARK-Electronics/ark-meta-simaai) — ARK carrier device tree and flash tooling * [ARK-OS](https://github.com/ARK-Electronics/ARK-OS) — `modalix` platform package --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.arkelectron.com/products/embedded-computers/sima-modalix/ark-just-a-jetson-modalix-bundle.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.