Getting Started with NVIDIA® Orin Nano Super and ZED

Unveiling the NVIDIA® Jetson Orin Nano Super: A Game-Changer for ZED Camera Performance

The world of embedded AI computing has taken another leap forward with the introduction of the NVIDIA® Jetson Orin Nano Super. This enhanced version of the little Orin Nano, sold at $249, half the price of the previous model, brings cutting-edge performance to AI developers and robotics enthusiasts, particularly those working with ZED cameras. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key features of the Jetson Orin Nano Super, how it boosts the capabilities of ZED cameras, and how you can upgrade your standard Orin Nano to the Super version.

Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, and founder, announced the newborn board in a YouTube video unveiling it by taking it out of an oven on a tray as if it had just been baked.

Features of the new board

The Jetson Orin Nano Super introduces a key enhancement: the new MAXN 25W power mode. This addition provides increased computational power and flexibility, complementing the existing power modes of the other versions. Here's how the modes compare:

• Jetson Orin Nano 4 GB: Offers 7W and 10W power modes.
• Jetson Orin Nano 8 GB: Features 7W and 15W power modes.
• Jetson Orin Nano Super: Adds the new MAXN 25W power mode alongside its other modes.

This MAXN option is particularly beneficial for applications requiring higher performance, such as AI inference tasks, robotics, and real-time computer vision, and can be enabled also on standard NVIDIA® Jetson Orin Nano devkits by installing the new Jetpack 6.2.

Other relevant upgrades:

• 1.7x higher generative AI model performance.
• 67 Sparse TOPs, a significant increase from the previous 40 Sparse TOPs
• 102 GB/s of memory bandwidth, a significant leap from the previous 65 GB/s memory bandwidth.
• 1.7 GHz of CPU clock speed, up from 1.5 GHz.
• new reduced price of $249, down from $499.

In the upcoming section, we will compare the performance of a ZED X camera on a Jetson Orin Nano running JetPack 6.0 against one running JetPack 6.2, with a focus on understanding the impact of the new 25W power mode.

ZED performance comparison

We assessed the new MAXN power mode at 25W by installing JetPack 6.2 on an NVIDIA® Jetson Nano 8GB devkit previously running Jetpack 6.0.

The benchmark evaluates the frequency of depth extraction for a ZED X camera at HD1200 (1900px x 1200px) resolution, utilizing a grab rate of 60 FPS. We conducted tests using classical Stereo processing in ULTRA depth mode, alongside AI-based depth extraction in both NEURAL and NEURAL+ depth modes.

A series of acquisitions were conducted on a "standard" NVIDIA® Jetson Nano 8GB devkit. Initially, the device ran Jetpack 6.0 (L4T 36.3) in 15W power mode. Subsequently, we upgraded to Jetpack 6.2 (L4T 36.4.3 GA) to enable the "Super" mode, and tested performance in both 15W and MAXN (25W) power modes.

All tests have been executed by enabling jetson_clocks to optimize CPU and GPU clock speeds.

As expected there's no performance difference between JP6.0 and JP6.2 in 15W mode, but we see a significant boost in 25W (MAXN) mode.

• ULTRA standard depth processing: +52% FPS | + 56% Power
• NEURAL AI depth processing: +54% FPS | + 44% Power
• NEURAL+ AI depth processing: +40% FPS | + 44% Power

Please note that this boost is not limited to the GMSL2 ZED X camera; it enhances the overall performance of the ZED SDK depth processing pipeline. As a result, the USB 3 ZED 2i camera will also benefit.

How to enable "Super" performance

All developers can achieve the "Super" performance with their Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit by either installing the latest SD Card Image that supports MAXN mode or using NVIDIA® SDK Manager.

During the installation with SDK Manager, simply select JetPack 6.2 (L4T 36.4.3 GA).

After installation, boot your device and enable MAXN mode from the power mode selector to experience the enhanced performance boost.

When your Jetson is ready you must also download and install the latest ZED X Driver (version >= 1.2.2) and the latest ZED SDK (version >= 4.2.3).

Conclusion

The NVIDIA® Jetson Orin Nano Super represents a significant step forward for edge AI computing, particularly in ZED camera applications. Its enhanced processing capabilities, improved memory bandwidth, and efficient power consumption make it a worthy upgrade for developers and enthusiasts looking to push the boundaries of AI and robotics. Whether you're deploying autonomous robots, smart surveillance systems, or immersive AR/VR experiences, the Orin Nano Super with ZED ensures you’re equipped for the future.

Ready to leap? Upgrade your Jetson Orin Nano today and unlock unparalleled performance for your ZED camera applications.