Since the release of JetPack 7.2, NVIDIA has supported Yocto on Jetson platforms. Syslogic is leveraging this capability for its NVIDIA Jetson-based embedded computers, helping customers build customized Linux systems for industrial applications.
Syslogic uses NVIDIA Jetson SoMs (Systems on Modules) as a powerful platform for its AI embedded computers. The combination of GPU-accelerated computing, compact form factors, and relatively low power consumption makes Jetson ideal for applications such as autonomous machines, robotics, and machine vision.
But powerful hardware alone is not enough for an industrial product designed for series deployment. The operating system also needs to meet industrial requirements. This is where Yocto comes in.
Yocto is not a ready-to-use Linux distribution. Instead, it is an open-source framework for building customized Linux systems for embedded computers. While conventional Linux distributions include numerous packages and features by default, Yocto gives developers precise control over which components are included in the operating system. The result is a Linux image tailored specifically to the hardware and application.
For NVIDIA Jetson systems, for example, the Linux kernel, NVIDIA drivers, and required components of the NVIDIA software stack can be combined with hardware-specific drivers, interfaces, and the customer application to create a streamlined Linux system.
A fully featured Ubuntu system is convenient during development. For an embedded computer that will operate in a machine or vehicle for many years, however, different requirements take priority.
An autonomous agricultural vehicle, for example, may need support for CUDA and TensorRT, cameras, Ethernet, CAN, and the application itself. A desktop environment, browser, and numerous other standard packages, on the other hand, may not be needed at all. Yocto makes it possible to reduce the operating system to what is actually required. This provides several advantages: fewer unnecessary software components and dependencies, a smaller attack surface for cyberattacks, and greater control over the overall system. Reproducibility is particularly important for industrial applications. Software versions are clearly defined, making it possible to trace exactly which components and versions are used in a specific system image. This is an essential foundation for maintenance, updates, and long-term product availability.
For industrial series deployment, hardware and software need to work together as a complete system. That is why Syslogic supports Yocto for its NVIDIA Jetson-based embedded computers.
Syslogic engineers have developed the meta-syslogic Yocto layer specifically for this purpose. It integrates support for Syslogic embedded systems and provides the foundation for customized Yocto Linux images. The layer includes board configurations for all Syslogic embedded systems based on NVIDIA Jetson Orin and Thor platforms.
When building the Yocto OS, all hardware-specific adaptations are integrated directly into the image, including the Device Tree, bootloader, pinmux, scripts, and kernel patches, equivalent to those provided with JetPack L4T. This eliminates the need for customers to perform the time-consuming work of adapting the meta-tegra layer to their Syslogic system. Instead, they can focus directly on their application.
Download the “meta-syslogic” Yocto layer now. It provides the ideal foundation for building your custom Yocto Linux image.
Please contact Syslogic Support for the password.
Download here
