When working with open source software on embedded boards, developers often face unique challenges that are not encountered in PC or cloud environments. Many embedded boards are powered by SoCs (System-on-Chip), and unless developers can fully utilize the SoC’s built-in peripheral functions, it becomes difficult to build compelling applications using open source technologies.
This is especially true for recent applications involving on-device AI inference for image recognition. Developing such applications on embedded hardware with open source tools remain a non-trivial task.
To address these challenges, Renesas has collaborated with Retronix, a company based in Taiwan, to develop the Sparrow Hawk board, which became commercially available in August 2025. The board is equipped with an AI accelerator capable of 30 TOPS of performance and supports multi-camera input, enabling open source developers to create sophisticated AI- based image processing applications. Sparrow Hawk is designed specifically with open source developers in mind: it eliminates the need for paper-based NDAs and paid software licenses, providing a frictionless and accessible development experience.
In this session, we will introduce the hardware architecture of the Sparrow Hawk board and walk through its open source friendly software development environment. Attendees interested in embedded AI application development will gain practical insights and technical details to accelerate their own projects.