Firefly has announced the CAM-3576Q38, an ultra-compact Mini AI Mainboard. It packs the Rockchip RK3576 (4×A72 + 4×A53) and a 6 TOPS NPU into a 38mm square board, designed for embedded applications in industrial cameras and edge AI devices. With I/O primarily via FPC connectors, it is suited for custom designs intended for mass production.
Firefly has announced the CAM-3576Q38 as a Mini AI Mainboard. Product information has been released in the official specification document (V0.2, dated November 13, 2025).
This board packs the Rockchip RK3576 (4×A72 + 4×A53, up to 2.2GHz) and a 6 TOPS NPU into an extremely compact 38mm square board, with a design strongly focused on embedded applications for industrial cameras and edge AI devices. I/O is primarily via FPC connectors, making it suitable for custom designs intended for mass production.
On the other hand, it differs from a typical SBC experience where you can "buy it and run it immediately like a Raspberry Pi," giving the impression that it was developed for a specific target user base.
Table of Contents
Specifications
| ■ Firefly CAM-3576Q38 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Rockchip RK3576 (4×Cortex-A72 + 4×Cortex-A53, up to 2.2GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC3@1GHz |
| NPU | 6 TOPS (INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16, BF16, TF32 support) |
| ISP | Built-in 16MP ISP (low-light noise reduction, HDR support) |
| Memory | LPDDR4, LPDDR4x, LPDDR5 (4GB, 8GB, 16GB options) |
| Storage | eMMC (16GB–256GB) + TF card slot |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz, 5GHz) onboard |
| Wired LAN | 100Mbps Ethernet (8P-1.25mm connector) |
| Video Input | MIPI-CSI DPHY (1×4Lane or 2×2Lane, 40pin-0.5mm) |
| Video Output | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps decode; 4K@60fps encode (port implementation depends on board design) |
| USB | USB2.0, Type-C (Device) |
| Expansion | 24pin FPC (USB2.0, ADC, I2C, UART, 10 GPIO), RS485 |
| Dimensions | 38.09×38.11×11.54mm |
| Power | DC 12V input (8P-1.25mm connector) |
| Supported OS | Linux, Buildroot, RTLinx |
This is a Mini AI SBC for industrial and camera embedded applications, packing a 6 TOPS NPU + RK3576 + LPDDR5 into an extremely compact 38mm square board.
However, since I/O is primarily via FPC, it is not suited for those who want easy access to NVMe or M.2 expansion. The main target is custom development and mass production applications that require design flexibility.
Features
SoC, CPU, NPU
The CPU features the Rockchip RK3576 octa-core configuration, with a big.LITTLE architecture consisting of 4×Cortex-A72 (high-performance cores) and 4×Cortex-A53 (power-efficient cores). It operates at up to 2.2GHz, providing sufficient processing power for an SBC.
The NPU delivers 6 TOPS with support for INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16, BF16, and TF32. Compared to competitors like the Raspberry Pi 5 + Hailo-8L (13 TOPS) or Orange Pi AI series (6 TOPS class), this product's differentiation point is that it fits into an ultra-compact 38mm square form factor. However, this small size may come with trade-offs in thermal design and expandability constraints.
The GPU is the Mali-G52 MC3@1GHz, with video capabilities including 8K@30fps and 4K@120fps decoding, plus 4K@60fps encoding. This shows a design premise focused on edge video processing and camera input.
Memory and Storage
Memory options include LPDDR4, LPDDR4x, and LPDDR5, with capacity choices of 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. The flexibility to configure according to application needs is a welcome feature.
Storage is eMMC only, with options ranging from 16GB to 256GB. However, M.2 and PCIe are not explicitly mentioned in the official specifications, making NVMe expansion unclear. Official information on OS installation and boot procedures is also unconfirmed, so checking with the Firefly official Wiki or sales distributors before actual deployment is necessary.
Expansion and I/O
A distinctive feature of this board is that I/O is primarily via FPC. It uses a 24pin FPC configuration for USB2.0, ADC, I2C, UART, and 10 GPIO, rather than typical SBC-style pin headers.
This is a design premise for mass production, suited for custom designs connecting enclosures and boards via FPC. On the other hand, it is not suitable for hobbyist use cases like "plugging jumper wires into a breadboard and experimenting."
Additionally, the specification document notes that GPIO signals are a mix of 3.3V and 1.8V levels. Care must be taken regarding level compatibility with connected devices.
Networking is limited to 100Mbps Ethernet only, accessed via an 8P-1.25mm connector. A design that converts to RJ45 on the enclosure side is required. This is not suitable for applications requiring GbE.
Power and Thermal
Power input is DC 12V via an 8P-1.25mm connector. Since it doesn't use a typical DC jack or USB-C power delivery, power design considerations are necessary.
Operating temperature varies by SKU:
- Commercial (CAM-3576Q38): -20°C to 60°C
- Industrial (CAM-3576JQ38): -40°C to 85°C
- Automotive (CAM-3576MQ38): -40°C to 85°C
However, cooling methods (heatsink, fan presence) are not specified in the official documentation. Thermal countermeasures must be separately considered during enclosure design.
Summary
The Firefly CAM-3576Q38 is a Mini AI SBC for industrial cameras and edge AI devices, packing the RK3576 + 6 TOPS NPU into an ultra-compact 38mm square form factor. With I/O design primarily via FPC, it is suited for custom designs intended for mass production.
It is suitable for developers in industrial applications who want to embed camera modules or edge AI devices into compact enclosures. It is not suitable for those expecting a Raspberry Pi-like experience of inserting a microSD and running immediately. The barriers for I/O and OS setup are high, making it unsuitable for use cases that prioritize convenience.
Regarding pricing, since pricing is not confirmed on the official sales page, inquiries to the Firefly official store or authorized distributors are necessary.
Related Links
- Official Product Page: https://en.t-firefly.com/p/cam-3576q38
- Official Specification Document (PDF): https://download.t-firefly.com/Spec/Mainboards/CAM-3576Q38_CAM-3576JQ38_CAM-3576MQ38_Specification_EN.pdf
- Official Wiki: https://en.t-firefly.com/wiki