
What is SMARC?
SMARC is a small form factor module standard. Developed by SGET, of which SECO is a founding member, the standard defines modules that are ideal for embedded applications requiring low power consumption, low costs, and high performance. It offers a rich set of standard peripheral interfaces for both Arm and x86 processor technologies, providing a ready-to-use core computing engine that can be adapted to application-specific carrier boards.

Modular
Being an electromechanical standard, SMARC’s 314-signal standard facilitates module swappability across SMARC vendors and processor platforms.

Low power
Power consumption is typically under 6W, while supporting a relatively high number of interfaces.

Compact
Its small size (about the size of a credit card) and low profile mounted on a carrier board enable thin designs – especially useful for portable or handheld devices.

Versatile
Arm or x86 processor architecture, with standard interfaces including USB, display, Ethernet, serial, and GPIO.
SMARC Ecosystem
Our SMARC ecosystem includes off-the-shelf modules, accompanying OS, and SMARC development kits, which include a carrier board. Our SMARC products support compatibility with our IoT software suite Clea.

Featured SMARC Modules

SOM-SMARC-MX8M Plus
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM featuring NXP's i.MX 8M Plus Arm processor with Cortex-A53 CPU and NPU for machine learning

SOM-SMARC-QCS6490
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM powered by Qualcomm's QCS6490 Arm processor based on Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores.

SOM-SMARC-Genio700
SMARC® Rel. 2.1.1 Computer on Module (CoM) with the MediaTek Genio 700 Arm processor 2x Cortex-A78 and 6x Cortex-A55 CPU.

SOM-SMARC-ASL
SMARC Rel 2.1.1 CoM with the Intel Atom processor x7000RE series (formerly called Amston Lake).

Carrier Board Design
A SMARC module must be mounted to a carrier board in an electronic product. The carrier is usually designed with application-specific interfaces and mechanicals. SGET publishes a carrier design guide which provides design guidance.
SECO offers comprehensive design services for custom carrier boards, leveraging our expertise to accelerate time-to-market. We collaborate with our clients to define their product requirements and develop a product-specific carrier board with an accompanying board support package (BSP). The SMARC standard, in particular, is meant to be future-proof, with standard pinouts and resources for board designers.
Product design and manufacturing
Once the design process is complete, we manufacture and deliver your product-specific carrier board, with the SMARC module mounted and software configured with your image.
Beyond carrier boards, SECO designs and builds complete products including HMIs, boxed solutions, and rugged portable/handheld devices, with both off-the-shelf and customized options.

SMARC Applications
SMARC modules, with their compact size, versatility, and energy efficiency, are suitable for low-power and cost-effective embedded applications that leverage Arm or x86 processor technology. They provide developers with a flexible platform to create innovative solutions across a variety of industries and use cases, including:
- Embedded vision: Enabling advanced image processing and AI capabilities in compact systems, with up to 4 camera inputs and 4 graphic outputs
- Wearable and handheld devices: The compact size supports lightweight designs with efficient performance
- Battery-operated devices: Optimized for extended battery life without compromising functionality
- Low-power connected IoT applications: Offering diverse connectivity options for seamless integration into IoT ecosystems
- Functional safety applications (FuSa): SECO offers the SOM-SMARC-EHL, which is designed to facilitate IEC 61508 and ISO 13849 certification