Flash your ZED Box Orin with Real-Time Kernel

The ZED Box Orin is designed to run a Real-Time Kernel (RT Kernel) for applications that require low-latency processing and high determinism. This is particularly useful for robotics, industrial automation, and other time-sensitive applications.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 Linux host machine
• At least 30GB free disk space on the host machine
• A ZED Box Orin device (Orin NX or Orin Nano series)

Download the flashing script

We provide ready scripts to flash the ZED Box Orin with a Real-Time Kernel:

• NVIDIA® Jetpack 6.0/6.1 / L4T 36.3
• NVIDIA® Jetpack 6.2 / L4T 36.4

What the Script Does

The script will perform the following actions:

1. Downloads required NVIDIA and StereoLabs files automatically
2. Extracts and sets up build environment
3. Builds RT kernel with ZED Box optimizations
4. Flashes the device or creates a bootable USB Key

Flash the ZED Box Orin with Real-Time Kernel

1. Set the workspace directory:

   $
   export BSP_ROOT=$(pwd)/J62RT

2. Make the script executable:

   $
   chmod +x rt_zedbox_onx_usb_flash_rXYZ.sh

   Replace XYZ with the version you downloaded, e.g., 364 for L4T 36.4.

3. [Optional] Set a custom hostname for the ZED Box:

   $
   export ZBOX_NAME=my-zedbox-name

   If not set, the default hostname will be used.

4. Put your ZED Box in recovery mode. You can follow the instructions in the ZED Box Orin FlashingGuide.

5. Connect the ZED Box to your host machine via USB.

6. Run the script:

   $
   ./rt_zedbox_onx_usb_flash_rXYZ.sh

   Replace XYZ with the version you downloaded, e.g., 363 for L4T 36.3.

   The process will require a long time to complete, please be patient.

7. Boot the ZED Box Orin

8. ⚠️ Hold the dependencies before running any sudo apt update or sudo apt upgrade commands ⚠️ :

   $
   sudo apt-mark hold nvidia-l4t-display-kernel nvidia-l4t-kernel nvidia-l4t-kernel-dtbs nvidia-l4t-kernel-headers nvidia-l4t-kernel-oot-headers nvidia-l4t-kernel-oot-modules  
   This will prevent the system from updating the kernel and overwriting the real-time patches. For detailed information please read here.

Script Process

The script will ask you to confirm the following steps:

• Flash with RT kernel? (y/n) - Answer y to flash your device; Answer n to build the kernel without flashing

Create a bootable USB Key

If you do not want to flash the ZED Box Orin, you can create a bootable USB key with the Real-Time Kernel. This allows you to boot the ZED Box Orin from the USB key without flashing the internal storage. This is useful for testing or development purposes.

1. Insert USB drive (16GB+ recommended)

2. Set USB device:

   $
   export SDX=sda  

   Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device path.

3. Set the workspace directory:

   $
   export BSP_ROOT=$(pwd)/J62RT

4. Make the script executable:

   $
   chmod +x rt_zedbox_onx_usb_flash_rXYZ.sh

   Replace XYZ with the version you downloaded, e.g., 364 for L4T 36.4.

5. Run the script:

   $
   ./rt_zedbox_onx_usb_flash_rXYZ.sh

   Replace XYZ with the version you downloaded, e.g., 363 for L4T 36.3.

   The process will require a long time to complete, depending on your USB drive speed.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during the flashing process:

• Review the logs directory for detailed error messages and troubleshooting information.
• Ensure that you have sufficient disk space on your host machine.
• Double-check that your ZED Box Orin is properly in recovery mode.
• Check the USB cable and eventually replace it with a shorter one to avoid connection issues.
• If problems persist, collect the relevant log files and contact StereoLabs support at support@stereolabs.com for further assistance.