Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jetson?
Jetson is a small but powerful computer made by NVIDIA. It’s built to run artificial intelligence (AI) right at the edge — meaning directly on the device itself, instead of always sending data to far-away cloud servers.
This makes Jetson perfect for real-time tasks such as:
- Robots see and move on their own
- Drones fly safely and avoid obstacles
- Cameras recognize people, objects, or traffic in real time
- Machines in factories work more efficiently
Each Jetson has a graphics chip (GPU), a processor (CPU), and memory packed into one unit. Together, they allow AI to run quickly and efficiently, even in small devices.
What is a Carrier Board?
A carrier board is the base board that connects a Jetson module to the outside world. The Jetson module is like the “brain” — it has the CPU, GPU, and memory — but it needs a carrier board to provide the ports and connections.
With a carrier board, you can plug in things like:
- USB devices (mouse, keyboard, cameras, sensors)
- HDMI or DisplayPort monitors
- Ethernet for network connection
- Storage drives (SSD, SD card)
- Other sensors or modules for your project
In short, the carrier board acts as the bridge between the Jetson module and everything else. It makes the Jetson usable in real projects — from drones and robots to industrial machines.
What is an NVIDIA Jetson Developer Kit?
An NVIDIA Jetson Developer Kit is a ready-to-use package that includes a Jetson module (the brain) and a carrier board (the body with ports and connectors). It’s made for learning, testing, and prototyping AI projects.
With a developer kit, you can:
- Connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use it like a small computer
- Attach cameras, sensors, or robots to try out AI applications
- Run AI models for vision, speech, or robotics
- Build and test prototypes before moving to custom hardware
Developer Kits are not meant for production. NVIDIA creates them as learning and prototyping tools, so developers can quickly test ideas and build proof-of-concepts. They use reference carrier boards that are excellent for experiments, but they usually lack the durability, certifications, and lifecycle support needed in finished products. For this reason, they should not be used inside commercial or industrial systems.
When it’s time to move from testing to deployment, the next step is to use a Jetson module with a production-ready carrier board. These boards are designed by NVIDIA’s hardware partners with specific features for real-world use, such as wider power input ranges, industrial connectors, or support for multiple cameras and sensors. They are built with reliability and long-term availability in mind, which makes them suitable for actual products.
On our website, we group these production-ready combinations of Jetson modules and carrier boards under the category AI Kits. This helps make the distinction clear: Developer Kits are for learning and prototyping, while AI Kits are for real deployment.
What is an AI Kit?
An AI Kit is a ready-made system that combines a Jetson module with a carrier board designed by NVIDIA’s hardware partners. Unlike NVIDIA’s Developer Kits, which use a reference board mainly for prototyping, AI Kits use partner-designed carrier boards that offer a wider range of options and capabilities.
Depending on the carrier board, an AI Kit may provide:
- Different I/O combinations (USB, HDMI, Ethernet, CAN bus, GPIO)
- Multiple camera interfaces (CSI/MIPI) for vision-based projects
- Expansion slots for SSD storage, Wi-Fi, LTE/5G modules, or other add-ons
- Flexible power input ranges suited for drones, robots, or industrial devices
- Compact or rugged form factors tailored for specific environments
These kits are also production-ready, which means they are designed with durability, reliability, and long-term availability in mind. Unlike developer kits, they can be integrated directly into real-world products, whether in robotics, smart cameras, automation, or industrial edge AI systems.
At Aetherix, our engineers assemble and validate each AI Kit. This ensures that every kit is tested for compatibility and stability, so customers receive hardware that is not only powerful but also dependable for professional and production use.
What is a Boxed AI System?
A Boxed AI System is essentially an AI Kit enclosed in a protective case with an integrated cooling solution. It contains a Jetson module and a carrier board, just like an AI Kit, but the added enclosure makes it more durable, easier to handle, and better suited for deployment outside of lab environments.
The enclosure provides key advantages:
- Protection – Shields the hardware from dust, shocks, and accidental contact.
- Cooling – Available with passive (fanless) or active (fan-based) heatsinks to keep performance stable.
- Reliability – More suitable for harsh or industrial environments than open AI Kits.
- Convenience – A ready-to-mount design that removes the need for custom casing or cooling solutions.
The AI performance itself always depends on the Jetson module inside — whether it is Orin Nano, Orin NX, or AGX Orin. What the Boxed AI System adds is protection, thermal management, and ease of deployment, making the same module more practical for use in real-world environments like robotics, automation, or smart cameras.
What is the difference between an AI Kit and a Developer Kit?
Both AI Kits and Developer Kits include a Jetson module with a carrier board, and they deliver similar AI performance since they use the same modules. The main difference lies in their purpose and design.
A Developer Kit is made by NVIDIA and comes with a reference carrier board. It is intended for learning, experimentation, and prototyping, which makes it a great way to start exploring Jetson and edge AI. However, Developer Kits are not meant for production use and should not be built into final products.
An AI Kit, on the other hand, combines a Jetson module with a production-ready carrier board designed by NVIDIA’s hardware partners. These boards often provide different connectivity, power options, and features that make them suitable for real applications. AI Kits are assembled and validated for reliability, which means they can be directly integrated into products such as robots, smart cameras, or industrial systems.
How to Choose the Right Jetson Module for Your Project
The best Jetson module depends on what you want your project to do. All Jetson modules run AI at the edge, but they vary in performance, power use, and size.
If your project is simple and lightweight — such as running a single camera, detecting objects, or handling basic AI tasks — a Jetson Nano or Jetson Orin Nano is usually enough. They are small, energy efficient, and cost-friendly.
If you need more power for robotics, drones, or devices that use multiple sensors and cameras, the Jetson Orin NX offers a big step up in performance while still keeping a compact form factor.
For the most demanding projects, like autonomous machines, industrial AI, or edge servers that need to process a lot of data at once, the Jetson AGX Orin delivers the highest performance in the Jetson family.
Other factors to consider include how much memory you need, what kind of camera or sensor connections your project requires, and whether your device will run on a battery or fixed power.
Can I Use My Jetson Module With a Different Carrier Board?
Yes, Jetson modules are designed to work with different carrier boards, as long as the board is compatible with that specific module. The Jetson module is like the “brain,” while the carrier board is the “body” that provides power, ports, and connections to cameras, sensors, and networks.
By changing the carrier board, you can adapt your Jetson to different needs. Some boards focus on lightweight design for drones, while others add industrial interfaces like CAN bus, PoE, or multiple camera inputs. This flexibility makes it possible to choose the board that best matches your project’s requirements.
It’s important to note, however, that NVIDIA’s own Developer Kits are not designed for swapping modules. In most developer kits, the module is fixed to the board and cannot be replaced. If you need the flexibility to change or upgrade modules, you should use a production-ready carrier board or one of our AI Kit solutions.
Which Carrier Board Is Best Suited for My Use Case?
The right carrier board depends on the needs of your project. While every Jetson module provides the AI performance, the carrier board determines how the module connects to the outside world — through its ports, power options, and expansion capabilities.
The right choice depends on your application:
- Robotics and drones – Compact and lightweight boards with wide power input ranges and multiple camera interfaces (CSI/MIPI) for navigation and vision.
- Industrial and edge systems – Rugged boards with CAN bus, PoE, or multiple Ethernet ports for reliable operation in demanding environments.
- Data-intensive projects – Boards with NVMe storage, M.2 slots, or wireless expansion for handling large datasets or fast connectivity.
- General-purpose AI devices – Versatile boards that balance I/O options, display outputs, and connectivity for a wide range of applications.
Since Jetson modules deliver the same AI performance no matter the board, the key factor is what connections, power, and form factor your project requires. Choosing the right carrier board ensures your module can interact with the real world in the way your application needs.
Does the Performance Depend More on the Jetson Module or the Carrier Board?
The Jetson module determines almost all of the raw AI performance. It contains the GPU, CPU, and memory that deliver computing power (measured in TOPS).
The carrier board does not increase the module’s performance but provides the necessary interfaces and power delivery so the module can operate effectively. A well-designed carrier board ensures stable operation, connectivity (USB, Ethernet, MIPI CSI cameras, PCIe, etc.), and expansion options, while poor design can limit usability or cause bottlenecks.