BeagleBone AI-64 Setup Guide
The BeagleBone AI-64 from BeagleBoard.org is an open-source computer based on the Texas Instruments TDA4VM processor. In this tutorial, we will show you how to set up your BeagleBone AI-64 with Debian, and install Viam.
What you’ll need for this guide
You will need the following hardware, tools, and software to install Viam on a BeagleBone AI-64:
- The BeagleBone AI-64
- A microSD card
- A 5V barrel jack power supply
- [Optional] A microSD card reader
- [Optional] An ethernet cable or a WiFi card
BeagleBone AI-64 Installation Guide
Note
Depending on how old of a software image you already have running on your BeagleBone, you might need to update your BeagleBone to the latest software image. If you experience any issues getting Viam working on your BeagleBone, you should consult the BeagleBone getting started documentation at beagleboard.org/getting-started for steps on updating your BeagleBone.Power your BeagleBone
You need a data connection from the BeagleBone to your computer. A USB-C to USB-C from your computer to your BeagleBone is the most convenient method to make the data connection. Although it is possible to power the BeagleBone via its USB-C connection, we recommend that you use a separate 5VDC power source (e.g., 5VDC charger) via the BeagleBoard’s barrel jack as that is more reliable. When powered on, you’ll see the power (PWR or ON) LED lit steadily. Within a minute or so, you should see the other LEDs blinking.
Enable a network connection
You will need to connect an ethernet cable to your BeagleBone in order to connect to it. If your computer supports mDNS (Multicast DNS), you should see your Beagle at beaglebone.local. Using any web browser (except Internet Explorer) you can test to see if your BeagleBone has successfully connected to the internet.
Note
You can also connect to the internet via internet connection sharing.
If you are connecting to your BeagleBone with macOS, you can use Internet Sharing over USB to connect to the internet.
After enabling it on your machine, SSH into your BeagleBone, and run the following: sudo dhclient usb1.
For Linux, you can follow this tutorial for enabling internet over USB.
The table below summarizes the typical addresses depending on how you are connecting to your BeagleBoard.
| IP Address | Connection Type | Operating System(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 192.168.7.2 | USB | Windows |
| 192.168.6.2 | USB | Mac OS X, Linux |
| 192.168.8.1 | WiFi | all |
| beaglebone.local | all | mDNS enabled |
| beaglebone-2.local | all | mDNS enabled |
SSH into your BeagleBone
You can SSH into your BeagleBone by running the following from your terminal:
Note
The default username and password supplied by BeagleBone is:
- Username:
debian - Password:
temppwd
ssh debian@beaglebone.local
Check that your BeagleBone is connected to the internet
After you SSH into your BeagleBone, you can check that your BeagleBone is connected to the internet by running the following command:
ping -c 3 google.com
If you see a response like the one below, you are connected to the internet.
PING google.com (209.85.234.138): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 209.85.234.138: icmp_seq=0 ttl=55 time=31.852 ms
64 bytes from 209.85.234.138: icmp_seq=1 ttl=55 time=35.585 ms
64 bytes from 209.85.234.138: icmp_seq=2 ttl=55 time=43.308 ms
--- google.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 31.852/36.915/43.308/4.771 ms
Update your BeagleBone
Next, best practice suggests that you always ensure that the latest packages are installed. Run the following command to do verify the packages are up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade && sudo reboot
Setup your BeagleBone on the Viam app
- Go to app.viam.com
- Create a new robot
- Go to the SETUP tab
- Follow the instructions for Linux with an Aarch64 architecture installation.
- Wait for the Viam app to confirm that you have connected to your BeagleBone.
Tip
For more information on installing Viam on a Linux machine, check out our Linux installation guide.Next steps
Now that you have viam-server up and running on your BeagleBone, you can start configuring your robot and the real fun can begin!
We recommend that you try our LED blink tutorial and configuring a robot with a USB camera tutorial. These are a great place to get started and to ensure that your board is configured correctly. You can check out our complete list of tutorials for step-by-step project walk throughs demonstrating robot configuration.