Alert: Camera RTCPU Failure on Jetson Orin Nano 4GB

Issue Overview

Users of the Jetson Orin Nano 4GB core board (900-13767-0040-000) are experiencing intermittent camera crashes and restarts. This issue persists across software versions 5.12 and 5.14 of Jetpack. The problem manifests as unexpected camera failures during operation, impacting the stability and reliability of camera-dependent applications.

The system logs reveal critical errors related to the Camera Real-Time Control Unit (RTCPU):

[ 7403.790811] [RCE] BUG: camera-ip/vi5/vi5.c:415 [vi5_check_falcon_failure] "VI FALCON FAILURE: 0x40000000"
[ 7403.831390] tegra186-cam-rtcpu bc00000.rtcpu: Alert: Camera RTCPU gone bad! restoring it immediately!!

These errors indicate a severe malfunction in the camera subsystem, leading to timeouts and failed recovery attempts.

Possible Causes

1. Firmware Issues: The RTCPU firmware may be outdated or corrupted, causing instability in the camera subsystem.

2. Hardware Defects: There could be physical issues with the camera module or its connection to the Jetson board.

3. Software Bugs: The problem persists across multiple Jetpack versions, suggesting a potential underlying software bug in the camera drivers or related components.

4. Thermal Issues: Overheating could cause the RTCPU to malfunction, especially if the device is operating in a high-temperature environment.

5. Power Supply Problems: Insufficient or unstable power supply could lead to RTCPU failures and camera crashes.

6. Memory Corruption: Issues with system memory management could affect the RTCPU’s operation.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Update RCE Firmware:

   • Download and apply the latest RCE (Runtime Command Engine) firmware for your Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for firmware update procedures.

2. Check Physical Connections:

   • Ensure all camera connections are secure and properly seated.
   • Inspect cables for any signs of damage or wear.

3. Thermal Management:

   • Monitor the device’s temperature during operation.
   • Improve cooling if necessary, such as adding heatsinks or improving airflow.

4. Power Supply Verification:

   • Confirm that the power supply meets the Jetson Orin Nano’s specifications.
   • Use a multimeter to check for stable voltage output.

5. Memory Diagnostics:

   • Run memory tests to ensure system RAM is functioning correctly.
   • Use the following command to check for memory issues:

     sudo nvpmodel -d ram
     

6. Camera Driver Reinstallation:

   • Reinstall camera drivers using the following commands:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install --reinstall nvidia-l4t-camera
     

7. Jetpack Rollback/Update:

   • If possible, try rolling back to a previous stable version of Jetpack.
   • Alternatively, update to the latest available version if you’re not already on it.

8. System Log Analysis:

   • Continuously monitor system logs for recurring errors:

     sudo journalctl -f
     

   • Look for patterns or additional error messages that might provide more insight.

9. RTCPU Debugging:

   • Enable verbose logging for the RTCPU:

     sudo nvargus-daemon --verbose
     

   • Analyze the output for more detailed error information.

10. Hardware Isolation:

    • If possible, test the camera with a different Jetson Orin Nano board to isolate hardware-specific issues.

11. Contact NVIDIA Support:

    • If the issue persists after trying these steps, contact NVIDIA support with detailed logs and a description of the troubleshooting steps attempted.

Remember to document all changes and their effects during the troubleshooting process. This will help in identifying the root cause and developing a long-term solution for the camera RTCPU failures.