Power Issue and Auto-Power On Configuration for NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing a power issue with the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Kit 8GB, where the board fails to power on when connected to a power source. The symptoms include:

• The board does not respond or power on until the power plug is removed and reinserted.
• After a power cut, the board takes between 50 seconds to 1 minute to boot up, which is longer than desired for production settings.

This issue occurs during normal operation and is reported consistently across multiple devices using Jetpack version 5.1.1 without any custom carrier boards. Users require the device to automatically power on after a power failure, which is crucial for their applications.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for the power issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: If using a custom carrier board or non-standard power supplies, these may not be compatible with the Orin Nano.
• Software Bugs: Issues in the Jetpack version may lead to improper handling of power states.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the device’s configuration could prevent it from powering on automatically.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incorrect drivers can lead to hardware not initializing properly.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply quality and stability can impact performance; fluctuations may cause the board to fail to start.
• User Errors: Misconfigurations during setup or operation can lead to these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the power issue and optimize boot time, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Power Supply:

   • Ensure that the power supply meets specifications (5V input for Orin Nano).
   • Test with a different, known-good power supply.

2. Check Connections:

   • Inspect all connections and ensure they are secure.
   • Remove any unnecessary peripherals that might draw excess power.

3. Boot Time Optimization:

   • Enable timestamps in the serial console log to analyze boot stages.
   • Refer to the "Boot Time Optimization" section in the NVIDIA Jetson Linux Developer Guide for specific settings that may reduce boot time.

4. Firmware and Software Updates:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest stable version of Jetpack (currently recommended is Jetpack 5.1.2).
   • Flash the board using SDK Manager to ensure all components are correctly installed.

5. Automatic Power-On Configuration:

   • Check BIOS or firmware settings (if available) for options related to auto-power on after failure.
   • Some users have reported success by ensuring that no peripherals are attached during initial testing.

6. Testing Different Configurations:

   • Isolate components by testing with minimal configurations (only essential hardware).
   • If using a custom carrier board, revert to the official dev kit configuration if possible.

7. Logs and Diagnostics:

   • Use serial console logs to identify any errors during boot-up.
   • Commands like lsusb -d '0955:' can help confirm device recognition by your host PC.

8. Seek Further Assistance:

   • If issues persist, consider reaching out for an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) if hardware failure is suspected.

9. Preventive Measures:

   • Regularly check for software updates and maintain a stable power supply environment.
   • Document configurations and changes made for future reference.

By following these steps, users can diagnose and potentially resolve their issues with the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Dev board effectively.