Specifications
Supported Modules
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 with full support; Compute Module 4 with limitations
CM4 Limitations
CSI1/CAM1, UART2, USB-C, PCIe and fan are not supported on CM4
Form Factor
Approximately the same footprint as the Compute Module itself
Ethernet
2x 4-pin JST-GH connectors for dual 10/100 Mbps Ethernet via a built-in switch
Display Output
Micro HDMI port
Camera Interfaces
2x 22-pin 0.5mm pitch FPC connectors matching the Raspberry Pi 5 CSI pinout
Storage
MicroSD card slot for CM4/CM5 Lite variants without onboard eMMC
PCIe Expansion
16-pin PCIe Gen2/Gen3 x1 FFC connector matching the Raspberry Pi 5 PCIe layout
USB
USB 3.0 Type-C dual-role port plus USB 2.0 on a 4-pin JST-GH connector
Serial Headers
4x 6-pin JST-GH: UART0 debug/GPIO, UART2/SPI3/GPIO, UART3/SPI4/GPIO, UART4/PWM/GPIO
Fan Header
4-pin JST-SH connector matching the Raspberry Pi 5 fan connector
Power Input
5V/2A or greater via 6-pin Molex Clik-Mate with I2C to ARK PAB power modules
Software
ARK OS and the ARK UI dashboard ship on bundles with a CM5 and microSD card
Compliance
Built in the USA and NDAA compliant
Target Platforms
Drones, robots and other space-constrained embedded systems
Overview
ARK Just A Pi solves a specific problem for drone and robot integrators: the Raspberry Pi CM5 needs a carrier board, and most carriers are far larger than the module. This board is roughly the same size as the Compute Module itself, so it fits into airframes and actuator enclosures that cannot accept a standard Pi form factor.
The I/O is deliberately connector-first. Instead of RJ45 jacks, networking is exposed on two 4-pin JST-GH connectors fed by a built-in 100 Mbps switch, which means two Ethernet devices can be linked without adding a switch board or cable harness. Serial, SPI, PWM and GPIO all break out on 6-pin JST-GH headers, and the fan header matches the Raspberry Pi 5 pinout so off-the-shelf active cooling works unmodified.
Because it is built in the USA and NDAA compliant, Just A Pi is relevant for defence-adjacent and public-sector robotics programmes where component provenance is a procurement requirement. ARK also sells bundles with a CM5 and microSD card preloaded with ARK OS, which delivers the ARK UI dashboard for configuration instead of a manual config.txt edit.
Key Benefits
NDAA compliant and built in the USA for regulated procurement, dual switched Ethernet on JST-GH, full CM5 support with PCIe Gen3 FFC, and a CM-sized footprint suited to drones and compact robots.
Applications
Unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robots and AGVs, defence and public-sector robotics programmes, portable edge sensing rigs, and any CM5 design that cannot accommodate a full-size carrier.
Request a Quote — ARK JUST A PI — NDAA-COMPLIANT RASPBERRY PI CM5 CARRIER BOARD FOR DRONES AND ROBOTS
QS Compute — global B2B supply of AI computing hardware, edge AI systems and accelerators. Volume pricing, 15-day sample lead time.
Get Your Quote →