Ai-Now Hardware Matrix

From compute to controllers—one ecosystem, one standard of craft.

Our mission is simple: build cloudless AI you can actually own, end-to-end.
This matrix shows how every Ai-Now product fits together—today and in the next few seasons.

1. Matrix at a glance

Tier 1 – Compute Systems
Workstations, small servers, lab boxes.
→ Where Black / White / Silver / Bronze labels live.

Tier 2 – Industrial & Embedded
STM32/ESP32 controllers, field hardware, SmartBucket / Drinkstation logic.

Tier 3 – Components & Kits
Maker kits, AGXCore-8, sensor packs, PCB cards.

Tier 4 – AI Software & Tools
Local LLM stack, burn-in engine, telemetry dashboards, MCP server.

Tier 5 – Cloudless AI Appliances
Turn-key home/office AI boxes. (Roadmap)

2. Tier 1 — Compute Systems

One craft, four labels. Same discipline—different sources, goals, and budgets.

🖤 Black Label — Datacenter Rebirth Series

• Source: Datacenter pull, enterprise-grade parts, workstation-class hardware.
• Signature:
  • 72-hour burn-in
  • firmware + thermal calibration
  • acoustics tuning for sane noise levels
• Use cases:
  • Edge AI
  • Linux lab and virtualization
  • Serious development and compute

Tagline: “Datacenter hardware, reborn with elite engineering.”

🤍 White Label — NEW OEM Series

• Source: Brand-new OEM trays / SI bulk components.
• Signature:
  • New condition
  • Ai-Now QC
  • Focus on stability and clean firmware
• Use cases:
  • Creative workloads
  • Home labs
  • Quiet, fresh hardware for daily drivers

Tagline: “Pure OEM quality, refined through Ai-Now craftsmanship.”

🩶 Silver Label — Creator Workstation Series

• Source: Mixed new/OEM parts, tuned as a balanced performance stack.
• Signature:
  • Low-noise fans and acoustic tuning
  • GPU and CPU thermals profiled together
  • Better front-panel / I/O for workspaces
• Use cases:
  • Video, audio, and design work
  • AI inference with mid-range GPUs
  • Studio setups where noise matters

Tagline: “Calm, fast, and studio-ready.”

🟤 Bronze Label — Budget Revival Series

• Source: Carefully selected renewed hardware and value-tier components.
• Signature:
  • Honest performance, no fake specs
  • Tuned for Linux and retro workloads
  • Clear upgrade path to Silver / Black
• Use cases:
  • Retro emulation
  • Entry Linux desktops
  • Teaching labs and self-learning rigs

Tagline: “Get in. Learn fast. Upgrade later.”

3. Tier 2 — Industrial & Embedded Systems

Where the soul of Ai-Now lives: control logic, boards, sensors, and automation.

Industrial Controllers

• S1 Controller (DaVinci board) – STM32F103 logic for beverage, thermal, and process control.
• Drinkstation PRO Logic – compressor / agitator / flowmeter orchestration, with Business Mode and Energy Agent.
• Energy Agent Node – TinyML + rule engine for power-aware control and scheduling.

Embedded Modules

• ESP32 telemetry nodes (MQTT, OTA, JSON reporting)
• MAX6675 K-type thermocouple modules
• Flowmeter + NTC packs, PWM driver boards
• RGB LED matrix daughterboards for creative / teaching use

Automation Systems

• SmartBucket Controller – for exhibition, home, and RAV4-trunk variants.
• Edge-AI trunk node for mobile or off-grid scenarios.

All controllers ship with:

• Burn-in profile
• Serial telemetry and logs
• Field-serviceable firmware (no cloud lock-in)

4. Tier 3 — Components & Kits

• AGXCore-8 Kit – modular 8-bit computer for logic education and hardware storytelling.
• PCB Business Cards – NFC, Linux-themed, and calendar + I-Ching editions.
• Maker Sensor Packs – INA219, DS18B20, PZEM-004T, CT coils, wiring and headers.
• Educational Bundles – curated kits that pair with Node-RED flows and Grafana dashboards.

5. Tier 4 — AI Software & Tools

• Local LLM Stack – Ollama + Qwen-family presets for on-device development.
• Ai-Now Control Center (Docker recipes) – EMQX/MQTT, Node-RED, Grafana, InfluxDB.
• Burn-In Engine – workload orchestration, thermal / acoustic profiling, printable reports.
• MCP Server for Drinkstation – policy + model routing for process control.
• Telemetry Dashboards – plug-and-use Node-RED and Grafana templates for fleets.

Principle: No forced cloud. Your data, your models, your machines.

6. Tier 5 — Cloudless AI Appliances (Roadmap)

• Ai-Now Home Server – family knowledge base, private voice assistant, local storage.
• Edge Cube – palm-size inference box with NVMe and PCIe punch.
• Creator Station – studio-quiet GPU workstation tuned for media + AI.
• Voice Terminal – always-on offline voice interface for desk or wall.
• Security Hub – local CV and sensor fusion for sites that can’t rely on cloud.

Customers who want early access can join a small insiders list (newsletter / contact form).

7. Why tiers?

1. Clarity – choose by mission (edge AI, lab, industrial, learning), not by buzzword.
2. Craft – same QC philosophy; labels describe source and intent, not “good vs bad”.
3. Continuity – clear upgrade paths and shared tooling across the ecosystem.

8. Quick compare

9. Standards we hold

• 72-hour burn-in for compute units (where thermals and clocks are logged).
• Field diagnostics for controllers (serial logs, MQTT events, safe-mode recovery).
• Quiet by design for creator builds (noise under real-world workloads, not empty idle).
• Repairability first – off-the-shelf parts when possible, clear docs when not.
• Transparency – every unit ships with a concise QC summary card.

10. FAQ (short)

Q: Does label = quality rank?
A: No. Quality and QC are constant. Labels describe where parts come from and who the machine is built for.

Q: Do you take custom industrial projects?
A: Yes—controllers, sensors, dashboards, and integration. Start via the Contact page with a short outline of your process.

Q: Can I upgrade from Bronze into Silver/Black later?
A: Yes. We design around re-use and clear upgrade paths so your first machine isn’t a dead end.