Sundance VCS³ – Vision, Control and Sensors for Precision Robotics
Probably the smallest Single-Board Computer based on an AMD Zynq MPSoC.
The VCS³ is a small Single-Board-Computer with an AMD ZYNQ™ device with integrated ARM CPUs and FPGA fabric. Measuring just 30mm x 50mm, this tiny workhorse can be placed almost anywhere, opening up the benefits of FPGAs to many more applications.
The VCS³ utilises an AMD UltraScale+ MPSoC coupled with high-speed LP-DDR4 memory to produce a highly compact evaluation platform. Together with four digital camera interfaces, a 9-axis IMU, and a CAN-Bus interface, this platform is ideally suited for autonomous machines, cameras or automation.
Device booting can be from SPI ROMs or eMMC flash, with no bulky, fiddly or unreliable SD cards.
Numerous onboard power rails are generated from a single external 5V supply, or via a USB3 Type-C interface.
Several LEDs indicate board functionality, and numerous test points allow access to the various interfaces.
Applications:
The VCS³ gives engineers a flexible foundation for developing embedded systems where size, processing and integration matter.
From robotics and machine vision to FPGA development and research, VCS³ supports a wide range of applications in which programmable processing and compact hardware can help bring innovative ideas to life.
Robotics and autonomous systems engineers
Develop compact robotic and autonomous systems that integrate sensing, control and processing within space-constrained designs. VCS³ provides a platform for exploring embedded intelligence in robotics, automation and autonomous devices.
Give your next machine a smaller computing footprint.
Machine vision and imaging developers
Build embedded vision systems using the platform’s digital camera interfaces and programmable FPGA fabric. VCS³ offers a compact foundation for developing camera-based applications, image-processing pipelines and vision-enabled devices.
Build your next vision system on a compact ARM + FPGA platform.
FPGA and embedded developers
Explore the combination of ARM processing and FPGA logic in a compact embedded computing platform. VCS³ provides engineers with a foundation for prototyping, hardware evaluation and developing application-specific processing architectures using AMD Zynq technology.
Explore the possibilities of AMD Zynq technology in a 30 × 50 mm board.
Research labs, universities and R&D teams
Support research projects, university laboratories and product development teams with a compact platform for experimentation and proof-of-concept development. VCS³ enables engineers and researchers to investigate embedded computing architectures and evaluate potential solutions before moving towards product integration.
Move from engineering concept to hardware evaluation with the VCS³ development ecosystem.
VCS³ 3D PDF File
(Right-click, save the file, then open in Adobe Reader)
Labelled images
Video Presentation with AMD
On June 18, 2026, we took part in an AMD webinar titled “Designing with Super-fine-pitch (0.5 mm) AMD Embedded Devices”. The full webinar can be viewed here, but you can watch the section with our Managing Director, Flemming Christensen, below. Flemming covers many aspects of the design of the VCS³ and the challenges we faced with such a small device using 0.5mm pitch packaging.
Variations of the VCS³
VCS³ Core
The VCS³ is a small Single-Board-Computer with an AMD ZYNQ™ device with integrated ARM CPUs and FPGA fabric. Measuring just 30mm x 50mm, this tiny workhorse can be placed almost anywhere, opening up the benefits of FPGAs to many more applications.
The VCS³ utilises an AMD UltraScale+ MPSoC coupled with high-speed LP-DDR4 memory to produce a highly compact evaluation platform. Together with four digital camera interfaces, a 9-axis IMU, and a CAN-Bus interface, this platform is ideally suited for autonomous machines, cameras or automation.
VCS³ Stack
The VCS³ Stack integrates all the components of a SoC-powered SBC into a single, lightweight, compact footprint.
From top to bottom, the stack includes: VCS³ Module, 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub,VCS3-RP2040 Card (50×30 mm)
VCS³ 3D Kit
The VCS³ 3D Kit is a self-contained hardware platform that houses the Sundance VCS³ Core, two cameras, a screen, and the VCS³ RP2040. It demonstrates the VCS³ Core’s compact size and performance in video processing applications.
The VCS³ Core is a small single-board computer with an AMD© ZYNQ™ device with integrated ARM CPUs and FPGA fabric. Measuring just 30mm x 50mm, this tiny workhorse can be placed almost anywhere, opening up the benefits of FPGAs to many more applications.
VCS³ Dev Kit
VCS³ development kit containing VCS³, Lynsyn-Lite, bench stand, PSU, and all cables.
VCS³ Whisper
VCS³ with a 3D-printed enclosure/protective cover with an integrated fan.
VCS³ Stealth
VCS³ with a metal enclosure.
Use cases and demos
Andrew Wilson (FPGA Zealot) has fun with the VCS³ 3D Kit
Software engineer Andrew Wilson has been busy demonstrating the VCS³ 3D Kit. So far, he has given four live demonstrations exploring the capabilities of the kit. With the next stream scheduled for Tuesday, 7th July 2026, stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming demonstrations.
VCS³ Stack – just 70g!
In embedded computing, performance often comes at the cost of size and weight. Engineers designing autonomous robots, drones, portable vision systems, and edge AI platforms are frequently forced to choose between computing power and physical constraints.
The Sundance VCS³ Stack challenges that assumption.
Motion-controlled Snake game!
What happens when you give an FPGA development platform to an engineering intern for the summer? In our case, you get a motion-controlled version of one of the most recognisable arcade games around.
Vitis AI-ML on the VCS³ 3D Kit with Prophesee Event Camera
A LogicTronix tutorial enabling Vitis AI/DPU on the VCS³ 3D Kit, along with the Prophesee IMX636 event-based vision camera.
Our partner LogicTronix, an FPGA Design and Machine Learning Company, has been busy working with the VCS³ 3D Kit. Read on to see how they’ve demonstrated object detection and tracking using the kit.
Andrew Wilson’s FPGA game streaming
Andrew Wilson wanted to try out AMD’s Embedded Development Framework (EDF) Linux on an MPSoC FPGA, so he turned it into a little Moonlight game-streaming setup. 😁
USB 3 Ethernet handles the network, Moonlight runs on the DSI display, and a live CSI camera feed is composited directly in the FPGA fabric.
It’s a fun mix of Embedded Linux, video, networking, and FPGA hardware acceleration all in one tiny platform.