The Firefly CT36L/CT36B AI Smart Camera is an industrial-grade edge AI vision device powered by the Rockchip RV1106G2 processor. With a built-in 0.5 TOPS NPU, 3-megapixel sensor, and PoE support, it’s designed for smart surveillance, facial recognition, object detection, and edge AI applications.
RV1106G2 Chip: Edge AI at the Iron Price
At the heart of the CT36L lies the Rockchip RV1106G2, an ARM Cortex-A7 based vision processor running at 1.2GHz with an integrated 0.5 TOPS NPU. This isn’t a flagship AI chip — it’s a purpose-built solution for cost-effective edge inference.
Key processor specs:
- CPU: ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2GHz with Neon and FPU
- NPU: 0.5 TOPS, supports INT4/INT8/INT16 mixed operations
- Framework support: TensorFlow, MXNet, PyTorch, Caffe, ONNX
- VPU: 5M ISP @ 30fps, H.265/H.264 encoding
- RAM: 128MB DDR3 (built-in)
- Storage: 16MB SPI Flash
For makers and integrators, the 0.5 TOPS NPU is sufficient for running lightweight models like MobileNet-SSD, YOLO-tiny, or face detection — exactly what you’d want for a smart doorbell, parking sensor, or retail analytics device.
3-Megapixel Camera with Professional ISP
The CT36L features a 3-megapixel CMOS sensor (SC3336, 1/2.8″) paired with a 5-megapixel ISP capable of advanced image processing:
- Resolution: 2304×1296 @ 30fps
- Lens: 3.95mm focal length, F2.0 aperture
- FOV: 98.3° wide-angle
- HDR + WDR: High dynamic range for challenging lighting
- Low-light performance: Multi-level noise reduction for clear night vision
The combination of wide FOV and HDR makes this camera suitable for outdoor surveillance where both coverage and dynamic range matter.
Industrial Design: IP67 Weatherproof
Unlike generic ESP32-camera modules, the CT36L is built for real-world deployment:
- IP67 rated: Dust-tight and waterproof
- Operating temperature: -20°C to 50°C
- Humidity: 15%~90% RH (non-condensing)
- Dimensions: 174mm × 57mm × 63mm
- Power: DC12V or PoE
This is a camera that can be installed outdoors — on building exteriors, parking lots, or industrial facilities — without additional housing.
100M Ethernet with PoE: One Cable Does It All
The CT36L supports PoE (Power over Ethernet) through its 100M Ethernet port. A single Ethernet cable carries both power and data, dramatically simplifying installation. No power adapter needed at the camera site.
This is a key differentiator for permanent installations — run one cable, get power + network + video stream.
Linux OS: Full Software Freedom
Unlike many “AI cameras” that lock you into cloud APIs or proprietary apps, the CT36L runs Linux with full SDK access:
- Build your own firmware with Buildroot or Buildroot SDK
- Deploy custom AI models via RKNN Toolkit
- Integrate with MQTT, RTSP, ONVIF — standard protocols
- SSH access for remote management
Firefly provides complete documentation, SDK downloads, and a wiki with tutorials for:
- Serial debug
- Firmware upgrade (USB, SD card, MaskROM mode)
- Linux kernel compilation
- NPU model deployment
- UART usage
Use Cases
What can you build with the CT36L?
Smart Surveillance
Local AI detection without cloud dependency. Detect people, vehicles, or custom objects entirely on-device.
Face Recognition Terminal
Build a face recognition door lock or attendance system. The NPU handles face detection/embedding locally.
Retail Analytics
Count customers, track dwell time, detect queue lengths — all processed at the edge.
Parking Sensor
Detect available parking spots, license plates, or vehicle types in real-time.
Industrial Quality Inspection
Run lightweight defect detection models for product quality control on the factory floor.
CT36L vs CT36B: What’s the Difference?
The Firefly store lists both CT36L and CT36B — they appear to be the same hardware with different naming conventions. Both use the RV1106G2 and share the same specifications.
Key Specifications Summary
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Rockchip RV1106G2, Cortex-A7 @ 1.2GHz |
| NPU | 0.5 TOPS (INT4/INT8/INT16) |
| Image Sensor | SC3336, 3MP (2304×1296) |
| Lens | 3.95mm, F2.0, 98.3° FOV |
| Video | H.265/H.264 @ 30fps |
| RAM | 128MB DDR3 |
| Storage | 16MB SPI Flash |
| Network | 100M Ethernet + PoE |
| OS | Linux |
| Rating | IP67 waterproof |
| Temp Range | -20°C to 50°C |
Resources
- Product Page: firefly.store
- Wiki Manual: wiki.t-firefly.com
- Datasheet (PDF): CT36L/CT36B Specification
- SDK Download: Firefly Download Center
Conclusion
The Firefly CT36L/CT36B fills a gap in the edge AI market: it’s more capable than ESP32-camera modules but far more affordable than Jetson-based solutions. At a price point that allows volume deployment, it offers:
- Local AI inference without cloud dependency
- Industrial-grade hardware for outdoor use
- PoE convenience for easy installation
- Full Linux access for custom software
For makers building smart surveillance systems, for integrators deploying edge AI at scale, or for anyone who needs a capable vision module without the Jetson price tag — the CT36L deserves a look.