Innovation at the Edge: How the new SDM MPi5 Kit makes AI more practical for Digital Signage

At ISE 2026, well recognised as the AV industry barometer, it was clear that displays are becoming more intelligent. But for many organisations, the challenge is not simply adding more technology, it’s making systems easier to deploy, easier to upgrade, and ready for future applications without increasing complexity.

That’s exactly where the new SDM MPi5 Kit, developed by Sharp in collaboration with Raspberry Pi Ltd, comes in. It isn't simply an incremental update of the existing MPi5 Kit, it’s a shift in how we think about integrated computing. Powered by Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, the SDM MPi5 Kit combines modular computing, AI readiness and professional display integration into a compact solution designed for demanding digital signage and AV environments.

The strong interest shown at ISE 2026 highlighted growing demand for more flexible, AI-ready display solutions, and we are thrilled to move into the next phase of this journey.

What is the SDM MPi5 Kit?

The SDM MPi5 Kit is a compact computing module that slots directly into compatible Sharp large format displays using the Intel® Smart Display Module (SDM) standard. It turns the display into an intelligent, all-in-one digital signage platform without the need for an external media player, additional power supply or extra cabling.

This modular approach brings several practical benefits, especially for IT and AV teams managing large estates across retail, transport, education or corporate environments:

• Faster deployment and servicing
• Reduced points of failure
• Neater installations with fewer cables and devices
• Easier to upgrade and reconfigure as needs change
• Lower overall energy consumption

ISE feedback highlighted three key features of the new SDM device that resonated most strongly with partners building real-world signage and AV systems:

• M.2 Expansion Slot: Flexibility is at the core of this design. The M.2 slot supports either high-speed storage for massive local media libraries (useful for larger media libraries or offline playback) or the Hailo-8^TM AI accelerator.
• Integrated HDMI-Out: For the first time, users can drive a second independent video stream directly from the SDM module, enabling dual-screen setups or daisy-chaining without requiring additional external hardware.
• Real-Time Clock (RTC): A practical, but important, addition for mission-critical signage, the RTC helps keep scheduled content and system logs accurate even during power fluctuations or when devices temporarily run offline.

Bringing intelligence directly into the display

Digital signage is evolving beyond simple content playback. Increasingly, organisations are looking at ways displays can respond more intelligently to their environments, from audience analytics and touchless interaction through to operational monitoring and intelligent wayfinding.

One of the technologies helping enable this shift is Edge AI, where AI processing happens locally on the device itself rather than sending everything to the cloud.

With cloud AI, information such as video feeds or sensor data is sent over the internet to a remote data centre for processing before results are sent back.

With Edge AI, the analysis happens directly inside the display or device itself. That difference brings several important advantages:

• Faster response times (low latency)
• Reduced internet dependency
• Improved reliability
• Better privacy protection
• Lower bandwidth usage

For example, if a retail display is using a camera to anonymously measure audience engagement, Edge AI can process that information locally without transmitting video streams externally. This approach is particularly valuable in environments where speed, reliability and privacy matter.

The SDM MPi5 Kit has been designed with this in mind. By slotting a Hailo AI accelerator module into the M.2 port, the SDM MPi5 Kit can support advanced edge analytics applications. This modular expansion allows AI capabilities to be added over time without replacing existing hardware.

Real-world AI use cases

The flexibility of the SDM MPi5 Kit opens the door to a wide range of practical AI-driven applications.

These are the kinds of applications where low latency, the small delay between action and response, becomes important. Edge AI helps minimise that delay.

Designed for professional environments

The SDM MPi5 Kit powered by Raspberry Pi has been developed specifically for professional AV environments and integrates with Sharp large format display ranges including the MultiSync® M2 and P6 series. Our 24/7 commercial-grade displays are designed for long product lifecycles and reliability in demanding environments.

By combining our MultiSync® display heritage with Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 technology, our customers benefit from a platform that balances flexibility, efficiency and long-term reliability.

Intelligent signage that’s easy to deploy

One of the most important aspects of the SDM MPi5 Kit is that it lowers the barrier to adopting intelligent display technologies. Organisations do not need to completely redesign their infrastructure to begin exploring AI-enabled applications. Instead, they can:

• Start with standard signage deployments
• Expand storage when needed
• Add AI acceleration later
• Upgrade compute performance over time

This modular approach makes experimentation and innovation far more accessible. As AI continues evolving from the cloud to the edge, solutions like the SDM MPi5 Kit represent a practical step toward smarter, more adaptable digital environments, without adding unnecessary complexity.

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