DFM Checklist for AI Hardware

Is there a thermal simulation or estimate for your SoC under peak AI inference load?

Is there adequate PCB copper pour for heat dissipation under the SoC?

Have you verified the enclosure material can handle the operating temperature?

Is the battery positioned away from heat-generating components?

Is there a ground clearance zone around all antennas (WiFi, BLE, cellular, GPS)?

Is the antenna placement compatible with typical user grip/wear positions?

Have you accounted for antenna detuning from the enclosure material?

If using cellular (4G/5G), is there sufficient antenna volume for the required bands?

Have you profiled the power consumption across all operating modes (sleep, active, AI inference)?

Is your USB-C charging circuit designed to handle the battery safely?

Are voltage rails sequenced correctly for the SoC and peripherals?

Have you added a fuel gauge or voltage-based battery level indicator?

Do all plastic walls meet minimum thickness for injection molding (≥1.0mm)?

Are there draft angles (≥1°) on all vertical surfaces for mold release?

Is the snap-fit or screw boss design validated for repeated assembly/disassembly?

Is there adequate space for FCC/CE/UL markings on the enclosure?

Have you specified IP rating requirements and designed sealing accordingly?

Are high-speed signals (USB, MIPI, DDR) properly impedance-matched?

Are decoupling capacitors placed within 2mm of each power pin?

Is the microphone placement optimized for acoustic performance?

Are test points accessible for production testing (ICT/flying probe)?

Is the PCB panelized efficiently for SMT production?

Is there a reliable firmware update mechanism (OTA or USB)?

Have you implemented factory calibration and provisioning in the production flow?

Is your AI model optimized for the target SoC (quantized, pruned)?

Have you identified all required certifications for your target markets?

Does your design meet EMI limits without requiring a shield can?

Is your battery compliant with UN38.3 transportation testing?

Have you considered data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) for your AI device?