Edge computing enables devices to function reliably even when network connectivity is unreliable, making it a crucial technology for critical applications that require high reliability and low latency. Various hardware options are available to power edge computing projects, including Nvidia Jetson chips designed for AI tasks on the edge, Particle devices with cellular connectivity, Google Coral chips powered by custom TPUs for machine learning workloads, Raspberry Pi boards known for their usability and community support, Orange Pi devices offering better performance at a lower price point, Odroid single-board computers with expandable RAM, and Intel NUC mini-PCs that consume relatively little power. Each of these options has its tradeoffs, and the choice depends on the specific project requirements, cost optimization, convenience, and development speed considerations.