TL;DR: Technically yes, but it won't be implemented in near future
Long version:
Such things are handled by AR100 coprocessor, which is unused for now. There is firmware in work for this coprocessor, called "crust" (currently only for 64-bit SoCs IIRC). I'm not sure how far it is and how much it will interfere with normal Linux drivers. I'm not fan of leaving control of peripherals to some firmware if it is not necessary. Actually, I'm not fan of firmwares at all (open source or otherwise), but I have to live with ATF and potentially with AR100 FW, if someone provide simple, unintrusive FW.
Thanks @jernej
I learn something new from you every day 
Did a little search for this coprocessor and for what is used.
Obviously I'll have to live without these extras.
jernej is this also true for the A64 with an AXP PMIC, and by extension of that also A10/20/33 etc.
I'm not sure when AW started adding low power coprocessors. I think early SoCs don't have it, but A64 has it.
Some wake up options must be done using coprocessor, but simple ones, like power button press might be easily done already by marking it's interrupt as a wake up source in DT. If IR interrupt would be marked as a wake up source, board would be woken up even when a light in the room is turned on.
I was under the impression that the AXPs have an or1k inside but not sure where then the FW would be...
TL;DR: Technically yes, but it won't be implemented in near future
Long version:
Such things are handled by AR100 coprocessor, which is unused for now. There is firmware in work for this coprocessor, called "crust" (currently only for 64-bit SoCs IIRC). I'm not sure how far it is and how much it will interfere with normal Linux drivers. I'm not fan of leaving control of peripherals to some firmware if it is not necessary. Actually, I'm not fan of firmwares at all (open source or otherwise), but I have to live with ATF and potentially with AR100 FW, if someone provide simple, unintrusive FW.
Well, I agree with you. But, I'm also interested in turning on the orange PI 3 using IR.
Actually, I'm trying to learn this. And check if it's even possible modify the current Orange PI 3 build with patches to activate this. Found some related post from you, jernej in internet (How to: setup wakeup with your IR remote control - Openelec - OrangePi - Powered by Discuz!), something you recommend to read or to start trying to activate this?
I'm not asking "to implement this", just begin curious.
Gatuno unfortunately method described there is totally incompatible with mainline kernel. That's why there is work being done on crust firmware, which should be compatible with mainline and more importantly, being open source. I suggest you start here: GitHub - crust-firmware/crust: SCP firmware for sunxi SoCs
It's possible to patch LE build system to do anything, question is only if it is worth it or it will collide with something else.
I got the whole view. First, we would need to patch u-boot and atf. Second, generate the crust firmware and include it as binary blob. Third, send commands to the arisc-crust firmware???
And jernej, you are right, I didn't even found anything about IR in the crust firmware source code. Seems like everything needs time. Thanks for your reply.
Sorry for bumping up such an old thread.
I remember that about 5 years ago, waking up by IR remote control worked on Orange Pi PC running OpenELEC.
jernej, is it possible to achieve this nowadays with LibreELEC?
