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UPduino v3.1 is a Compact Cost-efficient FPGA

Posted on 30 June, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

UPduino v3.1 is a compact and cost-efficient open-source FPGA board dedicated to applications that involve sensitive signal conditioning. It comprises of FTDI FPGA programmer, flash memory, a 3-color LED and FPGA pins for quick prototyping. The all-new UPduino v3.1 is an updated version of its predecessor where it improves on the shortcomings and limitations of its predecessors. The feedback from the discord community users is taken into consideration, and hence the changes to the board have been done accordingly.

The feedback from the users highlights the following:

To fix the 12MHz and Ground silkscreen bug
The users were also facing an evident burning issue in the ferrite bead while shorting the 5v to the ground. So the users recommended replacing the USB filter ferrite bead with PTC in order to eliminate the burning issue. For more details visit the blog

To mark the changes made for issues mentioned above, the company has added a sticker denoting v3.1. The upgrades are visible in the APIO board files as well as the EEPROM to show v3.1, indicating the most recent version.

Features of UPduino v3.1:

A Lattice UltraPlus ICE40UP5K edge intelligent FPGA strengths the UPduino v3.1 for low-power machine learning and AI connectivity. It features 8 multipliers, 1Mb SRAM and 120kb DRAM, making memory operations more efficient.
It has 3.3v and 1.2v regulators, 5.3k LUTs (LookUp Tables) and FTDI FT232H USB. FTDI FT232H operates at 400Mbps and is a fast single-channel bridge chip that allows for flexible serial/parallel connectivity.
UPdunio v3.1 comes with 39 GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins to perform digital input/output functions. It requires 5V/3.3V/Ground to supply project DC power (<200mA).
The oscillator running at 12MHz generates a clock by itself when the UPduino powers up. An optional jumper routes the generating clock to the FTDI, an external pin, and a global buffer on the FPGA board.
The board’s PMOD (Peripheral Module Interface) compatibility makes it an ideal technique for enhancing its capabilities.
Furthermore, it consists of 4MB QSPI (Quad Serial Peripheral Interface) Flash memory essentially providing 8x the bandwidth on the SPI bus. In reality, this bandwidth boost will only occur for burst read/writes. It also includes an RGB LED indicating the operation of the board.

After detecting the connectors ripping off from the board when interfacing, the quality of the USB footprint has grown. Speaking of the USB, please note that the package does not include a USB cable, in order to optimize worldwide shipping. The dimensions of 2.2 cm x 6.2cm x 0.5cm make it a compact and efficient FPGA board. UPduino v3.1 also offers an Open source schematic and layout using KiCAD to make programming easier. The package includes UPduino v3.1 and two 24-pin 0.1″ headers, the user can solder them as per the convenience. The Company tests and programs the UPduino v3.1 with a blinking LED image, before shipping it. The only motive of this test is to keep a track of quality control and ensure the working of the product.

With UPduino v3.1 you can introduce yourself to programming FPGAs since its low cost and the assistance provided by the open-source toolchain. This open-source toolchain is made publicly available enabling the users to experiment and learn about hardware programming. This UPduino v3.1 is available for sale at $25, making it a true cost-efficient FPGA. For more details on the new UPduino v3.1, visit tinyVision.ai

Enhanced Debugging With USB-Cereal

Posted on 30 June, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

The USB-C plays an important role in introducing several innovations in the upcoming devices. Despite its high price, USB-C is popular among all consumers due to its fast charging capabilities and reversibility. The 24-pin USB-C consists of two sideband use (SBU) pins that enable serial communication while developing USB-C devices. Originally developed as open-source by Google, the extensive distribution and utilization of the USB-Cereal have successfully taken place after its release. By the courtesy of OxDA, after a complete redesign and cost optimization, this device is now available for all the developers with the same robust capabilities. The company guarantees that all high-speed traces will route on internal layers to prevent issues with emissions testing.

USB-Cereal is absolutely an open-source development tool that enhances the debugging, manufacturing, as well as testing of USB-C devices. This powerful and one-of-a-kind hardware takes use of USB-C’s expanded capabilities to improve debugging, factory log capture, and simplify the complexity of command-line interfaces and firmware upgrades. USB-Cereal permits UART serial communication with the host device using the SBU pins which are dedicated for device-specific applications making it a beneficial device. With the increasing popularity of USB across the globe, the company believes that the significant methodology employed by USB-Cereal will gain popularity and usefulness over time. The aim of USB-Cereal is to decrease the debugging, developing, and testing time along with making it cost-efficient for USB-C users.

USB-Cereal Block Diagram

USB-Cereal features three USB-C connectors and a basic SPST-style slider. One of the three USB-C connectors supports the interfacing of the testing devices or target devices. The two connectors on the opposite side include a pass-through port to the target port and a debugging port. The debugging port links the SBU1 and SBU2 pins of the USB-C to FTDI’s FT232R a USB UART integrated circuit (IC). It offers a serial to USB conversion between the device under test and the host debug computer. USB-Cereal is compatible with devices that use 1v8 or 3v3 signaling. With the slider, a user can select the appropriate voltage level for the connected device.

USB-Cereal’s Features

USB-Cereal made it possible to capture the development logs with the device under test (DUT) closed up. This log development does not require any extra connectors or jumper wires.
The DUT does not require any additional USB drivers installed or booted up to communicate. Therefore it requires the least effort to capture the lowest level log.
Connecting a USB-C peripheral that supports DUT via the pass-through port enables developers to detect bugs that occur while interfacing. USB-Cereal supports signal levels of 1.8v and 3.3v up to a 3M Baud rate.
Green and orange LEDs are provided on board to indicate transmission (Tx) and reception (Rx).

USB-Cereal can do a variety of important tasks that make working with USB-C much easier. It may function as a complementary communication channel profiting the devices using USB-C terminals for power delivery. This open-source development tool is development-oriented, therefore it is not USB-C compliant.

Overall USB-Cereal is a great powerful package for performing general close-case debugging/testing/data capture on devices with USB-C. The open-source information including the details of the hardware and the design files is available on GitHub. To get useful updates and to be notified when the campaign for this powerful product launches you can simply visit crowdsupply’s website and sign up for useful information.

Wilderness Labs Project Lab reference board has several onboard sensors for prototyping

Posted on 30 June, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Wilderness Labs has launched a new hardware platform that supports various standard interface ecosystems, such as Seeed Studio Grove, Adafruit STEMMA, SparkFun Qwiic and MIKROE mikroBUS– Project Lab Board. This reference board is designed for its Meadow F7v2 Feather development board to enable faster time to market through rapid prototyping of IoT applications without having to do any breadboard circuitry and soldering. Through onboard peripherals, the Project Lab board provides flexibility to interface with hundreds and thousands of external modules and sensors. The Project Lab hardware platform is packed with tons of integrated sensors and peripherals.

The Project Lab looks like a baseboard with a lot of interfaces and onboard sensors, with some of the sensors, including BMI270 accelerometer/inertial measurement unit, BME688 temperature/pressure/humidity/air quality index sensor, and many more. The BMI270 is a state-of-the-art accelerometer that has been integrated into various embedded development boards to provide accelerometer functionality and has built-in gesture recognition. The second onboard sensor is the BME688 to offers best-in-class atmospheric data, including gas and air quality.

“You can go from zero to prototype with no more hardware integration effort than it takes to plug in peripherals. And because it’s packed with a wide array of state-of-the-art, built-in peripherals, you can build an endless number of solutions without even having to plug anything in.”

Specifications of the Project Lab board:

Module: Meadow F7v2 Feather Development Board
- MCU: STM32F7 microcontroller
- Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy
- Memory: 32MB RAM
- Storage: 64MB flash
- Peripherals: GPIO, PWM, I2C, SPI, I2S, CAN, UART
- Power supply: Integrated LiPo battery charger
Onboard sensors: BMI270 accelerometer, BME688 temperature/pressure/humidity/air quality index sensor, BH1750 light sensor
LCD screen: 1.54-inch LCD display with 240×240 pixels and directional pad buttons
Interfaces: Seeed Studio Grove, Adafruit STEMMA, SparkFun Qwiic and MIKROE mikroBUS

The Project Lab carrier board fits the upgraded Meadow F7 development board designed for .NET programmers and witnessed a wide range of upgrades from its previous version. Some of the upgrades include 2x flash storage than in v1, an upgraded antenna to give 10x better performance, and a fully SMT-compatible to allow use as both a through-pole device and surface mount device. Other upgrades include the addition of I2S sound to enable both I2C microphone input and sound output. There also comes an upgraded power component, which is a fixed battery voltage to full 3V3.

The Project Lab board is currently sold on Wilderness Labs’ e-commerce website for $250.00. If you are interested in bulk purchases, you might be eligible for 10% and 20% discount on the Project Lab reference board.

Auterion AI Node delivers supercomputer performance with NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX module

Posted on 30 June, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

The U.S.-based drone software platform, Auterion announced the release of the AI Node, an onboard computer for drones and other mobile robots. The AI Node boosts the performance of the Skynode by adding the performance of a supercomputer at the edge.

The AI Node features the smallest AI computer for edge and embedded systems, the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX bringing the performance of a supercomputer to the edge in a small form-factor SOM. The resources required for compute-heavy AI algorithms like object recognition, tracking, or counting are delivered by the AI node using the Jetson module. Furthermore, the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX offers up to 21 TOPS of accelerated computing which facilitates the delivery of the required horsepower to process data from multiple high-resolution sensors and to run modern neural networks in parallel.

As enterprises leverage more powerful cameras and sensors on drones, the huge amount of data being created will overload any current data link, including 5G,” said Markus Achtelik, vice president of engineering at Auterion. “It’s much more efficient to process raw data onboard via supercomputer so that the operator or even the software itself can engage in real-time decision-making. AI Node delivers the horsepower to run modern neural networks in parallel and distil data from multiple high-resolution sensors—which translates into faster innovation for enterprises and other organizations.”

Auterion’s AI Node is a development and prototyping platform that is embedded in an enclosed unit with extended memory, a wide input voltage range, and a variety of connections. NVIDIA libraries can be used to optimize applications and are easily deployed by using the Auterion developer tools.

The AI Node supercomputer can seamlessly be integrated with the Skynode with its easy integration with the open ecosystem of Auterion, making it a powerful solution for the end-users. AI node runs on the same software as the Skynode, the Auterion OS which facilitates providing the users with an identical user experience.

“Some of our customers have very specific requirements necessitating a considerable amount of onboard computing,” said the CEO and principal engineer at Watts Innovations, Bobby Watts. “For this, we turned to Auterion and AI Node, which allows us to run GPU intensive software onboard for applications such as vision-based precision landing, real-time mission navigation and other vision-based capabilities. Because AI Node is a part of Auterion’s tight ecosystem, the integration and implementation is as clean as could be.”

For more information on Auterion AI Node supercomputer, kindly visit their press release page. In addition, the onboard computer can now be pre-ordered from Auterion’s product page.

Avnet MaaXBoard 8ULP comes with i.MX 8ULP processor, designed for edge applications

Posted on 30 June, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

New York-based electronics distributor and manufacturer, Avnet, has launched the MaaXBoard 8ULP single-board computer to help embedded engineers in developing secure intelligent edge applications. To improve overall compatibility and performance, the hardware platform comes with a multifunctional interface and supports various communication protocols.

Avnet MaaXBoard 8ULP single-board computer is designed with NXP i.MX 8ULP processor that features two Arm Cortex-A35 processor cores and an Arm Cortex-M33 core. The application processor is tightly integrated with 3D/2D GPUs, a Cadence Tensilica Hifi 4 DSP, and Fusion DSP for low-power edge AI applications. One of the most highlighting features of the MaaXBoard 8ULP is that it comes with NXP’s EdgeLock secure enclave, which is pre-configured to simplify complex security implementation and improve time to market.

“Use of the NXP i.MX 8ULP applications processor and PCA9460 PMIC on the Avnet SOM provides a promising new option for developers implementing energy-efficient, secure edge-AI applications with advanced audio and display capabilities,” said Amanda McGregor, senior director of Product Innovation, Advance Edge Processors, NXP.

Specifications of Avnet MaaXBoard 8ULP:

SoC: NXP i.MX 8ULP processor featuring 2x Arm Cortex-A35 clocked at a frequency of 1GHzand an Arm Cortex-M33 processor core
Memory: 2GB LPDDR4 RAM and 768kB shared memory RAM (8ULP on-chip)
Storage: 32GB eMMC storage
Wireless connectivity: Optional 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5
USB ports: 2x USB 2.0 host and 1x USB 2.0 device
Display interface: MIPI DSI LCD interface
Camera interface: MIPI-CSI Camera interface
LEDs: 1x user RGB LED
Expansion: RJ45 Ethernet port, U.FL external antenna, 40-pin Pi-HAT expansion header, 16-pin Mikroe click shuttle header, 6-pin WTB header, 10-pin JTAG/SWD debugger header
Power: USB Type-C connector with 5V power input
Operating temperature: 0°C to 70°C
Dimensions: 85×56 mm

The hardware platform is manufactured as two PCBs– a system-on-module as shown in the figure above is connected to a baseboard through 2x 100-pin connectors to support a rich set of input/output interfaces. Some of these interfaces include a Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 host interfaces, a Raspberry Pi HAT compatibility through 40-pin header, and a Mikroe Click 16-pin header.

“Utilizing the small form factor of the MaaXBoard 8ULP ensures that the most complex aspects of the hardware implementation are already pre-engineered in the SOM—significantly reducing the engineering risk and providing a path from development to integration into custom products,” said Jim Beneke, vice president of Products & Emerging Technologies, Avnet. “It also reduces supply chain risks, since the compact SOM replaces dozens of components, many of which have long lead times.”

For more information on the Avnet MaaXBoard 8ULP single-board computer, head to the official product page for more information.

e-con Systems™ Launches Multi-camera Solution for NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Based on Sony STARVIS IMX485

Posted on 29 June, 202229 June, 2022 by mixos

e-con Systems™, a leading embedded OEM camera company, and an NVIDIA Elite Partner, today launched the e-CAM82_CUOAGX – a 4K ultra-low-light camera powered by the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin™ system-on-a-module and based on the Sony STARVIS IMX485 sensor. The product will be officially launched at Embedded World 2022, to be held at the Exhibition Centre in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 21^st to 23^rd.

This large sensor camera (1/1.2”) can be readily integrated with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin and is designed to address the rising processing needs of AI-based embedded vision applications such as autonomous mobile robots and agricultural vehicles. This large sensor size will also enable

e-CAM82_CUOAGX to capture high-resolution images with more detail and clarity.

In addition, this low-light camera houses the Sony STARVIS IMX485 sensor with a large pixel size of 2.9µm (H) x 2.9µm (V), which is double the size of most 4K sensors available in the market today. This, in turn, will ensure high sensitivity even in absolute darkness.

e-CAM82_CUOAGX is a multi-camera solution that can connect up to 6 cameras to have an extended field of view for building 360-degree surround-view systems. Further, e-con Systems will support any customization required on NVIDIA Isaac ROS to reduce the camera integration efforts for robotic vision systems.

“NVIDIA Jetson platforms are powerful AI computers for energy-efficient autonomous machines. Being an elite camera ecosystem partner of NVIDIA, e-con Systems designs and manufactures numerous Jetson-based vision solutions to help machines see the world with high-quality cameras. e-CAM82_CUOAGX is a Sony STARVIS IMX485-based ultra-low light 4K camera solution specially designed for NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. This large sensor camera and the AGX Orin development kit are the ideal combo for edge AI-enabled systems like autonomous machines and Intelligent Transport Systems.”, said Gomathi Sankar, Senior Product Manager at e-con Systems™

“NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin complements e-con’s multi-camera solutions to deliver high-quality, 4K vision-based applications for autonomous machines,” said Durga Peddireddy, Jetson partner ecosystem and camera solutions lead at NVIDIA. “This multi-camera offering also supports the widely adopted GMSL interface that extends connectivity for areas such as industrial robotics.”

e-CAM82_CUOAGX in combination with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin (the latest system-on-a- module from NVIDIA that offers 8x the performance of its previous generation) is set to revolutionize edge-based AI analytics applications, offering a maximum performance of 275 TOPS. It is a high-resolution camera that is capable of streaming Full HD @ 90fps and 4K UHD @ 72fps.

Key features and benefits of e-CAM82_CUOAGX

Ultra-low-light camera: Housing the Sony STARVIS IMX485 camera and having a sensor with a large optical format and pixel size, e-CAM82_CUOAGX is ideal for low-light applications.
Readily integrated with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin: Makes the camera suitable for applications that need heavy processing.
4K resolution: Enables e-CAM82_CUOAGX to capture more details and a large field of view.
Large sensor and pixel size: Helps to collect more details of the scene with superior clarity even in absolute darkness.

These key features make e-CAM82_CUOAGX suitable for applications such as:

Autonomous mobile robots like service robots, warehouse robots, delivery robots, etc.
Autonomous tractors and other agricultural vehicles
People detection and crowd analytics systems
Telehealth devices

Have a look at the introduction video of e-CAM82_CUOAGX to learn more about the features and applications of the camera.

To help the developers of camera-based embedded devices that use Jetson AGX Orin, e-con Systems is extending the support for all its camera modules to this future-ready processor. This means all of e-con’s camera solutions – spanning global shutter, IP67 rated cameras, 2MP to 18MP resolution, GMSL2 cameras, multi-camera solutions, 3D time of flight and stereo cameras, etc. – can now be readily evaluated with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin.

Availability of e-CAM82_CUOAGX

Customers interested in evaluating e-CAM82_CUOAGX – the Sony STARVIS IMX485-based 4K ultra-low-light camera – can purchase the product from e-con Systems’ online store. You can also learn more about e-CAM82_CUOAGX by visiting the product page.

For other cameras supporting the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, please visit the Jetson Orin camera hub page.

Customization and integration support

With a proper understanding of customers’ pain points, e-con Systems also offers customization services that reduce efforts on prototyping, product integration, and product deployment. Please write to camerasolutions@e-consystems.com for any customization or integration support.

Innergie, a Delta Electronics Brand, Launches C6 Adapter with GaN Technology

Posted on 29 June, 2022 by mixos

Innergie, a consumer power brand of Delta that won several international certifications and awards, today announced the launch of the C6 60 W USB-C adapter for Innergie’s flagship “One For All” Series. The latest C6 adapter takes advantage of Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology and boosts charging efficiency for consumers by up to 91.5%.

The new C6 adopts GaN instead of traditional Si-MOSFET components to optimize its electrical circuitry and to enhance power efficiency. Equipped with high-power delivery, the C6 automatically detects the output voltage for any device and provides fast charging for a wide range of 3C products. The C6 lowers operating temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit at 60 W full load charging—compared to Innergie’s previous 60C Pro generation of adapters.

Since working from home (WFH) is the “new normal,” seamless integration across multiple devices is a critical factor in determining energy efficiency during WFH. Innergie’s “One For All Series” adopts USB-C—the dominant connector primarily used by most smart devices—to support a power range spanning 30 W to 63 W. The series features PD 3.0 fast charging and output power customization for different devices by utilizing dynamic power allocation technology. Now users can charge laptops, mobile phones, tablets, earphones, game consoles and other devices. Innergie will continue to deploy GaN technology for new products in the “One For All Series” line—bringing efficiency, simplicity and convenience to our daily lives.

For more information about the Innergie C6: https://bit.ly/innergiec6gan

Available on Amazon for $47.99: https://amzn.to/3JYSi3e

LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver: Is it meant for you?

Posted on 28 June, 202228 June, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Laser engraving technology has been widely used by designers, makers, and hobbyists to engrave solid marks on different types of materials that are exposed to the engraver machine. Laser engraving machines are designed for cutting, etching, marking, and engraving hard materials while automating the process through the use of computer software. LONGER is regarded as a leading laser engraver manufacturer and has now launched a new LONGER RAY5 laser engraver with a 3.5-inch built-in touch screen and 32-bit motherboards for seamless operation.

Before purchasing any laser engraver, it is very important to know what kind of materials the LONGER RAY5 laser engraver machine can be used. Some of the engraving materials include wood, paper, plastic, leather, PCB board, aluminum oxide, non-reflective plating, and lacquered metal, among many others. The cutting materials include cardboard, non-woven fabric, light wood, acrylic material, and thin plastic board. The manufacturer has also provided a list of dangerous materials on which the LONGER RAY5 laser engraver should not be used– PVC, Lexan, ABS, HDPE, Polystyrene foam, fiberglass, Polypropylene, coated carbon fiber, etc.

At the heart of the LONGER RAY5 laser engraver is a 32-bit Espressif microcontroller that can be clocked up to a frequency of 240MHz. We presume that the embedded ESP32 microcontroller is based on the Xtensa 32-bit LX7 single-core processor that includes 320kB of onboard static SRAM and 128kB of flash storage. Some of the software that can be used to operate the LONGER RAY5 laser engraver is LabserGRBL and LightBurn software for Windows operating systems. If you are planning to use Mac or Linux operating system, then you can consider using the LightBurn software.

Specifications of LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver

CPU: ESP32 microcontroller
Display: 3.5-inch built-in touch screen
Working area: 400×400 mm2
Engraving speed:
- Minimum: 40 mm/minute
- Maximum: 10,000 mm/minute
Power supply: 110-240V with 50-60Hz
Power adapter output: 12V/5A
Power consumption: 60W
Interfaces: USB and TF card
Software support:
- Windows: LaserGRBL And LightBurn Software
- Mac/Linux: LightBurn Software
Carving materials: Wood, paper, plastic, leather, PCB board, aluminium oxide, non-reflective plating, and lacquered metal
Cutting materials: Cardboard, non-woven fabric, light wood, acrylic material, plastic board
Input format: BMP, JPG, PNG, DXF, AI, SVG, etc.
Operating temperature: -20℃ to 50℃

Key features of LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver

The LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver is equipped with a 3.5-inch color touch screen display for offline engraving and cutting. The existing technology is dependent on the computer, and if the computer is down during the engraving process, it may cause the engraving machine to stop. But with LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver, the offline operation of the machine can be taken care of using the touch screen which is connected through the SD card and the onboard microcontroller.
Cost-saving is another key feature of the LONGER RAY5 Laser Engrave, as multiple batches of the same pattern can be processed using two or more of this laser engraver machine, rather than buying multiple computers and equipment.
Easy-to-use and user-friendly is the selling point for the LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver. Several types of equipment in the market require knowledge and field expertise to operate the machine, but this LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver has a simple and unified user interface with simple operation processes.
The powerful onboard microcontroller comes from Espressif ESP32 manufacturer that operates at a speed of 240MHz and is faster than that of an 8-bit microcontroller, and command transmission speed is faster too. The offline operation can only be supported if an SD card is inserted, which is supported by a powerful ESP32 microcontroller.
Five safety protections, including thermal protection, move protection, motionless protection, emergency stop button, and eye protection.

Specifications of Laser Technology:

Laser technology: Diode laser
Spot size: 0.08×0.08 mm2
Laser wavelength: 450-460 nm
Power supply: 12V/3A
Laser class: FDA Class IV, or Class 4 IEC Standard
Focus type: Fixed focus– 30 mm focal range

Package content

LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver
Weight: 4.75 kgs
Machine size assembled: 61x67x20 cm
Package size: 59x31x15 cm

Conclusion

Overall, the LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver looks like a decent product to buy, but you should be aware of the carving and cutting materials, as they should align with your requirements. If you are looking to engrave a metal piece, this product might not be the best one for you. However, as most applications are based on wood, paper, plastic, and leather, the LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver should be an ideal choice for you.

Interested people can purchase the product from the official product page which is priced at $309. However, since we are happy to provide you with a couple to receive a flat $30 off, use coupon code RAY5$30 on the checkout page.

LONGER RAY 10W

The company will soon launch the LONGER RAY 10W version of their engraver that supports a more powerful laser module able to engrave on even more materials. The release is scheduled for the end of July 2022.

CrowPi L is a Cost-effective Way of Learning Programming

Posted on 27 June, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

After CrowPi and CrowPi 2, Elecrow has come up with the Lite version of CrowPi 2. This Raspberry Pi computer can be a great start for a newbie to enter the field of embedded development. CrowPi L is the third and most refined edition of the CrowPi family, it was introduced after resolving a few restrictions identified by the users and Raspberry Pi enthusiasts. Some of the issues faced by the users included difficulty in installing the Raspberry Pi, switching systems, cooling and connecting an external display. With this new CrowPi L, the company assures to bring new experiences to the users.

Following the tradition of the CrowPi family, this new design aims to provide a very affordable program learning experience. CrowPi L is available in 4GB and 8GB variants. The laptop will offer a customized operating system which will mainly focus on education software, but the company also provides a long list of supported well-known operating systems, including Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Windows IoT, ArchLinux, RISC OS etc. The main vision of the company is that any OS working on RaspberryPi 4 should be compatible with the laptop. There are 96 courses in the learning kit which makes it a true programming kit for beginners.

Technical Specifications of CrowPi L

Equipped with an 11.6-inch IPS screen, the CrowPi L provides a resolution of 1366 x 768. The built-in 5000 mAh rechargeable battery is projected to last 3 hours, making it more like a laptop.
CrowPi also offers an in-built webcam, speakers, and a headphone jack for a good telecommunication experience. Also, a standard keyboard with a touchpad makes the interfacing experience better.
Raspberry Pi installation is considerably easy and quick with its magnetically hooked design. Unlike its predecessors, which were compatible with the Raspberry Pi 3B+, 3B or 4, the latest CrowPi L operates only with the Raspberry Pi 4B.
This device has Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 to give excellent networking connectivity, and all of the other capabilities of the RaspberryPi 4 board.
Multitasking is feasible with a two-monitor configuration, which increases productivity. The external display can be connected via an HDMI port which may increase your viewing area. It may also help the user to browse the web, display additional information, or mirror your laptop screen. It also has a 40-pin GPIO interface for making innovative projects. For more detailed specifications, read the user manual.

Learning Made Easier With CrowPi L

For Hardware:- CrowPi supports hardware projects too. It provides a Crowtail kit which is only available with the advanced kit and also a 40-pin GPIO extension shield. The Crowtail Starter Kit comes with 22 modules, including RGB LEDs, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, and more. The jumper wires included in the kit make it simple to develop a project without the hassle of soldering.

For Programming:- CrowPi L offers courses for beginners interested in learning programming as well as for RaspberryPi enthusiasts. RaspberryPi comprises 96 programming courses which include 40 Letscode lessons and 56 Python Lessons. Letscode, a self-developed programming software, supports a variety of programming languages and platforms, including visual programming on the Raspberry Pi. On the other hand, you can also learn basic to advanced level Python with CrowPi L. A beginner may learn the foundations of programming by following these courses. They allow users to master the underlying logic of programming and enhance logical thinking to the advanced level of Python grammar, complete hardware projects using code, consolidate and develop programming skills, and foster systematic design thinking.

CrowPi L is a cost-effective way of learning programming with new facilities. It comes with a Basic Kit and an Advanced Kit, the figure above shows the differentiation between both these kits. One can buy this robust device starting at an affordable price from CrowPi’s official website.

SparkFun Thing Plus Dual-Port Logging Shield provides access to microSD via SPI and USB Type-C

Posted on 27 June, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Colorado-based embedded electronic device manufacturer, SparkFun, has announced the commercial availability of the Thing Plus Dual-Port Logging Shield. Due to its Thing Plus form factor, the device is easily compatible with the existing modules and sensors available on the market. At present, there are several data logging embedded devices, like the OpenLog Artemis and Qwiic OpenLog that require the microSD card to be popped out and plugged into a computer in order to read the logged data. But this can become a problem when the developer is building an embedded systems application and cannot eject the microSD card. SparkFun provides the solution through its new Dual-Port Logging Shield, which solves this problem by providing easy access to the microSD card data through both SPI and the USB Type-C port.

At the heart of the board is the ATtiny841 microcontroller, which allows the system designer to optimize power consumption versus processing speed by achieving throughputs approaching 1 MIPS (million instructions per second) per MHz. The onboard microcontroller acts as an arbiter, that is the ATtiny841 will automatically put the Dual-Port Logging Shield into SPI mode if the developer powers up the Thing Plus. This enables the Arduino code to easily access the microSD as if the shield were powered from the computer by connecting it via the USB-C and the ATtiny841 microcontroller puts the shield into SDIO “thumb drive” mode.

The ATtiny841 microcontroller can be configured automatically to SPI mode or SDIO “thumb drive” mode if one can power up the Thing Plus and get the computer connected simultaneously. Furthermore, this simplifies switching between the two modes and this can be achieved by giving the ATtiny841 some simple commands over I2C.

The board is designed to be mounted on or under one of the Thing Plus boards. By making use of the Arduino SD libraries, logging and reading data to and from the microSD card respectively is possible over SPI. You can also read and write files at up to 35MBytes/second by connecting the microSD card to the computer via a USB Type-C port. In addition, the board provides the USB2241 Ultra-Fast USB 2.0 Media Controller which supports FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. It also provides support for cards up to 32GB.

SparkFun Thing Plus Dual-Port Logging Shield is priced at $29.95 which can be ordered from the official product page. The manufacturer has also provided a hookup guide on the website.