CraneBoard: Low Cost Development Board based on TI AM3517

The CraneBoard is a low-cost, open-source hardware development platform based on the AM3517 Sitara ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessor.

The CraneBoard was announced in December 2010, can be purchased for 199 USD and can be an alternative to the Beagleboard-xM. AM3517 is especially suited to industrial applications and would be a preferable platform if your project needs CAN or PoE support. The board has less RAM (256 MB vs. 512MB) and no camera port.

Here are the features and specifications of the board (I highlighted the differences with Beagleboard-xM in green):

• AM3517 Sitara ARM Cortex-A8 – 600MHz
• Integrated 3D Graphics Accelerator
• RAM: 256 MB
• NAND Flash: 256MB
• Support for on-chip peripherals:
  • 10/100 EMAC
  • USB OTG utilizing on-processor PHY
  • 3.3V I/O
  • CAN Bus
  • DDR2
• Power over Ethernet and other power options including USB and DC
• MMC/SD Card Support
• Fully open-source four-layer PCB
• Fully Open Source Linux Board Support package (2.6.32)
• Based on existing AM3517 Sitara ARM evaluation module (EVM) software
• All software available via GIT
• Arago File System
• Flashing tool and board diagnostics
• Ethernet / Power Over Ethernet (POE) utilizing on-processor 10/100 EMAC
• DVI-D (HDMI Connector)
• RS-232
• JTAG
• TV Out (CVBS)
• Expansion

Both hardware and software are open for the development board. The hardware documents (schematics, pcb layout, BoM..) are available at http://designsomething.org/craneboard/w/hardware/default.aspx and the software resources can be found at http://designsomething.org/craneboard/w/software/default.aspx. SDK are available for Android and Linux Angstrom.

You can watch the Craneboard video presentation below:

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