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.
![Craneboard Development Board TI AM3517 Craneboard Devkit based on Texas Instruments AM3517](http://www.cnx-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/development_board_craneboard_am3517.jpg)
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:
![Jean Luc Aufranc](https://www.cnx-software.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jean-Luc-Aufranc.webp)
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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