BeagleBoard.org Foundation’s BeagleConnect Zepto “$1 computer” is an upcoming open-source hardware board powered by Texas Instruments MSPM0L117 Cortex-M0+ MCU, part of the MSPM0 family introduced in 2023.
It’s a tiny board with mikroBus-compatible headers, a TAG-CONNECT JTAG connector, two Qwiic connectors for expansion (or one Qwiic connector + USB-C depending on the variant), Boot and Reset buttons, and an RGB LED.
BeagleConnect Zepto specifications:
- MCU – Texas Instruments MSPM0L117
- CPU – 32MHz Arm Cortex-M0+ core
- Memory – 16KB SRAM
- Storage – 128KB dual-bank flash
- Package – QFN32 (5×5 mm)
- USB – Optional USB-C port for power (multiplexed with one of the Qwicc JST connectors)
- Expansion
- mikroBUS headers supporting a choice of about 2,000 ClickE add-on boards; one of the sides is compatible with some Raspberry Pi HATs (note limited to 12 pins)
- Up to 2x Qwicc connectors with full Grove function: I2C, UART, ADC, GPIO
- Debugging – 8-pin TAG-CONNECT JTAG connector
- Misc
- Reset and User buttons
- RGB LED
- Power Supply – 5V via USB-C port or Qwicc/ JST connector
- Dimensions – 33.7 x 25.4 mm (2-layer PCB)
The Qwiic connectors also allow the user to connect the Zepto to BeaglePlay, BeagleBadge, or other Qwiic-enabled hosts or targets, meaning the BeagleConnect Zepto board could also be connected to Linux hosts for internet connectivity or prototyping. The foundation notably highlights support for BeagleConnect Greybus for Zephyr to control mikroBUS modules over Linux without having to develop additional microcontroller firmware.
Several solutions will be offered on the firmware side:
- A Zephyr-based SDK – A hard-to-brick MCUBOOT-based USB bootloader
- BeagleConnect firmware exposing mikroBUS to Linux/Zephyr hosts (Greybus)
- Gateway function on USB
- Node function on both USB and JST
- Micropython firmware on top of Zephyr
- Microblocks-based on Zephyr and Arduino Core
Jason Kridner is also working on a gaming environment that runs on BeagleBadge and uses BeagleConnect Zepto as the controllers. Right now, the GitHub repo comes with the KiCad hardware design files, some hardware documentation, and renders. There’s also a table that shows the board may be offered with different MSPM0 MCU variants and prices. The MSPM0L117 offers a good price/features ratio to target a $1 computer board with minimal margins.
| Chip | Speed | Flash | RAM | Part Cost | Board Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSPM0C1106 | 32 Mhz | 32 KB | 8 KB | $ 0.47 | TBD |
| MSPM0L1116 | 32 Mhz | 64 KB | 16 KB | $ 0.47 | TBD |
| MSPM0L1117 | 32 Mhz | 128 KB | 16 KB | $ 0.51 | TBD |
| MSPM0L1227 | 32 Mhz | 128 KB | 32 KB | $ 0.61 | TBD |
| MSPM0L1228 | 32 Mhz | 256 KB | 32 KB | $ 0.73 | TBD |
| MSPM0G1518 | 80 Mhz | 256 KB | 128 KB | $ 0.986 | TBD |
| MSPM0G1519 | 80 Mhz | 512 KB | 128 KB | $ 1.166 | TBD |
The firmware and software resources will be released later, although I can see a Zephyr implementation repo for the Zepto. The announcement calls for people wanting to get involved, as prototypes are available now. If you are interested, you can check out the forum.
The target is to sell the board for one dollar with virtually no margin for the BeagleBoard.org Foundation, but in a way “where TI, PCB assemblers and distributors are happy with the margin they make” and a price sustainable for over 10 years. If you like this kind of cheap board, Olimex has its own one Euro board: the RVPC computer kit. It’s sold for one Euro plus shipping, as a WCH CH32V003 kit to be soldered, and looks more like a real computer than the BeagleConnect Zepto since it features a VGA connector for a display and a PS/2 connector for a keyboard.
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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Why aren’t the pins lined up?, does not seem very breadboard friendly
I have other development boards that are similar to this. It allows you to take a straight row of standard header pins and press them into the board–which makes electrical contact without having to solder them.
I guess it’s intentional, the staggered pins act as a friction fit, so you don’t need to solder the header. The slight offset creates enough pressure against the pads walls to hold it in place and maintain contact. Kind of smart actually.
I didn’t even notice that, but its really nice for flying wiring and for breadboard it for sure won’t harm either.
I see more of an issue if designing a base board…
I was confused the first time I saw it too, but it does make a lot of sense. I have never used it without soldering it first but at the very least it holds the headers well for soldering. I think it is a much better solution than the hammer headers I have seen for a pi where you need to use a fair amount of force to push the headers through the hole where they spring out.
A bit of a strange duck. The current “cheap” BeagleBoard is $30. Are they so terrified of rpi/ESP32 they are ignoring the $5-$15 price point?
They are not terrified from anything.
They are a non-profit corporation with the main interest of pushing education and the open source ecosystem around embedded computing.
And in the past they focused more on single board computers.
Also the beagleConnect Freedom is cheaper than 30$.
Nice, I only question the usefulness of running micropython on an MCU with 16k RAM.
The MSPM0G1519 (and MSPM0G1518) should be able to support MicroPython.
I hope they add a USB-C connector, even if the price increased by a few $, Anything upto $5 is worth it. When is this board expected to be available?
I think it says in the article that there will be a variant with 2 QWIIC connectors and a variant with a USB C and a QWIIC connector.