CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

March 16, 2021March 17, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

UP Squared Pro SBC gets more I/Os, 3x M.2 sockets, TPM 2.0 security chip

UP Squared Apollo Lake SBC was launched in 2016 via a crowdfunding campaign with a price starting at just 89 Euros for the model with 2GB RAM 16GB storage, and a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor. AAEON has now announced an update simply called UP Squared Pro with many of the same features, but greater expandability and I/O features, for example, to add 5G modules and AI accelerators through one of the three M.2 sockets, as well as improved security via a TPM 2.0 chip. UP Squared Pro (UPN-APL01) specifications with highlights in bold or strikethrough in comparison to the UP Squared specifications (in 2016): SoC (one or the other) Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz with 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 650 MHz (6W TDP) Intel Pentium N4200 quad-core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.5 […]

March 16, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3 Arm eFPGA board launched in Crowd Supply

SparkFun Electronics is a well-known electronics retailer that usually sells its in-house developed or third-party boards through its own online store. But this time around, the company decided to launch “Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3” through Crowd Supply crowdfunding platform. The board is based on QuickFeather board designed with the same Quicklogic EOS S3 Arm Cortex-M4 plus embedded FPGA SoC, but follows Sparkfun’s Thing Plus form factor with a Qwiic connector and a different mix of sensors. Sparkfun Thing Plus – Quicklogic EOS S3 (QTPLUS-1.0) board specifications: SoC – QuickLogic EOS S3 MCU + eFPGA SoC with Arm Cortex-M4F Microcontroller up to 80 MHz, up to 512 Kb SRAM, and an embedded FPGA (eFPGA) with 2400 effective logic cells, 64 Kb RAM Storage – 16 Mbit SPI NOR flash (GigaDevice GD25Q16CEIGR) Sensors STMicro LIS2DH12TR accelerometer Digital pulse density modulation (PDM) microphone with Wake-on-Sound (WoS) feature: Vesper VM3011-U1 Expansion […]

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

Onlogic industrial Raspberry Pi CM4 based mini PC to offer dual GbE, USB 3.1, M.2 SATA socket

Onlogic Raspberry-Pi CM4 mini PC Dual GbE

Yesterday, we covered two Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier boards with dual Ethernet ports, including one from Seeed Studio with dual Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.1 ports, and another from MCUZone with Gigabit + Fast Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 ports, plus a 4G LTE modem. But Onlogic will soon add another option with a complete Raspberry Pi CM4 based industrial mini PC with dual Gigabit Ethernet, teased as “One Tough Pi”, as well as USB 3.2/2.0 ports, M.2 SATA storage, and more. Onlogic “One Tough Pi” mini PC preliminary specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 module with up to 8 GB LPDDR4 memory, 32 GB eMMC flash storage Storage – M.2 2280 SATA SSD support Video & audio output – 1x Micro HDMI port up to 4Kp60 Connectivity – 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports USB – 3x USB ports include 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, and 2x USB 2.0 ports; 1x […]

March 15, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

NORVI ENET DIN-Rail ESP32 Industrial Controller adds Ethernet port

Announced in 2019, NORVI IIOT industrial controller features an ESP32 WiFi and Bluetooth module, a choice of OLED or TFT Display, 24V DC input, and several analog and digital I/Os all housed in a DIN Rail enclosure. Sri Lanka-based ICONIC DEVICES has now announced an updated version with NORVI ENET DIN-Rail ESP32 industrial gateway based on a similar design, but with the addition of an Ethernet port using W5500 SPI to Ethernet controller. NORVI ENET (AE06) specifications: Wireless Module – ESP32-WROOM32 with ESP32 dual-core processor @ 160 MHz, 520 Kbytes SRAM / 4 Mbit Flash, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 Storage – MicroSD card slot Display – Built-in 0.96″ OLED display Communication – 10/100M Ethernet via W5500 controller, WiFi, Bluetooth, optional LoRa or NB-IoT module I/Os 8x 24V digital inputs for rotary encoders, sensors AE06-R model only – 4x 5A relay outputs for solenoid valves, contactors AE06-T model only – […]

March 15, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

Raspberry Pi CM4 boards offer dual Ethernet, 4G LTE

Since the launch of Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM4Lite systems-on-module last October, we’ve seen carrier boards bring their own set of features including industrial communication interfaces, a stereoscopic camera, four SATA ports to build a NAS, a DIN-rail based industrial controller, and more. But so far, I have not seen a Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier board with dual Ethernet ports. Seeed Studio’s “Dual Gigabit Ethernet Carrier Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4” was brought to our attention this morning, but there’s another one with 4G LTE connectivity, Fast+Gigabit Ethernet ports, and extra I/Os courtesy of MCUZone’s CM4-4G IO board. Let’s have a look at both of them. Dual Gigabit Ethernet Carrier Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Specifications: Supported SoMs – Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM4Lite with up to 8GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash, optional WiFi & Bluetooth Storage – MicroSD card slot to load OS on CM4Lite […]

March 15, 2021March 14, 2021 by Saumitra Jagdale - 2 Comments

Piper Make: First Drag-and-Drop Coding Platform for Raspberry Pi Pico

In 2019 we saw Piper’s Computer Kit 2, which was a DIY Raspberry Pi 3 Computer for educational purposes. The kit was for kids to educate them on building their own computers and the basics of programming in electronics. This year the company has come up with another educational platform. Meet Piper Make. The newly launched Raspberry Pi Pico is capable of a wide range of applications but directly working on the development board for exploring these applications could be difficult for beginners. Additionally, prototyping a project or an application before implementing it is an ideal way for starting. Hence. Piper has launched its first drag-and-drop coding platform for the Raspberry Pi Pico which allows hands-on prototyping for the users. Piper Make platform has an interface that supports Chromebooks and other computers, thus making it flexible for users. It is free for users to explore hands-on with the Raspberry Pi […]

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 by Ian W MORRISON (Linuxium) - 16 Comments

Using an eGPU with a mini PC

Mini PCs have grown in popularity in part due to their small form-factor offering low-powered basic computing with sufficient ports for connectivity. As such they are useful both in commercial settings such as digital signage as well as with consumers needing a small-footprint or VESA-mounted low-cost computer. However, one drawback is their limited graphical performance due to using CPUs with integrated graphics which results in the options for playing games being somewhat restricted and ‘AAA’ titles typically being unplayable. Lower-priced laptops often share the same drawback and one of the ways that users have addressed their graphical need is by utilizing an external GPU (eGPU) however the commercially available ones are both expensive and require connecting via a Thunderbolt 3 port. Unfortunately, not many Chinese-made mini PCs currently include a Thunderbolt 3 port however now that they have started to include M.2 NVMe ports this has created the possibility of […]

March 13, 2021March 1, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Eduponics Mini is an ESP32-powered Smart Agriculture kit (crowdfunding)

Eduponics Mini ESP32 Smart Agriculture Board

One sector of the economy that should benefit the most from the Internet of Things is the agricultural sector, as environmental sensors are needed to optimize yields and also decrease costs with lower electricity and water usage. STEMinds Eduponics Mini Smart Agriculture kit is designed for this purpose. At the heart of the kit is an ESP32 board equipped with light, temperature, humidity, and barometric sensors, as well as interfaces to connect an external pump, a soil moisture sensor, a water quality sensor, and more environmental sensors. Eduponics Mini board specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-WROVER-B module with ESP32 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoC, 4MB QSPI flash, 8MB SPRAM, PCB antenna Built-in sensors BH1750 I2C light sensor BME280 I2C temperature, humidity, and barometric sensor Expansion 2-pin connector for 12V pump with built-in relay module 3-pin connector for soil moisture sensor or any other analog or digital device 4-pin connector for water quantity […]