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Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

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21–30 of 37 posts

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#21
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Or something like http://mbed.org/ ?

I have an Mbed, and it's definitely awesome, but it's only programmable in C. I'd prefer something I can program in Python or Ruby.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#22
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. The arduino processor is also pretty weak given the price/performance ratio. I'm in favor of seeing them work with say an arm-5 or arm-7 device.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Hi HN,

I work at LeafLabs, we are responsible for a 72MHz, open/libre licensed, ARM microcontroller platform called Maple.

The header spacing issue on Arduino was really a gaff! We actually provide a 1/10" compatible secondary header as a rough-fix on Maple. We get tons of use out of this!

Maple line boards are based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 processor core. These low power procs don't have MMUs, so unlike ARM9, there is no hard linux (there is uClinux though).

Maple originally forked the Arduino IDE, and ported most of the Arduino libraries over to ARM. Our build environment also works from the command line via make, arm-gcc, etc. Check everything codewise out at github.com/leaflabs

mBed is another great Cortex M3 platform, here are some differences between mBed and Maple: - mBed is a bit faster at 96MHz, and uses a processor from NXP, leaflabs uses a 72MHz processor from ST (stm32 series) that can actually be overclocked to 120MHz (not recommended ;)

- the LeafLabs build environment runs on your local machine, everything is MIT/LGPL licensed, and can be used with an Arduino-like IDE. The hardware is all creative commons licensed. mBed has a great development IDE, but it is a webapp and compilation happens remotely. I dont know how much of toolchain/libs/hardware on mBed is libre or even open source.

- Maple comes in 3 form factors, Arduino compatible, bread-board sized (maple-mini), and a beefier version (Maple Native).

- mBed has a secondary microcontroller onboard to handle programming, meaning user programs have 100% control of the main MCU (no bootloader or anything else running in the background). Maple has an onboard bootloader and a USB->serial driver running in the background.

(note, mBed has a 60MHz arm 7 board available now too)

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#23
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Something like this http://leaflabs.com/devices/ ?

Ah, I hadn't seen that board. It looks good. No MMU, which means you have to run a bastardized version of Linux, but for $45, it's impressive.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#24
post #14

If anyone's interested, I got their firmware to run on stock Arduino hardware (which costs $55 instead of $390). http://romfont.com/2011/05/12/google%E2%80%99s-open-accessor... It's looking good so far. Now all I need is a device that supports accessory mode ...

Heh, me too--how long did it take you to write up your post? It would've been useful, ah, 8 hours ago. :) I've tested a revision 1 SparkFun USB Host shield and UNO/Duo with pin define fixes and a Nexus One with Android 2.3.4 and the DemoKit app. It "works" but seems a bit flakey needing multiple resets to move from detecting to data transfer. I'm suspecting possible power related reset issues. Unfortunately my usual…

Hah, I got it working yesterday but I had other stuff to do and I wanted to patch their code to work on both 168/328p and 1280/2560 before doing a proper write up.

Can you test my patch and get back to me whether it works for you? That way I can update my post.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#25
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something like this http://leaflabs.com/devices/ ?

Ah, I hadn't seen that board. It looks good. No MMU, which means you have to run a bastardized version of Linux, but for $45, it's impressive.

Have you seen these boards http://www.gumstix.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=27 ? There are more expensive, but are pretty neat. They even come with Wifi support on board.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Hi HN, I work at LeafLabs, we are responsible for a 72MHz, open/libre licensed, ARM microcontroller platform called Maple. The header spacing issue on Arduino was really a gaff! We actually provide a 1/10" compatible secondary header as a rough-fix on Maple. We get tons of use out of this! Maple line boards are based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 processor core. These low power procs don't have MMUs, so unlike ARM9, th…

The Maple board looks great. Are you guys based at MIT? I'm working in building 8 these days.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Hi HN, I work at LeafLabs, we are responsible for a 72MHz, open/libre licensed, ARM microcontroller platform called Maple. The header spacing issue on Arduino was really a gaff! We actually provide a 1/10" compatible secondary header as a rough-fix on Maple. We get tons of use out of this! Maple line boards are based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 processor core. These low power procs don't have MMUs, so unlike ARM9, th…

Once upon a time we were, nowadays we are are working out of Inman Square. Building 8 ehh, lots of cool toys around there (esp. along the infinite).

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#28
post #12

2) Apple will start to abandon their restrictive “Made for iPod”(TM) program and adopt the Arduino in some way for accessory development Phil's a cool, intelligent guy, but this statement pegs my meter somewhere between "excessive optimism" and "ridiculous Apple fanboyism". Apple, the infamous UX control freak, will give up the control (and revenue) associated with the MFi program in favor of allowing their users to…

I thought it seemed a bit optimistic as well. It'll be interesting to see how many handset manufacturers adopt the open accessory kit or opt to omit it or otherwise lock it down--similar to those that chose to provide their own app stores (I'm under the impression that you can do this, but you lose the ability to certify your device with Google and therefore lose access to the Android marketplace, Gmail client, maps, etc., correct?). I believe manufacturers are still generally motivated to profit from their accessories' ecosystems (not that the toolkit precludes this, but it relinquishes some control they've become used to).

That said, I'd love Apple to open up their accessory platform. I maintain an Apple accessory software stack that I'd love to throw on Github (frankly, I'm tired of maintaining it), but I am unable to do so due to our development agreement & the closed nature of their accessory program.

Re: Why Google Choosing Arduino Matters

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'd love to see someone make an open-source ARM9 board that runs Linux, but works with Arduino stuff, and has good libraries for controlling the hardware. The first version of the Chumby Hacker Board was a good candidate, but they removed the Arduino headers on more recent versions.

Hi HN, I work at LeafLabs, we are responsible for a 72MHz, open/libre licensed, ARM microcontroller platform called Maple. The header spacing issue on Arduino was really a gaff! We actually provide a 1/10" compatible secondary header as a rough-fix on Maple. We get tons of use out of this! Maple line boards are based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 processor core. These low power procs don't have MMUs, so unlike ARM9, th…

I would love to play with a Maple mini. How do I get one?
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