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Taking UI Design to the Next Level with Arduino’s GIGA Display Shield

Posted on by Aditi Ambadkar

Arduino® GIGA Display Shield

The Arduino GIGA Display Shield is feature-packed, with a multitouch display, microphone, IMU for motion, and the option to add a camera sensor.

Arduino is calling on makers to elevate their user interface design skills by introducing the Arduino GIGA Display Shield. This add-on board will revolutionize the world of DIY electronics, boasting an array of impressive features, including a multitouch display, a built-in microphone for voice interaction, an IMU for motion sensing, and the option to integrate a camera sensor. The GIGA Display Shield board is designed for the new GIGA R1 WiFi development board.

“A few months ago, we promised you that the GIGA R1 WiFi would allow you to ‘think bigger and be more creative than ever,” the Arduino team writes by way of background to the new launch.

In March, Arduino introduced the GIGA R1 WiFi, offering a more robust device in the recognizable Mega and Due form factor. This Arduino board, built around the STMicro STM32H747XI dual-core microcontroller, is great for quick and responsive tasks. It has a fast Arm Cortex-M7 core (up to 480MHz) and a Cortex-M4 core (up to 240MHz). The GIGA Display Shield has been developed to showcase this capability. The add-on board is built around a full-color 3.97″ 800×480 touchscreen display capable of tracking five touchpoints and gestures. Moreover, a connector for an optional camera is included, allowing compatibility with Arducam image sensor boards, although it’s important to note that the camera is not included as a standard component.

Arduino® GIGA
Arduino® GIGA

“With the GIGA Display Shield, you can quickly add a cool UI (User Interface)to your hardware projects without extra wiring, have graphics adjust automatically according to device orientation or audio commands, or leverage computer vision as your solution’s input,” the Arduino team claims.

Furthermore, the GIGA R1 WiFi, in conjunction with the GIGA Display Shield, brings even more versatility to the table. The board features a new set of top-facing connectors, which keeps the top header available for expansion. This means you can easily attach other shields, expanding your project’s capabilities to new heights. Whether you’re looking to create a user-friendly interface or delve into advanced functionalities, the GIGA Display Shield and GIGA R1 WiFi provide the tools to make your vision a reality./

The GIGA Display Shield is available to order from the Arduino store, priced at $63.60, an Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi, for those who do not yet have one, is an additional $72.82.

Schneider Electric integrates Hailo Technologies processors for greater AI capabilities

Posted on by mixos

Highlights

  • Low-power consumption processors enable real-time, high-accuracy data analysis at the edge
  • Increases the intelligence and efficiency of industrial automation solutions

Rueil-Malmaison – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced a technology collaboration with Hailo Technologies, a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) chipmaker, to integrate Hailo’s advanced processors within Schneider Electric solutions.

AI offers significant benefits in enhancing the performance, efficiency and capabilities of industrial automation systems, allowing industries across all segments to better position themselves for the future.

By integrating the Hailo-8 AI processor within its industrial automation solutions, Schneider Electric will unlock new intelligence at the edge and drive innovation for its customers, with significant and immediate improvements across several common manufacturing tasks, including:

  • Pick and place: achieving object detection tasks six times faster than central processing units (CPUs)
  • Quality control: running classification processes 20 times faster than a CPU
  • Yield optimization: improving output and throughput, reducing waste by 15% on average

Hailo Technologies is leading the AI chip industry for edge devices, with technology enabling new computing possibilities for sectors like automotive, security, retail, and manufacturing. Its Hailo-8 processor is an efficient and compact AI processor with low power consumption, enabling real-time, high-accuracy data analysis at the edge.

“We are always looking to partner with companies that can help us deliver the most cutting-edge solution available on the market,” said Aurelien LeSant, Senior Vice President Innovation & Technology and Chief Technology Officer, Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric. “The Hailo collaboration reinforces our commitment to innovation and next-generation technology. It signifies an important step in delivering intelligent, energy-efficient solutions that will shape the future of industries.”

“We are proud to work with Schneider Electric, an industry pioneer that has recognized the transformative potential of integrating AI capabilities into its industrial automation solutions,” said Eyal Barnea, VP of Business Development at Hailo Technologies. “Our technology will empower its customers to create new powerful, cost-efficient, and smart AI-based solutions quickly and easily.”

Schneider Electric is demonstrating the collaboration with Hailo Technologies at the Smart Production Solutions (SPS) event in Nuremberg, Germany, on November 14 – 16. At booth 540 in Hall 1, visitors can see how it delivers a solution that combines multi-carrier machine applications, robotics, and AI to pick a chip from a circuit board quickly and efficiently.

Related resources:

Introducing the IB961 5G-ready 3.5” SBC for Embedded Computing

Posted on by mixos

IBASE Technology Inc., a pioneering force in embedded computing solutions, proudly presents the IB961 3.5″ Single Board Computer (SBC) engineered for peak performance, extensive connectivity, and unmatched versatility. Harnessing the prowess of 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, including the i7-1370PE, i5-1340PE, i5-1335UE, and i3-1320PE, the IB961 delivers exceptional computing capabilities across diverse applications. These processors advance performance hybrid architecture with up to 6 Performance-cores (P-core) and up to 8 Efficient-cores (E-core), ensuring unparalleled power for memory-intensive tasks.

This compact SBC offers a rich array of connectivity options, including M.2 (M-Key, E-Key, B-Key) mini type slots, and USB 3.2 ports, enabling 5G communications and ensuring seamless integration with peripherals. Dual Intel LAN support guarantees reliable, high-speed network connectivity. Integrated graphics from 13th Gen Intel Core mobile processors provide stunning visuals through 2x DisplayPort (1.2), eDP, and LVDS outputs. The IB961 signifies a leap forward in embedded computing technology, empowering businesses to enhance efficiency and adaptability across diverse industrial applications.

IB961 FEATURES:

  • Onboard 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3 mobile processors
  • 1x DDR5 SO-DIMM, Max. 32GB
  • Supports 2x DisplayPort (1.2), LVDS and eDP
  • 2x Intel® PCI-E 2.5G LAN
  • 3x USB 2.0, 3x USB 3.2, 2x COM, 2x SATA III
  • 3x M.2 slots (M-Key + E-key + B-key)
  • Supports 5G, digital I/O (4-in/4-out), fTPM & watchdog timer

With dimensions measuring 102mm x 147mm, the compact IB961 seamlessly integrates into space-constrained environments. Its rugged design and comprehensive feature set position it as the preferred choice for industrial automation and edge computing applications. Discover the strength of IBASE’s IB961 SBC at www.ibase.com.tw or contact our sales team at sales@ibase.com.tw.

This ESP32-C3 Voltage-Current Logger Utilizes INA228 for Precision Measurements

Posted on by Debashis Das

This new voltage-current monitoring device is powered by the ESP32-C3 and uses the Texas Instruments INA228 IC to deliver precise power monitoring. Additionally, it uses Rust and InfluxDB for advanced, real-time analytics.

Designed and engineered by Hiroshi Nakajima, this device accurately measures voltage, current, and power use.  The input voltage range of this device spans from 0 to 85V, with a maximum input current of 15A, with these specs, it can be used for a wide range of applications.

This modular device comes in four different adapters, the adapters are designed to provide easy access to various devices.

  • Red Adapter: For measuring power from USB Type-C adapters to devices like PCs.
  • Yellow Adapter: For checking power between USB Type mini-B and Type-A ports.
  • Green Adapter: To measure power in systems using JST-PH connectors, typically batteries.
  • Blue Adapter: For various other types of cabling and power connections.

The logger’s display shows current, voltage, power, and battery levels, along with Wi-Fi status. If there’s no WiFi available the display omits the WiFi symbol and stores data in its internal buffer, indicated by a red line on the screen. This buffer fills over time, and when full, it halts measurements. Reconnecting to WiFi sends this data to the server, emptying the buffer. If full, pressing ‘Start’ clears the buffer and restarts logging.

for this device, the measurement intervals range from 5 milliseconds to 1 second. Initially, when powered on, it defaults to a 5-millisecond interval. However, users can easily adjust this by pressing the INT button, which cycles through options of 10, 50, 100, 500 milliseconds, and up to 1 second. To start logging and transmitting voltage, current, and power consumption data to the server, simply press the START button.

when the data acquisition process is done you can send the data to the server. The server processes the data and through the InfluxDB Dashboard you can visualize that.

Features of hnz1102 Voltage-Current Logger:

  • Flexible Measurement Intervals: Ranges from 5 ms to 1 sec, adjustable with the INT button.
  • Real-Time Data Transmission: Sends voltage, current, and power data to the server for live tracking.
  • InfluxDB Dashboard Integration: Enables visualization of real-time data through the InfluxDB Dashboard.
  • Versatile Adapter Compatibility: Includes Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue adapters for various connection types.
  • Internal Data Buffering: Stores data internally when not connected to WiFi, indicated by a red line on the display.
  • Automatic Buffer Management: Stops logging when the buffer is full; pressing ‘Start’ clears the buffer and restarts logging.
  • Onboard Display: Shows voltage, power, battery level, and WiFi connection status.
  • Battery Powered: Operates independently on a rechargeable LiPo battery.
  • ESP32-C3 Microcontroller: Ensures robust performance and connectivity.
  • High-Resolution Measurements: Utilizes Texas Instruments INA228 IC for precise data acquisition.

For further details on this Voltage-Current Logger, including setup instructions, schematics, and software installation, you can check the hnz1102s GitHub repository.

Banana Pi Unveils New SBC with RK3588 and Dual 2.5GbE Ethernet

Posted on by Debashis Das

Banana Pi a well-known manufacturer of SBCs recently announced their new embedded product the Banana Pi BPI-M7. This compact device is powered by the Rockchip RK3588 CPU, which features an Arm Mali-G610 GPU and a 6TOPS Neural Processor Unit.

The Rockchip RK3588 is a High-performance CPU with a total of eight cores: four Cortex-A76 cores (up to 2.4 GHz) for demanding tasks and four Cortex-A55 cores (up to 1.8 GHz) for energy efficiency. It also features an Arm Mali-G610 MP4 GPU and a 6TOPS NPU.

This chip excels in multimedia processing, handling various video formats like H.265, H.264, VP9, AV1, and AVS2. It can decode videos up to 8K@60 FPS and encode 8K@ 30 FPS in H.264 and H.265 formats. This board also features various display options, including HDMI 2.1 for 8K output at 60FPS, a USB-C DP port supporting 8K at 30FPS, and MIPI DSI for 4K at 60fps, offering users a range of high-quality video output choices.

The Banana Pi board comes in three RAM options: 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB, and offers up to 128GB of eMMC storage for data. According to the RK3588 datasheet, its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) supports deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, further enhancing its capabilities in advanced AI tasks.

The development board also features an AP6275S module, providing Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connections. Additionally, it includes a PCIe slot on its underside, supporting NVMe SSD storage options.

The product announcement indicates that the Banana Pi BPI-M7 board will support Debian Buster, Android 12, and Linux Kernel 5.10.

Specifications listed for Banana Pi BPI-M7 include:

  • Memory & Storage: Includes up to 32GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB eMMC, and a microSD card slot.
  • Network: Features two 2.5GbE ports and a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module (AP6275S).
  • Display Outputs: Comes with HDMI 2.1, USB-C with DisplayPort, and MIPI DSI.
  • Expansion Options: Provides an M.2 KEY M interface.
  • Camera Support: Equipped with two MIPI CSI interfaces.
  • General I/O: Offers a 40-pin GPIO header.
  • Additional Elements: Contains RTC battery, power/reset/MaskROM buttons, and a fan connector.
  • USB Ports: Includes two USB 3.0 and two USB Type-C ports.
  • Dimensions: Measures 92 x 62mm, adhering to the Pico ITX form factor.

The pricing and availability of the Banana Pi BPI-M7 board have not been announced yet by Banana Pi. You can visit the official Banana Pi website for further details.

Arduino’s Portenta HAT Carrier Now Supports Driving Raspberry Pi Modules

Posted on by Debashis Das

Arduino’s new Portenta HAT Carrier is designed to connect the Portenta X8 board to Raspberry Pi HAT add-ons, expanding its capabilities.

Launched last year, the board is equipped with an NXP i.MX 8M Mini Arm Cortex-A53 quad-core processor runs a Linux distribution compliant with Arm SystemReady IR standards, using Yocto. It also features an STM32H7 microcontroller for seamless Arduino programming and integration with Arduino Cloud. To enhance its utility in prototyping and designing products like IoT gateways, the company has introduced the Portenta HAT Carrier. This addition lets you connect most Raspberry Pi hats to the Arduino ecosystem.

Portenta Hat Carrier specifications:

  • Compatible with Portenta X8 and future models.
  • MicroSD slot for storage.
  • MIPI CSI camera connector; Raspberry Pi camera compatibility not confirmed.
  • Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 and USB Type-A ports.
  • Expansion headers: 40-pin (Raspberry Pi HAT compatible) and 16-pin (various I/O pins).
  • JTAG connector for debugging.
  • CAN FD, PWM fan connector.
  • Power options: 5V via USB-C or 40-pin header, 7-32V DC input.
  • Size: 85 x 56 mm.
  • Temperature range: -40°C to +85°C.

The Arduino Portenta HAT Carrier board costs $45, and adding the Portenta X8 increases the price to $284. More details are available on the product’s page.

EasyEnclosure: Advanced 3D Modeling Software Specializing in Enclosure Design

Posted on by Debashis Das

3D printing is everywhere, from complex prototypes to simple DIY projects. To meet your design and prototyping needs, you need good 3D design software and the skills to use it. However, the challenge is that even with a design idea, you might struggle to create it due to the difficulty of using the design software. This is where EasyEnclosure becomes useful.

EasyEnclosure is an open-source 3D modeling software tailored specifically for designing 3D-printable enclosures. It aims to provide an intuitive interface and a set of user-friendly controls that allow even those with little or no 3D modeling experience to create custom enclosures for their electronic projects, prototypes, or DIY gadgets

EasyEnclosure offers an array of customization options, including basic square enclosures, configurable dimensions, wall thickness, rounded corners, and much more. It even includes options for waterproof seals and PCB mounts, ensuring a comprehensive solution for various project needs.

Built on a robust technology stack including TypeScript, React, and JSCAD, EasyEnclosure combines performance with reliability. The tool is hosted on GitHub. Its ability to export designs in STL format makes it compatible with a broad range of 3D printers.

As an open-source project, EasyEnclosure encourages community participation. Users can support the project through donations or by contributing to its development via pull requests. The team also welcomes users to test prints with different settings and report any issues, aiding in the software’s continuous improvement.

The roadmap for EasyEnclosure includes exciting upcoming features such as predefined templates for common devices like Raspberry Pi and Arduino, DIN rail mounts, and the ability to export each entity separately. The extended list of upcoming features can be found on the EasyEnclosure GitHub repository.

Key Features of EasyEnclosed Includes:

  • User-Friendly Interface: It provides an intuitive platform suitable for users with varying levels of 3D modeling skills.
  • Real-Time 3D Preview: This feature enables users to visualize their designs in real-time, enhancing the design process.
  • Export to STL Format: Designs can be exported in STL format, making them compatible with a wide range of 3D printers.

In essence, EasyEnclosure is a cutting-edge tool that simplifies the process of designing custom 3D-printed enclosures, making them accessible and efficient for a broad audience.

Sipeed Launches Tang Primer 25K: A Compact FPGA Module with Dock Carrier Board

Posted on by Debashis Das

Sipeed’s new Tang Primer 25K FPGA, utilizing the Gowin Semi GW5A-LV25MG121, offers 23,040 LUTs, ample SRAM, multipliers, PLLs, and 64Mb NOR flash memory. Available at $19 for just the module, $29 with a carrier board, and an additional $10 for an optional SDRAM module, it’s suitable for USB applications and retro gaming.

The Sipeed Tang Primer 25K features the GW5A-LV25MG121 FPGA, equipped with 23,040 LUT4s and the same number of flip-flops for advanced digital operations. It includes 180K bits of S-SRAM and 1008K bits of B-SRAM, complemented by 56 B-SRAM blocks. Additionally, it offers 28 18×18 multipliers, 6 Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs), and 8 I/O banks for enhanced functionality. The board also integrates a 64Mbit SPI Flash chip and a DC-DC power supply, making it a highly capable tool for FPGA development.

The Sipeed page on AliExpress offered a detailed pinout diagram, which is extremely useful for anyone working with the FPGA board.

Sipeed also provides us with a list of supported modules that work with their system, including a camera, SDRAM, display, joystick, HUB75E, a 64×64 LED matrix, and others.

On their Aliexpress store, Sipeed mentions that it can be used for retro gaming, operating a DVP camera, and additionally, driving an LED matrix.

On Sipeed’s GitHub, you can find various sample projects for this item, and it’s important to use the Gowin IDE version 1.9.9 with it. For more in-depth info, the Tang Primer 25K Wiki pages are a good resource.

The Key Features of Sipeed Tang Primer 25K:

  • Memory/Storage: 60Mbit QSPI Flash
  • I/O Interfaces: 3 PMODs, a 40-pin header, and 3 buttons
  • USB Ports: One USB Type-C (BL616) and one USB-A
  • Additional Features: 3 LEDs, a JTAG debugger, and a 50MHz crystal oscillator
  • Power Supply: 5V DC
  • Size: The core module measures 23 x 17.8mm; the Dock is 64 x 40mm.

You can purchase Sipeed’s board from their AliExpress store, priced at $19 for just the module and $29 if bundled with the carrier board. An optional SDRAM module costs an extra $10. For further details, visit the Sipeed Wiki.

Radxa’s Latest Zero 3W & 3E Boards Boast Enhanced AI Features

Posted on by Debashis Das

After the success of the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and Orange Pi Zero 2W, the Radxa Zero 3W & 3E stand out as powerful alternatives with a Rockchip RK3566 processor, up to 8GB RAM, and a 64GB eMMC storage option. Starting at just $15, they can be deemed as the most powerful Arm Linux SBCs in Raspberry Pi Zero 2W form factor.

The CPU, a Rockchip RK3566, clocks at 1.6GHz, and is paired with an Arm Mali G52-2EE graphics processor. This combination supports 4K@60FPS decoding and 1080P encoding. The board also includes an NPU with 0.8 TOPS processing power.

The board is equipped with LPDDR4 memory and offers configurations from 1 GB to 8 GB. Storage options include built-in eMMC 5.1 flash, ranging from 8GB to 64GB, alongside a microSD slot for additional storage.

For connectivity, Radxa Zero boards include a micro-HDMI port, a MIPI camera connector, and two USB Type-C ports—one for power and USB 2.0 OTG, and the other for USB 3.0. They also feature Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 4, and an option for a wired Ethernet connection with PoE support on the 3E model.

When it comes to software and support the Radxa offers Debian and Ubuntu OS images, along with a Linux library for hardware access and control. All the documentation and get started guide are available on their website. You need a 5V/2A power supply and a microSD card to get started. If you are doing a non-headless setup, you will need a micro HDMI to HDMI cable along with a display device and a USB keyboard and mouse (via a USB Type-C dock or hub). Optionally, you might also need a USB to serial debug board a MIPI CSI for debugging, and a camera interface.

Radxa Zero 3W & 3E Board Specifications

  • SoC: Rockchip RK3566
  • CPU: Quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.6 GHz
  • GPU: Arm Mali G52-2EE, supports OpenGL ES, Vulkan, OpenCL
  • NPU: 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator
  • VPU: Supports 4Kp60 and 1080p100f video decoding/encoding
  • Memory: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4 options
  • Storage: Optional 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB eMMC 5.1; MicroSD slot
  • Video Output: Micro HDMI port up to 1080p60
  • Camera Interface: MIPI CSI for Raspberry Pi Camera V1.3 and V2
  • Wireless: WiFi 4, Bluetooth 5.0; possible WiFi 6 update
  • USB Ports: 1 USB 3.0 Type-C (host), 1 USB 2.0 Type-C (OTG)
  • Expansion: 40-pin GPIO header
  • Other Features: MaskROM button
  • Power Supply: 5V/1A via USB-C OTG port
  • Dimensions: 65 x 30mm

Later we found out that the Radxa Zero 3E is still in development and yet to be finalized. But it’s drawing attention because of its good price and performance. Many forums suggest that the Zero 2, was never released due to MIPI CSI driver issues, and many other software compatibility issues. Some say the board was primarily built to run Android but it’s now benign developed to run Linux. It’s speculated that the CPU was underclocked from 1.8 GHz to 1.6 GHz, possibly due to cooling challenges on the small PCB.

At the time of writing this article, we don’t have much information about the board, but at $15 for the basic model with 1GB of RAM, it’s a really good deal and could be a strong competitor for similar products. When we checked the base variant of the Radxa Zero 3W is listed on AllNet China starting at $15 and the price goes up to $66 with the 8GB RAM variant.

Eiger Design Releases EPickNPlace, a Free Software for PCB Assembly

Posted on by Debashis Das

Eiger Design has recently introduced EPickNPlace, an open-source software designed to improve manual pick and place operations in PCB assembly. Compatible with Windows 10 and 11, it’s freely available under the GNU General Public License.

This open-source software tool was originally designed for internal use to enhance manual pick and place operations. But Eiger Design open-sourced it, and now it is freely available in the general marketplace. Based on SMTAssistant by ALCIOM, EPickNPlace assists in locating parts on a printed circuit board using a bitmap image of the PCB and a Pick&Place file.

The company said this software is an advanced version of the original SmtAssistant, and it has been designed to ease the prototypes and customized cards for Eiger’s J-Testr NextGen systems. However, you can also do PCB inspection and board repair work.

This newly designed software can comfortably run on Windows 10 and 11 and is developed using Visual Studio 2022 C#; EPickNPlace is licensed under the GNU General Public License, ensuring free use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. Though Eiger Design offers no official support for this free software, they welcome user feedback and improvement suggestions.

Key improvements include a new project mode for saving configurations and images. It also features an advanced menu system with multiple preferences that help to improve the calibration process. The software also features graphical markers and various new improved viewing options for tracking placed, skipped, and calibration points.

Despite these advancements, EPickNPlace currently lacks some features available in SMTAssistant, such as Board Qty and Pick List Generator, which Eiger plans to implement in the future.

Key Features and Improvements:

  • Project Mode: Allows users to save their configurations and images, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Enhanced User Interface: A menu with multiple preferences, including added fields for part number and description.
  • Simplified File Format: A simpler CSV file format is used for easier data management.
  • Improved Calibration Process: Includes features like dropdown component IDs, markers, and micro nudging for precision.
  • Graphical Markers: Visual indicators for placed, skipped, and calibration points.
  • Alternative ImageView: Offers different views for pictures or instructions to aid operators.
  • Component Counters: Tracks components that are placed, skipped, or unplaced.
  • Layer Flexibility: Supports separate calibration for the bottom and top layers, maintaining calibration when switching between them.

The software, available for download as ‘epicknplace_v1_6_2.zip‘, can be installed from the Eiger Design website. Eiger also plans to release training videos to guide new users.

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