UNIT DualMCU One: ESP32 and RP2040-Based Development Board with SPI Communication

5 March, 2025

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The UNIT DualMCU One is a compact development board featuring the ESP32 and RP2040 microcontrollers. The ESP32 provides dual-core processing with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the RP2040 offers flexible GPIO and programmable I/O for precise hardware control. The two MCUs communicate over SPI, ensuring efficient and reliable data exchange for real-time applications.

Designed to streamline system integration, this board leverages the ESP32 for wireless connectivity and the RP2040 for handling timing-sensitive tasks and peripheral interfaces. The SPI-based communication simplifies data transfer, making it suitable for IoT, AI, and automation projects.

With optimized communication between the two MCUs, the UNIT DualMCU One provides a versatile platform for developing connected systems that require both networking and precise hardware control.

UNIT DualMCU One specifications:

MCU:
- Dual MCU Design
  - RP2040: Dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ (133 MHz), 264 KB SRAM, 2 MB QSPI Flash
  - ESP32: Dual-core Xtensa LX6 (240 MHz), 512 KB SRAM, 8 MB SPI Flash
Storage:
- 2 MB W25Q16JVUXIQ NOR Flash (532MHz, 66MB/s)
- MicroSD card slot
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via ESP32
- CAN bus (TCAN1051HVD transceiver)
- USB Type-C for programming and communication
I/O Interfaces:
- I2C, SPI, UART, PIO (Programmable I/O)
- Arduino UNO shield compatibility
Expansion and Headers:
- Female header: 1x 8, 2x 10 for I/O
- Male headers: 2x 3 for ESP32 UART and SPI
- JST SH1.0mm 4p connectors for UART and I2C-QWIIC (ESP32 and RP2040)
Misc:
- Switches and Buttons:
  - DIP switch for UART selection
  - Reset buttons for ESP32 and RP2040
  - Boot button for RP2040, Flash button for ESP32
- LED Indicators:
  - RX, TX, Power LEDs
  - WS2812B-3030 RGB LED (RP2040 GPIO 24)
  - RGB-2020 LED (ESP32 GPIO 25, 26, 27)
  - General-purpose LED (RP2040 GPIO 25)
Power supply:
- USB Type-C: 5V, 1.5A max
- Power jack: 9V/12V recommended, up to 20V 2A max
- Onboard 3.3V (NCP117ST33T3G) and 5V regulators
Dimensions and Weight: 53.47 x 68.58 mm | 25g

The DualMCU ONE development board features ESP32 and RP2040 microcontrollers and supports firmware development on Arduino IDE, MicroPython, and CircuitPython. Setting up the environment involves installing Python 3.7 or later for running scripts, Git for repository management, MinGW for compiling native Windows applications, and Visual Studio Code for code editing and compilation. For detailed documentation and additional resources, refer to the UNIT-Electronics GitHub repository and the official wiki page.