DFRobot’s UNIHIKER Single Board Computer (SBC) is now available for purchase at element14.

Featuring a 2.8-inch touch screen, fast and effortless startup, rich interfaces and high expandability, UNIHIKER is a popular choice for users from the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, STEM and beyond. Offering engineers enhanced versatility with interface control for open-source hardware, UNIHIKER is an ideal solution for a variety of fields, including crafting smart home systems, infusing AI into robots, or conducting data exploration and observation.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said: “We are always on the lookout for cutting-edge innovations that can help our customers achieve their goals. The UNIHIKER is an impressive Single Board Computer that provides unmatched features and capabilities. We are confident that the UNIHIKER will be a highly sought-after option among our customers, and we're thrilled to offer it at element14."

UNIHIKER’s key features:

• Built-in 2.8-inch touchscreen to visualise sensor data in the form of charts, graphs, and even dynamic animations.
• Wireless Connectivity
• Comprehensive sensor suite (light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, microphone)
• Co-Processor for Versatility to effortlessly communicate with a wide range of analog, digital, I2C, UART, and SPI sensors and actuators, making it incredibly versatile for all your projects.
• Edge Connectors, Pin numbers are compatible with micro:bit, 19 independent I/O (Support 1 ×I2C, 1×UART, 2×SPI, 6×12-bit ADC, 5×10-bit PWM)
• Pre-installed Software ensuring a lightning-fast and hassle-free start to your creative journey.
• Supports popular coding software like Jupyter notebook, VS Code, VIM, Mind+
• PinPong Control Library allows to effortlessly control UNIHIKER's built-in sensors and a wide array of connected sensors and actuators using Python.
• Built-In IoT Service to store data on-device

UNIHIKER is available to purchase from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in NA and element14 in APAC.

element14 is now offering customers two new Arduino UNO R4 boards, further expanding its portfolio of the iconic UNO family.

The Arduino UNO R4 comes in two versions: the UNO R4 Minima and UNO R4 Wi-Fi, both providing unprecedented performance and new possibilities for makers, including beginners and experienced developers alike, offering a cost-effective investment at every level.

Building on the advanced features of the UNO family, the UNO R4 introduces a 32-bit architecture with many new capabilities for makers. The UNO R4 is powered by Renesas RA4M1 32-bit Cortex®-M4 processor, which significantly boosts processing power, memory, and functionality. These enhancements are fully backwards compatible and do not compromise working with existing shields and accessories.

The UNO R4 Minima version provides high-end, powerful, and affordable technology for designers who want the power and speed of the latest microcontroller but have no need for additional features. Onboard SWD pins provide a simple way to connect third-party debugging probes that further ensure reliable system operation.

The UNO R4 Wi-Fi features an Espressif ESP32-S3-mini co-processor and offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, providing robust internet accessibility for IoT projects.

Key features common to the new Arduino UNO R4 models include:

• The Renesas RA4M1 (Arm Cortex®-M4) processor running at 48MHz, providing a 3x performance increase over the UNO R3.
• SRAM upgraded from 2kB to 32kB, and flash memory from 32kB to 256kB to support more complex projects.
• 12-bit analogue DAC
• On board OP Amp
• USB-C port
• Maximum power supply voltage of 24V with enhanced thermal design.
•  CAN bus and an SPI port, enabling users to reduce wiring and perform parallel tasks by connecting multiple shields.
•  HID device to emulate a mouse or keyboard

In addition to above, the UNO R4 Wi-Fi also includes:

• Low energy Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
• A fully addressable 12x8 LED matrix
• Qwic 12C connector for external I2C connectivity
• ·RTC with support for a buffer battery
• ·  Runtime errors diagnostics

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said, “Regardless of where you are on the development scale, from beginner to highly experienced professional, the new UNO R4 board provides makers and designers with a substantial increase in performance and, as a result, the power to convert new application possibilities into realities.”

Keith Jackson, Arduino Marketing, said, “Expanding our available portfolio with element14 greatly extends our product availability to the right people, and makes it available to them at the right time. Our association continues to go from strength to strength to the ultimate benefit of designers and developers worldwide.”

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Over the years, Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers, including students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals, has gathered around this open-source platform. Their contributions have added up to an incredible amount of accessible knowledge that can greatly help novices and experts alike.

The new Arduino UNO R4 boards is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

element14 announces the addition of the newly launched Arduino Pro Portenta C33 system on module (SOM) to its line card. This cost-effective, high-performance, streamlined platform provides an accelerated route to IoT automation, complete with industrial-grade quality and guaranteed security.

The Portenta C33 offers the high performance that the successful Portenta family are known for at a lower price point. This is made possible by a range of optimisations and streamlined features, which enables it to be a prime choice for developing industrial, real-time applications. The Portenta C33 features the Arm^® Cortex^®-M33 microcontroller from global leader Renesas and supports MicroPython, as well as other high-level programming languages.

With onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth^® Low Energy connectivity, the Portenta C33 is the ideal solution for IoT gateways, remote control systems, fleet management and process tracking, while its secure element guarantees industrial-grade security at the hardware level. The Portenta C33 can also perform over-the-air firmware updates via Arduino Cloud or other third-party cloud hosting services.

The Portenta C33 offers users quick plug-and-play prototyping and provides a cost-effective solution for industrial-scale projects such as:

•  Industrial IoT gateways
• Machine monitoring to track OEE/OPE
• Inline quality control and assurance
• Energy consumption monitoring
• Appliances control systems
• Ready-to-use IoT prototyping

Reliable, secure and with the renowned computational power inherent in the Portenta family, the Portenta C33 has been designed to provide companies of any size with the opportunity to access IoT and benefit from higher levels of efficiency and automation.

Key features include:

• Ideal for low-cost IoT applications with Wi-Fi^®/Bluetooth^® LE connectivity
• Supports MicroPython and other high-level programming languages
•  Offers industrial-grade security at the hardware level and secure OTA firmware updates
•  Leverages ready-to-use software libraries and Arduino sketches
• Perfect for monitoring and displaying real-time data on Arduino IoT Cloud widget-based dashboards
•  Compatible with the Arduino Portenta and MKR families
•  Features castellated pins for automatic assembly lines

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing category at element14, said, “We are thrilled to add this exciting new product to our Arduino portfolio. Customers will be able to quickly implement Portenta C33 in industrial projects, leveraging the vast amount of Arduino software libraries available and securely perform over-the-air firmware updates using the Arduino IoT Cloud.”

Keith Jackson, Arduino Marketing, “element14’s knowledge of and access to professional developers throughout Europe and Asia, provides an ideal partner for launching this new system-on-module. It bridges the gap between prototyping and deployment at scale, and the cost-effective nature of this product unleashes a tremendous opportunity for element14’s IoT customer base. ”

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers - students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals - has gathered around this open-source platform. Their contributions have added to an incredible amount of accessible knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.

The new Portenta C33 from Arduino Pro is now available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

element14 is now stocking the newly introduced BeagleV®-Ahead, the first professional, open-source mass production RISC-V single board computer (SBC) by Beagleboard.org^®.

BeagleV®-Ahead is in the same form factor and has the same P8 and P9 cape header pins as BeagleBone^® Black, enabling developers to stack their favourite BeagleBone cape on top to expand its capability. Featuring a powerful quad-core RISC-V processor, BeagleV®-Ahead is designed as an affordable RISC-V enabled pocket-size computer for anyone who wants to dive deep into the new RISC-V ISA.

BeagleV®-Ahead is built around T-Head TH1520 RISC-V SoC with a quad-core XuanTie C910 processor clocked at 1.85GHz with a 4 TOPS NPU, support for 64-bit DDR, and audio processing using a single core C906.

Other key features include:

• DA9063 programmable PMIC.
• 4GB Low-Power Double Data Rate (LPDDR4) memory.
• 16GB Embedded Multi-Media Card (eMMC) memory.
• AP6203BM Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, antennas 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
• Realtek RTL8211F-VD-Cg Gigabit Ethernet with integrated magnetics and RJ-45 connector.
• Micro-USB connectivity with On-the-Go adapter (OTG), Flash support.
• 5V power input.
• HDMI TH1520 video output with mini-HDMI connector.
• Other connectors - microSD, mikroBUS, CSI.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said, “BeagleBoard.org has a strong track record of developing open-source hardware platforms and the launch of BeagleV®-Ahead reinforces element14’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the technology community. By making the RISC-V architecture accessible to a broader audience, BeagleV®-Ahead empowers developers to explore new possibilities, accelerate their projects and contribute to the advancement of the RISC-V ecosystem.”

Jason Kridner, Co-Founder of BeagleBoard.org, comments, “We are extremely excited to introduce BeagleV®-Ahead to the world. RISC-V is rapidly gaining momentum as a transformative technology, and we believe that BeagleV®-Ahead will play a crucial role in its widespread adoption. Our goal is to provide a robust, open-source platform that empowers users to unleash their creativity and develop cutting-edge solutions."

BeagleBoard.org Foundation is a non-profit corporation based in Michigan, USA. Its main goal is to educate and collaborate with people who are interested in open-source software and hardware for embedded computing. The community of BeagleBoard.org provides a platform for owners and developers of open-source software and hardware to share their ideas, knowledge, and experience. They work together to develop physical computing solutions, such as robotics, 3D printers, laser cutters, and industrial and machine controls. The Beagleboard® SBCs are perfect for creating open-source hardware applications, including home and commercial automation systems and AI.

The new BeagleV®-Ahead SBC will be available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

element14 has signed a global distribution agreement with Seeed Studio, a leading provider of innovative open-source hardware and software products. The entire Seeed product range has been added to element14’s portfolio, offering customers access to cutting-edge technologies that will enable them to see their Internet of Things (IoT) ideas rapidly become productive real-world applications.

California-based Seeed Studio is an innovative IoT technology company which specialises in hardware research, production and sales for edge computing, network communication and smart sensing applications. element14 customers will benefit from flexible customisation options and low minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirements, enabling them to tailor Seeed products to precisely match their specific requirements.

Seeed Studio is known for collaborating with its partners such as Raspberry Pi and Nvidia to offer innovative solutions to its customers. element14 customers will now have access to a wide array of ground-breaking products from Seeed Studio, including the Nvidia Jetson-powered reComputer; Raspberry Pi CM4 powered reTerminal; and Edgebox industrial controllers. Farnell will also supply XIAO MCUs and the popular Grove range of modular, standardised connector prototyping systems, further expanding the choice and versatility available to their global customer base.

Key Seeed Studio products now available from element14 include:

• reComputer for Jetson series compact edge computers built with NVIDIA® Jetson™ advanced AI embedded systems with rich extension interfaces, thermal management, pre-installed Jetpack, all combined with decades of Seeed’s hardware expertise, helping to deliver seamless AI integration.
• Raspberry Pi CM4 powered reTerminal is a modular Human-Machine-Interface (HMI) facility, offering multiple interfaces and components. It is a hand-sized powerful, Raspberry Pi-based all-in-one board, helping designers to develop individual IoT and AI projects for use in industrial applications.
• Edgebox Industrial Controllers are a lightweight industrial edge controller series defined as an OT-IT Bridge in industrial automation scenarios, integrating PLC/PAC, IPC, IIOT gateway, OPC UA Server and HMI (Edgelogix-RPi-1000), functioning as one. Edge series devices can be used from compact industrial edge controllers to modular versions.
• Seeed Studio XIAO is a thumb-sized, yet powerful development board empowered by powerful and popular chips such as SAMD21, nRF52840, and ESP32C3 making it possible to address a wide range of applications. XIAO boards are compact with all SMD components placed on the same side of the board offering simple integration into customer’s designs and reducing time to market.
• The Grove System is a standardised modular connector prototyping system that simplifies the process of connecting, experimenting and building electronic projects by using standardised connectors and can be connected to platforms like Raspberry Pi or Arduino using a cable converter, providing a more accessible and convenient way to prototype and build real electronic systems.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said, “This new partnership with Seeed Studio is an exciting milestone for element14 signalling the continued expansion of our product offering. Seeed is renowned for innovation, and we are thrilled to add their entire range to our product portfolio. This collaboration enables us to better serve our customers by increasing our inventory to provide them with a variety of the advanced tools they need to turn their innovative ideas into reality.”

Eric Pan, Founder and CEO at Seeed Studio, commented on the collaboration, “We’re excited to partner with element14, a renowned leader in the electronics industry, to bring our advanced perception system to more industrial users. This collaboration aligns perfectly with Seeed Studio's mission to empower innovators with open technologies!"

Seeed supports global developers to employ IoT solutions in industrial settings for very diverse uses such as vineyards, packaging, retail, tea plantations, healthcare, husbandry, and research. 

The entire Seeed Studio product range is now available from stock at Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America

element14 announces global, in-stock availability of two new BeagleBoard.org® development boards: BeagleConnect™ Freedom and BeaglePlay®.

BeaglePlay is an open-source Single Board Computer (SBC) designed to simplify the process of adding sensors, actuators, indicators, human interfaces, and connectivity to a reliable embedded system.

The interfaces and processing power of BeaglePlay make it ideal for supporting a variety of systems. It has built-in wired and wireless connectivity, including innovative single-pair Ethernet and Sub-GHz wireless options, enabling it to connect to a vast selection of sensor and prototyping systems with thousands of options. It is an excellent choice for early adopters who want a simplified Linux experience they can expand without needing to learn to read schematics.    

BeaglePlay can be used in various applications, including retail and POS automation, vision analytics, medical equipment, smart buildings and Edge AI, and many more.

Key features include:

• A powerful 64-bit, quad-core processor
• HDMI Type-A supporting up to Full-HD/1080P with 24-bit RGB
• Innovative connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, sub-GHz wireless, and single-pair Ethernet with power-over-data-line
• Compatibility with 1,000s of off-the-shelf add-ons and a customised Debian Linux image, Simple expansion and customisation with ribbon-cable connections included for cameras and touch-screen displays, and a socket for a battery-backed real-time-clock
• Ideal for human-machine (HMI) interface designs
•  A competitive price and user-friendly design provide a positive development experience for users

BeaglePlay is also a useful development platform for creating Zephyr-based applications for BeagleConnect Freedom.

BeagleConnect Freedom is an open-hardware wireless platform developed by BeagleBoard.org built around the TI CC1352P7 microcontroller, which supports both 2.4-GHz and long-range, low-power Sub-1 GHz wireless protocols.

BeagleConnect Freedom includes:

• Rapid prototyping of IoT applications, accelerated by hardware compatibility with over 1,000 mikroBUS™ add-on sensors, actuators, indicators and includes additional connectivity and storage options
• Backed with software support utilising the Zephyr scalable and modular real-time operating system, allowing developers to tailor the solution to their specific needs
• Includes MSP430F5503 for USB-to-UART functionality, temperature and humidity sensor, light sensor, SPI flash, battery charger, buzzer, LEDs, and JTAG connections to make it a comprehensive solution for IoT development and prototyping
• The TI CC1352P7 microcontroller (MCU) includes a 48-MHz Arm Cortex-M4F processor, 704KB Flash memory, 256KB ROM, 8KB Cache SRAM, 144KB of ultra-low leakage SRAM, and over-the-air upgrades (OTA) capability. This MCU provides flexible support for many different protocols and bands making it suitable for many different communication requirements
• Rapid prototyping without wiring, utlising the mikroBUS standard which offers the flexibility to connect to almost any typical sensor or indicator with hundreds of devices available
• Full customisation is possible

BeagleConnect Freedom streamlines the rapid prototyping process by eliminating the need for users to develop microcontroller code or utilize userspace drivers. With BeaglePlay-hosted kernel drivers and collaborative support code, there's no need to cut and paste sensor interface examples . The Linux kernel has the necessary intelligence to interact with various external devices, so users don't need to rely on extensive microcontroller code libraries. Users can integrate a large number of devices without writing any code, and even the automation code required can be simple. People can spend less time writing complicated code and more time testing their ideas.

Maintenance of BeagleConnect is simplified because the software code base is not tailored to any specific network-of-devices configuration. This implies that any improvements made to the code base can benefit all users. Moreover, the BeagleConnect firmware source code is submitted upstream to the Zephyr Project, increasing the user base and providing a better chance of detecting and resolving issues or bugs.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said, “We are very pleased to announce our global in-stock availability of these two new boards from Beagleboard.org®. These boards are designed to be affordable and accessible, allowing hobbyists, educators, and professionals to experiment with and develop a wide range of electronics projects, from simple sensors and LED displays to complex robotics and Internet of Things (IoT) systems.”

Christine Long, BeagleBoard.org Executive Director, said, “These competitively priced introductions herald a new era in productivity for early adopters as well as experienced developers, both of whom will benefit from the speed and flexibility of BeagleConnect Freedom and BeaglePlay without having to write line-after-line of code.”

The new BeagleBoard.org BeagleConnect Freedom and BeaglePlay are now available from stock at element14 in APAC.

element14 now stocks NVIDIA^® Jetson™, the world's leading platform for autonomous machines and other embedded applications.

The range of Jetson small form factor, high-performance computer modules now available from element14 include the Jetson Nano, Jetson AGX and Jetson Xavier NX. Each module is equipped with NVIDIA’s JetPack™ SDK for software acceleration, supported by a surrounding ecosystem of relevant sensors, SDKs, services and products to further speed development. The JetPack SDK provides a Linux environment, CUDA-X libraries, APIs, and tools for AI edge development and also supports higher-level SDKs like DeepStream and NVIDIA Isaac.

Each Jetson computer is a complete system-on-a-module (SoM) able to meet virtually every power, performance and form-factor need across multiple industries. This means that the modules include a GPU, CPU, memory, power management and relevant interfaces. This enables Jetson OEM and development partners in industries from manufacturing, retail and agriculture to healthcare, waste management and smart cities to fast-forward the launch of a new generation of AI edge devices, but at a significantly reduced development cost.

With the aid of powerful technology provided by the NVIDIA Jetson platform, autonomous machines that are increasingly operating at the edge for robotics, machine vision, the Internet of Things (IoT) and intelligent video analytics (IVA) can now use the full power of AI to address some of the world’s most pressing issues.

The NVIDIA Jetson modules and their associated development kits share a unified software architecture that makes it easier for developers to expand their product lines and maximise the benefits to be gained from their investment.

The platform also supports cloud-native technologies like containerization and orchestration, which enables quick and efficient development, deployment and updating of AI edge products, even for the billions of devices in the field that require frequent updates.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, said, “The Jetson range has truly been a game changer in the rapidly accelerating move to the AI and machine learning advances that underpin the new industrial age referred to as Industry 4.0. We are delighted to bring these NVIDIA modules to developers who need the most sophisticated tools for edge computing applications.”

The NVIDIA Jetson modules are now available from stock at element14 in APAC.

element14 introduces the new innovative Clipzin™ Connector range as the exclusive distributor. Manufactured by EDAC and designed by OpenLX SP Ltd, the Clipzin™ range initially targets the Raspberry Pi® Pico and PicoW, and Arduino® Connect modules, with more options to follow.

Described as the edge connector for the IoT generation, Clipzin™ eases manufacturing and facilitates modularisation, encouraging sustainability by promoting easy inservice upgrades and reusability. It allows customers to produce one design that can be customised for flexibility, and to offer variants, reducing design time and the need to stock many versions.

Clipzin™ enables rapid connection and disconnection of sensor, communication and compute modules, such as Raspberry Pi’s new Pico. Designed for prototyping to production, a retention clip ensures that modules will not shake free after assembly or inservice, but allows PCBs to be easily swapped later if required. This makes it the ideal solution for developers, while also providing the security required for production.

Prior to Clipzin™, modules like PicoW required users to solder through-hole connectors to the PicoW as well as fitting a connector to their PCB. Clipzin™ requires only a surface mount connector to be fitted to one PCB, greatly improving production efficiency.

Key benefits of the EDAC Clipzin™ PCB connectors include:

• 20 way is available at launch with 6, 8 and 17 way coming soon
• Ability to semi-permanently mount one PCB to another
• Quick, tool-less assembly with positive, confirming 'click'
• Suitable for surface mount soldering, dramatically improving production efficiency
• Requires connector to be mounted on one side of one PCB only
• Gold plating for reliability

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at element14, says, “Clipzin™ is a genuinely innovative connector for the Raspberry PI Pico. It provides a new, solderless way of mounting the Raspberry Pi Pico to another PCB, which allows interchange between Pico models. We are pleased to be the exclusive distributor of this new product, which further supports our long-term commitment to Raspberry Pi and our extensive portfolio of their products and accessories.”

Chrissy Cooper, Sales Director at EDAC Europe, says, “We have worked closely with element14 for many years and have forged a strong working partnership. This initial exclusivity period for the launch of Clipzin™ is yet another demonstration of our mutual commitment to the success of our customers.”

Dr Andrew Robinson, Engineering Director at OpenLX SP Ltd. added, "With PiFace™ and CodeBug™, we have a strong history of bringing innovative products to market with element14. Combined with EDAC's years of experience it's a fantastic partnership to develop a new connector that makes it easier for people to use and reuse the growing range of modules such as Raspberry Pi® PicoW. Clipzin™ unlocks the efficiencies of surface mount manufacturing, over the cost and complexity of through hole assembly of existing header-pin solutions."

The new Clipzin™ PCB Connectors from EDAC, OpenLX SP Ltd. are now available from stock at Farnell in EMEA, and element14 in APAC.

 Farnell, an Avnet company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is now stocking the new DFRobot LattePanda 3 Delta single board computer (SBC). The new board is the latest addition to the LattePanda family and is a pocket-sized hackable computer, measuring 125mm x 78mm x 16mm. With headroom for exceptional creativity, the LattePanda 3 Delta supports Linux, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Compared to other SBCs at the same price, the LattePanda 3 Delta offers the highest performance and features Intel’s 11th generation mobile 4-core processor, the N5105. With up to 8 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, LattePanda 3 Delta is the most cost-effective product DFRobot have ever made. It is an ideal solution for artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications, smart city, edge computing, smart home, face detection and recognition, artificial intelligence server, intelligent monitoring, voice recognition, cloud machine learning and more.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing, Farnell, says: “LattePanda 3 Delta is poised to define a new era of computing and will be a driving force behind new levels of creativity for developers, tech enthusiasts and industry innovators. Designed as the world's most compact SBC, LattePanda 3 Delta is an exceptional board for space constrained applications which require high performance such as AI localisation, robotics, smart factory, home automation, gaming and handheld devices.”

Key features of the LattePanda 3 Delta board, now available for fast delivery from Farnell, include:

• Supports 4K IPS touch display: Ultra-high resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and HDR feature as well as two USB Type C and one mini-HDMI port.
• Faster Processor: The CPU of LattePanda 3 Delta is up to 2x faster than the previous version while the GPU is up to 3x faster to support usage including playing 4K HDR video and running processor intensive games.
• Supports Wi-Fi 6: With a transfer speed up to 2.4Gb/s, the LattePanda 3 Delta is 2.7x times faster than Wi-Fi 5. It is also equipped with a USB 3.2 gen2 port that has an ultra-high bandwidth, delivering up to 10Gb/s of throughput which is twice as fast as USB3.2 gen1 (previously known as USB3.0). Bluetooth 5.2 is included as standard.
• Gigabit Ethernet: The onboard port provides extremely high-speed internet connectivity.
• 42 expandable interfaces: The expandable interfaces guarantee true hackability and rich playability.
• Faster memory and increased storage: The board enables abundant creativity supported by 2933MHz high-frequency LPDDR4 RAM up to 8GB for smooth, superfast performance. Storage has been doubled, up to 64GB, for installing more software and data.
• Watch Dog and auto power on: Simplifies unattended operation.
• New cooling fan: Sustains the LattePanda 3 Delta’s high performance.

The LattePanda 3 Delta is also available with a Windows 10 license from Farnell.

Developers can achieve a significant performance boost by upgrading from the Celeron N4100 of the LattePanda Delta to the Intel 11th-generation Celeron N5105 processor with up to 2.9GHz burst frequency. The processor maintains almost the same pinout and layout as the previous version to allow for effortless system migration or upgrading by replacement.

Sandy Zhang, CMO of LattePanda Team says: “LattePanda Team is very proud to cooperate with Farnell on this launch. It delivers an exciting message to our customers that they can immediately acquire our high-performance and hackable LattePanda 3 Delta anywhere in the world. Our collaboration ensures we can provide even higher levels of customer service.”

DFRobot emerged from a local maker community in 2008 and was among the first to embrace open-source hardware. The company creates innovative, user-friendly hardware and software products that become the building blocks in all kinds of electronic projects, fostering a strong community of learners around it. DFRobot has expanded from open-source hardware to STEM education, manufacturing and other industries. The company’s production lines range from gadgets for Arduino, LattePanda, Raspberry Pi, micro:bit, to comprehensive learning kits for K12 students such as Boson kit, micro:Maqueen series and Mind Plus.

As a global distributor, Farnell can provide customers with fast access to easy-to-use products for project design. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and, element14 community.

DFRobot’s new LattePanda 3 Delta is now in stock and available for fast delivery from Farnell in Europe, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is now selling from stock the new BeagleBone^® AI-64 SBC board. This is the first 64-bit open hardware single board computer designed for building performance-optimised embedded applications and brings a complete artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning system to developers.

“We believe this board will capture the imaginations of designers and empower them to build complete and powerful AI systems,” said Christine Long, CEO of the BeagleBoard.org^® Foundation. “At an extremely competitive price point, we are excited about the new applications that BeagleBone® AI-64 will enable for new and experienced users.”

BeagleBone® AI-64 SBC provides the convenience and expandability of the BeagleBone platform with all of the on-board peripherals required to start learning and building applications. The familiar BeagleBone cape headers provide industry-leading expansion possibilities with hundreds of open-source hardware examples and dozens of readily available off-the-shelf embedded expansion options. A simple web browser, power source and network connection are all that are needed to start building performance-optimised embedded applications.

“BeagleBone® AI-64 represents a major milestone for BeagleBoard.org, satisfying some of the most requested features from our developer community,” said Jason Kridner, BeagleBoard.org Foundation Board President. “With multiple SuperSpeed USB ports, familiar BeagleBone cape expansion headers, and desktop-capable performance, the general-purpose embedded applications for this board are endless, with eight TOPS neural-network performance accessible through familiar Python libraries to boot.”

BeagleBone® AI-64 builds on more than a decade of success in open hardware single board Linux computers. Harnessing the power of the Texas Instruments™ TDA4VM SoC with dual Arm Cortex-A72 cores, a programmable C7x DSP core, and deep learning, vision and multimedia accelerators, developers have access to faster analytics, more data storage options, more high-speed interfaces. This gives developers a vast amount of computing power in an easy-to-use platform and includes connectors to create applications such as autonomous robots and drones; smart buildings and factories; home security; retail automation; media servers; machine learning; machine vision and computer vision.

The new BeagleBone® AI-64 board feature set includes:

• Expandability - BeagleBone‘s cape header compatibility for expansion with existing add-on boards and ikroBUS™ Shuttle header provides access to hundreds of existing Click™ sensors and actuators.
• Memory - 4GB LPDDR4, 6GB eMMC flash with high-speed interface and a MicroSD card.
• High Speed Interfaces - M.2 E-key PCIe connector to interface with WiFi/Bluetooth adapters, USB 3.0 Type-C SuperSpeed interface for power input and data, two USB 3.0 Type-A SuperSpeed interface and Gigabit Ethernet.
• Camera and Display Connectors - Mini DisplayPort interface, 2* 4-Lane CSI connector for camera options, and a 4-Lane DSI connector for popular display types.
• User Interfaces – Boot, Reset and Power buttons, Power indication LED and five User LEDs. A 5V DC input power, UART and JTAG 10pin Tag-Connect™ for debug is also included.
• TDA4VM Dual 64-bit Arm Cortex-A72, 2.0GHz processor - Featuring aC7x floating point, vector DSP, 80 GFLOPS, 256 GOPS, deep-learning MMA and up to 8 TOPS (8b) up to 1.0 GHz.
• Vision Processing Accelerators (VPAC) - With Image Signal Processor (ISP) and multiple vision assist accelerators
• Vision Assist Accelerators – DMPAC, Dual 64-bit Arm Cortex-A72 microprocessor subsystem at up to 2.0 GHz, six Arm Cortex-R5F MCUs at up to 1.0 GHz, memory subsystem with up to 8MB of on-chip L3 RAM with ECC and coherency and 12 multichannel audio serial port modules.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing, Farnell said: “We are very pleased to announce our global in-stock availability of the new BeagleBone® AI-64 SBC board. Engineers and hobbyists alike can now eliminate barriers from prototype to production with this revolutionary board, which has been built on open-source Linux from BeagleBoard.org. BeagleBone® AI-64 board places a massive amount of computing power in the hands of developers in an easy-to-use, single-board computer.”

As a global distributor, Farnell provides customers with fast access to easy-to-use products for professional use with a broad range of core SBC platforms and toolkits from leading brands including Raspberry Pi, Intel (NUC range), Industrial Shields and more. Technical support is offered 24/5 to ensure engineers can take advantage of the latest technology innovations for experiments and new product design.

Farnell can support customers as they take ideas from specification through to production with end-to-end product development solutions offered via the Avnet ecosystem. Customers also benefit from free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The new BeagleBone® AI-64 SBC board is now available to order from stock at Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced the winners of a competition to find the longest running Raspberry Pi application currently still in use. A diverse range of long-serving embedded designs and other Raspberry Pi-based systems were entered into the 6-week challenge, showcasing how Raspberry Pi is being used as a winning solution by design engineers and hobbyists alike.

This year marks Farnell’s 10-year manufacturing and distribution partnership with Raspberry Pi Ltd. In celebration of this milestone, Farnell launched the search to find the ‘longest serving’ Raspberry Pi-based application. Three entrants successfully demonstrated the oldest applications currently in use. Each of the three applications were developed in 2014, including:  

• A home automation energy monitor and thermostat application based on a Raspberry Pi Model B+. The application ran as a server for various applications including controlling home heating, showing a smart energy meter monitor display, internet radio client and Christmas decorations.
• A Softball PiCam using a Raspberry Pi Model 1B to make a camera that would capture video of a softball player running to first base by detecting the hit and panning a PiCam. The system is triggered by a directional microphone placed near the batter.
• A traffic congestion monitor using a Raspberry Pi Model B that checks motorway traffic and sends a notification to the user’s phone if there is a problem that would cause delays when going to work or returning home.

Other creative entries included a blood pressure sensor interface based on Raspberry Pi, a smart home security camera system and an automatic lawn and pond watering application.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “We would like to congratulate all major prize winners and extend our thanks to every participant who shared their innovative product designs as part of the competition. As the longest serving strategic business partner of Raspberry Pi Ltd, we are always on the lookout for anyone who can provide details about clever applications that showcase how the Raspberry Pi is being used around the world.”

The element14 Community has notified all winners of the major prize packages, which include 10 Raspberry Pi Picos and a Pi NoIR 8MP Camera. Winners have the option of claiming the prize for personal use or donating it to a local school, coding club or college in their country of residence.

Farnell stocks and provides 24/5 technical support for the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers, enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is also available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Farnell can support the provision and equipment bundling for bespoke large-scale programmes. Customers also benefit from free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The latest range of Raspberry Pi products and accessories are available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions has signed a new distribution agreement with KUNBUS to further enhance its portfolio of solutions for industrial automation and control applications. Design engineers can save time and money when using the devices, gateways, and expansion modules in the KUNBUS portfolio to implement Industry 4.0 into their business.

KUNBUS specialises in industrial communication for automation, process, manufacturing and drive technology provided by its modular open-source Raspberry Pi-based hardware platform, Revolution Pi. This flexible and cost-effective industrial-grade device delivers the performance and simplicity of the Raspberry Pi to the industrial control market. Farnell customers now have a broader range of solutions when designing automation and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) projects. The extra functionality offered by the digital and analogue expansion modules and gateways from KUNBUS also facilitate retrofitting.

The portfolio of products from KUNBUS are now available for fast delivery from Farnell, including:

·       RevPi Connect+: Powered by Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, the device offers users maximum freedom when designing and implementing IIoT projects due to the open platform concept. Two Ethernet sockets enable the device to be simultaneously connected to the automation network and IT network, allowing it to transmit machine data from the shop floor to the cloud or a higher-level IT system. RevPi Connect also features two USB sockets, one micro-HDMI socket and one micro-USB socket.

·       RevPi Core 3+: With up to 32GB flash memory, the RevPi Core 3+ is an ideal base module for those requiring more storage space than offered by its predecessor the RevPi Core 3. Powered by the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, the RevPi Core 3+ has two USB sockets, a HDMI socket, a micro-USB socket and an Ethernet connection as interfaces.

·       Digital and Analog I/O Modules: The range of digital and analog modules can transform Revolution Pi into an industrial control unit when connected to the base module RevPi Core. Three versions are available: a standard version with 14 digital inputs and 14 digital outputs, and two special versions that have either 16 digital inputs or 16 digital outputs. All are fitted with the same 28-pin I/O connector at the front. The RevPi Analog I/O (AIO) expansion module adds four analogue inputs, two analogue outputs and two RTD channels to a Revolution Pi system. Inputs, outputs and RTD channels are galvanically isolated to each other and to the logic circuit. RevPi AIO is protected against interference according to EN 61131-2 requirements and may be operated from -30 °C to+ 55 °C ambient temperature.

·       Modular Gateway Solution Series: Enabling continuous and reliable communication between different networks and systems, the Modular Gateway Solution Series from KUNBUS effectively converts all data that a target network can transfer. It omits non-transferrable data and adds necessary data in the new network to ensure communication from one closed network to another. Compact plug-and-play DIN-Rail mounted protocol converters may be added to connect one network to another and are simple to exchange as required.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “We are delighted to add KUNBUS to our portfolio. They are a significant addition to our ever growing offering of SBC solutions for industrial automation and control applications. KUNBUS offers a platform that further extends the performance and simplicity of the Raspberry Pi to industrial environments with the added benefit of enabling our customers to retrofit to existing systems which is a challenge in most sectors.”

As a global distributor, Farnell provides customers with fast access to easy-to-use products for professional use with a broad range of core SBC platforms and toolkits from leading brands including Raspberry Pi, Intel (NUC range), Industrial Shields and more. Technical support is offered 24/5 to ensure engineers can take advantage of the latest technology innovations for experiments and new product design.

Farnell can support customers as they take ideas from specification through to production with end-to-end product development solutions offered via the Avnet ecosystem. Customers also benefit from free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

A range of devices, gateways and expansion modules from KUNBUS are now available from Farnell and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, had celebrated its 10-year manufacturing and distribution partnership with Raspberry Pi Ltd on 14 March 2022. On this occasion we have launched a competition to find the longest serving Raspberry Pi application currently in use.

Please refer the original link to know more about the competition. Now there are only six days remaining for engineers, hobbyists, makers, educators and students to enter Farnell’s competition. Time is running out to secure a chance to win one of 10 major prize packages.

“We have received some fantastic entries so far, but our search isn’t over. As part of our 10-year partnership celebration with Raspberry Pi Ltd, we would love to uncover as many long serving applications as we can, and this is the last chance,” said Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing, Farnell.

A compelling selection of long-serving applications have been entered into the competition, including a motorway congestion tracker featuring an eight-year-old Raspberry Pi 1 Model B through to an automatic lawn watering and pond monitoring application using a six-year-old Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+. 

The 10 prize packages Farnell will give away each include 10x Raspberry Pi Picos and a Pi NoIR 8MP Camera. To enter the competition, participants must submit their entry via the element14 Community with a brief description about the application, how long it’s been working and current photographic evidence of their Raspberry Pi in action. 

Entries can be submitted into this global competition until midnight BST Saturday, April 30. The 10 prize packages will be awarded to the most successful applications in May 2022. The prizes can be claimed by the winners or be donated to a local school, coding club or college in the winner’s country of residence. Terms & Conditions apply, and the judge’s decision is final.

Farnell has been the longest serving strategic business partner Raspberry Pi Ltd and has helped Raspberry Pi become a global phenomenon, with tens of millions of units sold around the world. Those who wish to enter the competition should visit the element14 Community as soon as possible.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is today celebrating its 10-year manufacturing and distribution partnership with Raspberry Pi Ltd with the launch of a competition to find the longest serving Raspberry Pi application currently in use.

To mark this significant milestone, Farnell is giving away 10 major prize packages consisting of 10 Raspberry Pi Picos and a Pi NoIR 8MP Camera to professional design engineers, hobbyists, makers, educators or students who can demonstrate the longest serving Raspberry Pi application. To enter the competition, participants must submit an entry via the element14 Community, including a brief description about the application and a photograph to evidence their Raspberry Pi in action. 

The global competition is now open and participants can submit entries until Saturday, April 30. Ten major prize packages will be awarded to the most successful applications in May 2022. The prizes can be claimed by the winners or donated to a local school, coding club or college in the winner’s country of residence. Terms & Conditions apply and the judge’s decision is final.

Farnell has been the longest serving strategic business partner Raspberry Pi Ltd and has helped the Raspberry Pi become a global phenomenon, with tens of millions of units sold around the world.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “We are pleased to have been instrumental in the huge growth and impact that the Raspberry Pi has had across the globe, helping further education of younger generations and drive the development of innovative SBC applications. The rapid adoption of the Raspberry Pi has made it the UK’s best-selling personal computer of all time. Raspberry Pi is now the world’s third most popular general-purpose computing platform, after the PC and Mac, and is used internationally by millions of young people, academics, hobbyists and industrial businesses.”

Products featured in major prize

Farnell is giving away 10 major prize packages which includes the following products:

·       Raspberry Pi Pico – A flexible, high performance and low-cost development platform that can be deployed directly into end products. The Raspberry Pi Pico features 2MB of on-board QSPI Flash, 26 multifunction GPIO pins (of which three can be used in analogue inputs), and an onboard buck-boost regulator. User-friendly developer tools are available including simple drag and drop programming via micro-USB, 3-pin Serial Wire Debug (SWD) for interactive debugging, a comprehensive C SDK and a mature MicroPython port. With castellated pads, Raspberry Pi Pico is designed for integration into a range of professional microcontroller applications.

·       Pi NoIR 8MP Camera – The infrared camera module features the same 8MP image sensor as the standard Raspberry Pi camera without an infrared cut-off filter to increase IR light sensitivity. The Pi NoIR is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models and provides high definition, high sensitivity, low crosstalk and low noise image capture in an ultra-small and lightweight design. The camera module connects to the Raspberry Pi board via the CSI connector which is capable of processing high data rates.

Raspberry Pi application examples

Farnell is seeking examples of embedded designs and other Raspberry Pi-based systems that have been in operation for a significant period of time since the original product line launched in 2012. Legacy systems that have made a significant impact on innovative technology and deployments demonstrating longstanding use are of also interest to the judging panel.

Some innovative applications showcasing how the Raspberry Pi is being used around the world, include:

·       Robotic “otter” for tracking fish - The Norwegian University of Science and Technology Fish Otter project employs four Raspberry Pi 4 controlled autonomous catamarans designed to perform persistent tracking of locations of fish. Using tiny sound-emitting devices attached to fish researchers and conservationists can locate fish populations beneath the water’s surface.

·       Foot pressure sensors detect Parkinson’s disease - A team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has developed a foot-pressure-sensing insole to detect Parkinson’s disease. Signals from sensors in the insoles of a user’s shoes are sent to a wearable Raspberry Pi 3 to measure their gait as they go about their day. An abnormal gait can suggest a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and early detection gives people a better chance of a good quality of life for as long as possible.

·       Orchards saved from pests with Raspberry Pi – Researchers from the University of Trento have developed a Raspberry Pi-powered device that automatically detects pests in fruit orchards allowing early preventative action to be taken. An embedded system uses machine learning to process images captured inside pheromone traps and the Raspberry Pi computer manages the sensor, processes the captured images and transmits them for classification. When this task is done manually, farmers typically check codling moth traps twice a week, this automated system checks the pheromone traps twice every day, making it much more likely to detect an infestation before it causes damage.

Farnell is the longest standing Raspberry Pi Ltd partner and stocks the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers (SBCs), enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Farnell can offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

Find out more information and enter the competition at: Farnell, Newark and element14.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions has today announced the launch of its new Industrial Embedded Computers online hub. This dedicated online resource will provide design engineers with the latest information on cutting-edge industrial single board computers (SBCs) used in today’s most demanding industrial Internet of the Things (IoT) and edge computing environments.

Farnell’s new Industrial Embedded Computers online hub features a comprehensive range of technical resources, including articles, application notes, guides, projects and training modules, videos and eBooks. Visitors can also access Farnell’s innovative range of online calculators, conversion charts and component selection tools available from the Technical Resource Centre.

For easy navigation, the hub includes pages to highlight market-leading products from featured suppliers including Raspberry Pi, Intel, Xilinx, NXP, Arduino, Beagleboard, Industrial Shields, KUNBUS and Wittra. Visitors can easily peruse key product features and view the full range. The complementary application pages enable design engineers to drill deeper into specific areas covering industrial automation and control, and the IoT through to agriculture, automotive, maintenance, edge computing and more.

A recent global survey from Farnell illustrates the widespread adoption of low-cost SBCs by engineers working in IoT and industrial environments, with about 50 per cent of respondents using SBCs in these two categories. According to the survey, SBCs are now a valuable building block used in all stages of product development and production from proof of concept and prototyping to production and test rigs.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell said: “Today’s industrial embedded computers offer a powerful combination of high performance, versatility, features and accessories. Combined with their low cost, and large active user community, these development platforms are very attractive to engineers looking to develop and deploy a broad range of industrial applications in the shortest possible time. Our new Industrial Embedded Computers online hub will help our customers keep pace with new technological advancements. It is a simple and easy to use platform which brings together all our best-selling products, technical resources and application examples in one place so engineers can focus on innovation and easily overcome design challenges.”

As a global distributor, Farnell provides customers with fast access to easy-to-use products for professional use with a broad range of core SBC platforms and toolkits from leading brands including Raspberry Pi, Intel (NUC range), Industrial Shields, KUNBUS and more. Technical support is offered 24/5 to ensure engineers can take advantage of the latest technology innovations for experiments and new product design.

Farnell can support customers as they take ideas from specification through to production with end-to-end product development solutions offered via the Avnet ecosystem. Customers also benefit from free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The new Industrial Embedded Computers online hub is available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is now shipping the new-to-market Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single board computer, further increasing its range of Raspberry Pi products available from stock.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is a highly flexible and economical new member of the Raspberry Pi family and builds on the success of the current Zero product range. It is built around a Raspberry Pi-designed RP3A0 System-in-Package which integrates the BCM2710A1 die used in the launch variant of Raspberry Pi 3 with 512MB of LPDDR2 SDRAM.

Customers who are already comfortable working with Raspberry Pi Zero devices will appreciate the extra functionality of Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. This compact computer is suitable for building embedded Internet of Things (IoT) projects and wireless networking applications and can also be used as a general-purpose computer. Its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi Zero W, has been used in a wide range of applications from miniature arcade cabinets to electric skateboards.

Farnell is now shipping Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and accessories from stock. Key specifications include:

• Upgraded design: Built around a Raspberry Pi-designed System-in-Package, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W integrates the BCM2710A1 die used in Raspberry Pi 3 with 512MB of RAM.
• Functionality: Key features include a 1GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, VideoCore IV GPU, 512MB LPDDR2 DRAM, micro-USB power, HAT-compatible 40-pin header, composite video and reset pins via solder test points, and a CSI camera connector.
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), MicroSD card slot, Mini HDMI and USB 2.0 OTG ports.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is accompanied by a range of accessories including a 5VDC Power Supply (UK, US, EU, AU, IN), an official case, a 1m HDMI cable, a HDMI adapter (M/F), a 10cm HDMI Cable (M/F), an OTG adapter and a 1m USB cable.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “We are pleased to expand our range of Raspberry Pi products to ensure novice electronics enthusiasts through to professional design engineers can make use of new-to-market development boards to kickstart their projects. The small form factor, enhanced features and low price make Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W the perfect computer for running low-power jobs, particularly for applications where space is an issue.”

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK-based charity that works to put the power of computing and digital making into the hands of people all over the world. Its goal is to provide an easy-to-use maker experience for beginners, which is flexible enough for advanced users. Raspberry Pi provides single-board computers and accessories for educational and industrial applications, and personal computing products.

Farnell is the longest standing Raspberry Pi partner and has sold more than 15 million units to date. Farnell stocks the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers including the recently launched Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Farnell stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in classes, schools and multiple-school quantities and has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom. Farnell can offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is now available for fast delivery from Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced availability of the game-changing Raspberry Pi Build HAT and power supply, further increasing its range of Raspberry Pi products. The Raspberry Pi Build HAT enables Raspberry Pi computers to be integrated into the LEGO® building system, offering students, teachers, novice electronics enthusiasts and makers greater flexibility and affordability when designing new projects.

The Build HAT and the LEGO® building system can be used to create robots, cars, games, a smart house and even an egg-laying chicken. The Raspberry Pi Build HAT is the second Raspberry Pi product to be based on the RP2040 microcontroller. The LEGO® Maker Plate is available separately from LEGO® retailers and allows users to easily integrate the Raspberry Pi computers into the LEGO® building system. Users who are comfortable working with Raspberry Pi and LEGO® will delight in these two brands combining to enable a fun and creative learning experience.

Farnell will be shipping the Raspberry Pi Build HAT and power supply from stock in October. Key product features include:

• Raspberry Pi Build HAT combines the power of Raspberry Pi computing with hands-on learning experience of LEGO® to create a fun and interactive learning experience for students, teachers and makers. The Build HAT is compatible with the most recent generation of LEGO® Technic™ motors, and with sensors included in the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime portfolio. The Build HAT is easy to use from Python on the Raspberry Pi.

• Raspberry Pi 48W Build HAT Power Supply is the official power supply for use with the Raspberry Pi Build HAT. Key specifications include a 110-240V AC input and a 8V DC, 6A output. The product features a 1.5m connecting cable.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “Raspberry Pi Build HAT brings together world leading innovators Raspberry Pi and LEGO® by combining the Raspberry Pi computer range with the LEGO® building system. We are delighted to help inspire future creators by providing an expanded range of Raspberry Pi products which provide an introduction into electronic project design.”

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK-based charity that works to put the power of computing and digital making into the hands of people all over the world. Its goal is to provide an easy-to-use maker experience for beginners, which is flexible enough for advanced users. Raspberry Pi provides and affordable SBC system for education and to develop industrial automation and control, and personal computing products.

Farnell is the longest standing Raspberry Pi partner and has sold more than 15 million units to date. Farnell stocks the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers including the recently launched Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Farnell stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in classes, schools and multiple-school quantities and has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom. Farnell can offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The Raspberry Pi Build HAT and power supply will be shipping in October from Farnell in Europe, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

New research from Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, reveals that low-cost Single Board Computers (SBCs) are now a valuable building block in all stages of new product development and production. Some 50 per cent of professional engineers surveyed use SBCs for industrial and Internet of Things (IoT), the most popular SBC applications.

The Raspberry Pi is the most popular board with 44 per cent of professional users preferring it to other SBCs. Arduino was ranked second (28 per cent) with Beagleboard in third preference (6 per cent). These market-leading SBCs simplify new product development and reduce time to market, allowing Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to respond to market trends much faster. The survey also indicates that users of Raspberry Pi are most loyal and less likely to use another SBC than engineers who preferred a different product.

SBCs are being used in all stages of product development and production with 23 per cent of respondents using SBCs for proof of concept and 35 per cent for prototyping. Twenty-two per cent use low-cost SBCs in production units, with around 20 per cent of these products produced in volumes of 5K or more per year, and 20 per cent use for developing test equipment and testing.

The global survey ran from March to May 2021 and received nearly 1,500 responses from professional engineers, designers and makers working on SBC solutions. Two thirds of the respondents (75 per cent) were professional users and only a quarter were hobbyists or makers (25 per cent). The questions were designed to understand how popular SBCs from some of the world’s leading manufacturers are being used within professional products and projects.

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Use of Raspberry Pi and Arduino have a similar market share for makers, which suggests that engineers like to use a board they are familiar with from home projects at work.
• About 24 per cent of professionals build their own boards for use with the SBC, demonstrating the benefits of a standard compute platform with custom IO/interface electronics in many applications.
• Reducing time-to-market is a key objective for professionals, with ease of use and familiarity top priorities.
• Only 20 per cent of engineers are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in their SBC applications.
• High performance AI and more memory were the most common requests for improvements to SBCs.

• Touchscreens are by far the most popular accessory, however cameras and kits for enhancing power supply via battery or solar panels are also in demand.
• Professional users are much more likely to have customised boards than makers.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Farnell, said: “This new research clearly illustrates the widespread adoption of SBCs among engineers working in commercial, IoT and industrial environments. The success of the Raspberry Pi and Arduino is driven by a powerful combination of high performance, versatility, features and accessories, low cost and a large active user community, making these platforms very attractive to engineers looking to develop and deploy a broad range of applications quickly. The use of SBCs in prototyping provides opportunities for engineers to significantly reduce computing costs and get new products to market much faster.”

As a global distributor, Farnell provides customers with fast access to easy-to-use products for professional use with a broad range of core SBC platforms and toolkits from leading brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino (Portenta H7), Intel (NUC range), Industrial Shields and more. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

Farnell is the longest standing Raspberry Pi partner and has sold more than 15 million units to date. Farnell stocks the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers including the recently launched Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Customers can access the full range of SBCs by visiting Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has expanded its range of educational devices from DFRobot. DF Robot’s user-friendly open-source hardware and software tools are designed to inspire future creators by offering an introduction to electronic project design.

Farnell now stocks more than 140 products from DFRobot including a series of robotics kits and the popular Boson Starter Kit for micro:bit, which was awarded Five Stars in the 2018 Teach Primary Resource Awards:

• Robotics kits: DFRobot’s kits introduce users to robotics and programming by simulating real-world equipment and applications. The Max:Bot is a programmable entry-level DIY robot featuring motors, speakers and sensors that teaches junior students how to build a robot with direct programming and remote control operation. The Maqueen Mechanic Kit provides a hands-on introduction to functional machinery through the assembly of a robotic bulldozer and loading machine that can complete real-world tasks such as loading objects and sorting goods. For more advanced students, the 4-Soldering Light Chaser Beam Robot Kit and Insectbot Hexa teach enthusiasts how to solder electronic components while developing a basic understanding of circuits and programming to enable smart motion and obstacle avoidance.

• Boson Kits: Based on a set of easy-to-use modularised plug-and-play electronic building blocks, these kits include tutorials, course materials and free coding software that can be easily integrated with micro:bit and Arduino. The Boson Starter Kit for micro:bit is designed to teach first-time users about coding and electronics using sound and light sensors. The Boson Inventor Kit is an ideal tool for teaching STEM in schools and breaks down complicated circuits into simple, functional modules that are easy to understand. Requiring no coding or soldering, the kit also includes 12 activity cards for building interactive electronics projects with LEGO blocks. The Boson Science Kit is a set of digitalised scientific exploration tools for young scientists to build hands-on projects, The kit includes the eight scientific sensors widely used in modern Internet of Things (IoT) applications, allowing exploration of physics, chemistry and biology.

Romain Soreau, Head of SBC at Farnell, said: “DFRobot is a world leading innovator in the development of accessible and easy-to-use hardware and software tools for STEM education. Their learning kit range delivers hands-on tools that enable students to learn about new technologies in a highly creative and collaborative way. These are great additions to Farnell’s broad education offering and will help to further inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Farnell stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in classes, schools and multiple-school quantities and has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes.

The DFRobot range is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has expanded its range of single board computer (SBC) development kits with the addition of the OrangeCrab r0.2 open-source FPGA development board from Good Stuff Department.

The OrangeCrab expertly combines the ultra-compact Adafruit Feather form factor that electronic designers love with the high power normally associated with much larger Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) development boards. The OrangeCrab is based on the Lattice EPC5 FPGA and features two memory configurations including the ECP5 25F/128Mbit and ECP5 85F/521Mbit. The FPGA is compatible with open-source toolchain and perfect for experimenting with RISC-V and other softcore SoCs. The variety of peripherals built into the OrangeCrab makes it suitable for many real-world applications.

Users can port over CircuitPython to the OrangeCrab which is more than capable of hosting the interpreter. While not currently implemented, developers are free to target the FPGA itself with gateware synthesized HDL. For those more familiar with an SoC-level development platform, the ECP5 can run a RISC-V softcore. The LiteX project also provides developers with increased flexibility and capability.

Key features of OrangeCrab r0.2 FPGA development board include:

• Processor: A Lattice Semiconductor EPC5 FPGA with 24K LUT elements, 10-pin FPGA programming header and MicroSD socket with full-speed direct USB connection to FPGA.
• Memory: Memory options include up to 8Gbit DDR3 onboard system memory (x16) and storage 128 or 512Mbit QSPI flash memory. A μSD card slot increases the development board’s storage potential.
• Form factor: The OrangeCrab follows the slim feather board specification from Adafruit with dimensions of just 22.86mm x 50.8mm. It is small enough to be carried in a pocket while functioning as a full prototyping ground for custom SoC designs.
• Connectivity: The open-source USB bootloader enables users to connect over the FPGA’s native USB interface to upload code and access the memories over MSD. The standard 2x5, 1.27mm header is a great addition for those looking to develop applications on the USB layer.
• Power: Offering high efficiency DCDC for main supplies, a battery charger chip (100mA), a LiPo battery connector (PH type) and a 48MHz oscillator.

Romain Soreau, Head of SBC at Farnell, said: “The ultra-compact, feature packed and versatile OrangeCrab open-source FPGA development board is a great addition to our extensive portfolio of SBC development boards and evaluation kits. The OrangeCrab is a skilfully designed and versatile board that can be used for a range of professional applications – or by hobbyists with a keen interest in FPGA hardware.”

Good Stuff Department is a leading developer of open-source hardware products with a focus on micro-controller and FPGA development boards. The company’s founder Greg S. Davill was the mastermind developer behind the successful ArticKoala and ButterStick boards.

Farnell offers a market leading range of embedded computers, education and maker boards with a full range of accessories available for fast delivery. Customers can benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The OrangeCrab r0.2 open-source FPGA development board is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.