Product Review
Microchip and Digilent unveil PIC32-based Cerebot development boards
Clive Maxfield2/1/2012 2:51 PM EST
Comment
Aftab Sarwar
There have been good efforts for low cost PIC32 boards. Here is a free + open ...
Microchip and Digilent have just announced several new 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller (MCU)-based Cerebot development boards with prototyping capabilities for the Arduino-compatible chipKIT development platform.
The Cerebot MX3cK, Cerebot MX4cK, and Cerebot MX7cK (MX3/4/7) boards provide a single, general-purpose development platform for users to develop a wide range of 32-bit MCU applications using the free, Arduino-compatible chipKIT IDE – called the Multi-Platform IDE, or MPIDE.
Users can later migrate to development tools that are more widely recognized in the industry, such as Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB C Compiler for PIC32 MCUs. The Cerebot MX3/4/7cK boards break free from the traditional Arduino form factor, providing flexible pin access and connectivity with Digilent’s line of Pmod Peripheral Modules.
The new Cerebot “cK” development boards include hardware that enables connectivity to the MPIDE, so users can develop with chipKIT via a bootloader application.
Microchip’s PICkit 3 debugger/programmer can be used with the Cerebot MX3cK. The Cerebot MX4cK, and MX7cK, boards feature an integrated programmer/debugger.
These boards are each populated with multiple connectors for Digilent’s numerous Pmod I/O interface boards, which provide ready-made interface circuitry for LCD, wireless, motor-control, sensor and many other applications, minimizing the need for users to create original circuitry.
“These tools demonstrate our joint commitment to provide products that make it easy for new embedded users or experienced designers interested in using Microchip’s products,” said Mitch Little, vice president of worldwide sales and applications with Microchip Technology Inc. “Great attention has been given to these new Cerebot boards, in order to deliver a robust, forgiving design environment that is perfect for academics and hobbyists, at a cost-effective price point.”
Example applications
Numerous… anything that academics, hobbyists, artists and anyone else looking to incorporate electronics into a project would like to design.
“Students and hobbyists comfortable with Arduino can apply those skills directly to our Cerebot ‘cK’ line, and can quickly and easily enhance their designs on the robust hardware,” said Clint Cole, president of Digilent, Inc. “Our chipKIT-compatible Cerebot ‘cK’ boards enable students, hobbyists and experienced designers to easily create systems with added functionality, power and expandability.”
Pricing and availability
The Cerebot MX3cK board (part # TDGL008) is priced at $39.00 each; the MX4cK board (part # TDGL009) at $79.00 each; and the MX7cK board (part # TDGL010) at $99.00 each.
All three boards can be purchased today, at microchipDIRECT or Digilent’s e-Commerce site). For more information, please visit the Digilent Website, or contact Joe Harris at joe@digilentinc.com (+1 509-334-6306).
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
The Cerebot MX3cK, Cerebot MX4cK, and Cerebot MX7cK (MX3/4/7) boards provide a single, general-purpose development platform for users to develop a wide range of 32-bit MCU applications using the free, Arduino-compatible chipKIT IDE – called the Multi-Platform IDE, or MPIDE.
Users can later migrate to development tools that are more widely recognized in the industry, such as Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB C Compiler for PIC32 MCUs. The Cerebot MX3/4/7cK boards break free from the traditional Arduino form factor, providing flexible pin access and connectivity with Digilent’s line of Pmod Peripheral Modules.
The new Cerebot “cK” development boards include hardware that enables connectivity to the MPIDE, so users can develop with chipKIT via a bootloader application.
Microchip’s PICkit 3 debugger/programmer can be used with the Cerebot MX3cK. The Cerebot MX4cK, and MX7cK, boards feature an integrated programmer/debugger.
These boards are each populated with multiple connectors for Digilent’s numerous Pmod I/O interface boards, which provide ready-made interface circuitry for LCD, wireless, motor-control, sensor and many other applications, minimizing the need for users to create original circuitry.
“These tools demonstrate our joint commitment to provide products that make it easy for new embedded users or experienced designers interested in using Microchip’s products,” said Mitch Little, vice president of worldwide sales and applications with Microchip Technology Inc. “Great attention has been given to these new Cerebot boards, in order to deliver a robust, forgiving design environment that is perfect for academics and hobbyists, at a cost-effective price point.”
Example applications
Numerous… anything that academics, hobbyists, artists and anyone else looking to incorporate electronics into a project would like to design.
“Students and hobbyists comfortable with Arduino can apply those skills directly to our Cerebot ‘cK’ line, and can quickly and easily enhance their designs on the robust hardware,” said Clint Cole, president of Digilent, Inc. “Our chipKIT-compatible Cerebot ‘cK’ boards enable students, hobbyists and experienced designers to easily create systems with added functionality, power and expandability.”
Pricing and availability
The Cerebot MX3cK board (part # TDGL008) is priced at $39.00 each; the MX4cK board (part # TDGL009) at $79.00 each; and the MX7cK board (part # TDGL010) at $99.00 each.
All three boards can be purchased today, at microchipDIRECT or Digilent’s e-Commerce site). For more information, please visit the Digilent Website, or contact Joe Harris at joe@digilentinc.com (+1 509-334-6306).
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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Aftab Sarwar
2/25/2012 9:32 AM EST
There have been good efforts for low cost PIC32 boards. Here is a free + open source pic32 tiny breakout board:
http://electrodesigns.net/blog/pic32mx1-board/
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