Microchip, Digilent Launch Arduino-compatible 32-bit MCU Development Platform

Microchip Technology Inc. and Digilent Inc. have launched the first 32-bit-microcontroller-based, open-source development platform that is compatible with Arduino hardware and software. Designed and manufactured by Digilent, a Microchip Authorized Design Partner, the chipKIT platform is the first and only 32-bit Arduino solution in the industry to enable hobbyists and academics to easily, and inexpensively, integrate electronics into their projects, even if they do not have an electronic-engineering background.

The platform consists of two PIC32-based development boards and open-source software that is compatible with the Arduino programming language and development environment, thanks to the incredible work done by Mark Sproul and Rick Anderson through Fair Use Building and Research Labs. The chipKIT hardware is compatible with existing 3.3V Arduino shields and applications, and can be developed using a modified version of the Arduino IDE and existing Arduino resources, such as code examples, libraries, references and tutorials.

Hobbyists and academics from many disciplines, such as mechanical engineering, computer science and even art, want easy-to-use, low-cost solutions for creating projects. The PIC32-based chipKIT boards enable 80MHz performance, and provide up to 512kB Flash, with up to 128kB RAM. The boards feature connectivity peripherals, including Ethernet, CAN, and USB (Full-Speed Host, Device and OTG); plus peripherals such as multiple timers, a 16-channel 1 MSPS Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), two comparators, and multiple I2C, SPI, and UART interfaces. Not only is chipKIT the first Arduino-compatible platform to provide 32-bit performance, but Microchip’s PIC32 MCU is also the highest performance 32-bit device in its class, featuring the industry-leading MIPS32 M4K core from MIPS Technologies Inc.

A tremendous software engineering effort has been invested to ensure maximum compatibility with existing Arduino shields, applications and courseware. The Arduino programming environment has been modified and extended so that it supports the PIC32-based chipKIT boards, as well as traditional Arduino boards. The Arduino standard libraries have been also been modified to support chipKIT boards and traditional Arduino boards. All of this work has been contributed back to the open-source Arduino community. Aside from a small number of shields that require 5V operation, many existing Arduino hardware and software sketches are compatible with the chipKIT platform, without modification.

“Students, educators and hobbyists, with or without electronic-engineering backgrounds, are looking for inexpensive solutions that will enable them to easily integrate electronics into their projects,” said Derek Carlson, Microchip’s Vice President of Development Systems. “The chipKIT boards and software meet these needs, providing far more features, performance and functionality than any other Arduino solution on the market, at a low cost.”

"The chipKIT platform is the first and only 32-bit solution of its kind in the industry," said Clint Cole, President of Digilent. "Academics and hobbyists can plug the boards into their design, download the open-source software and have their project up and running in minutes."

Digilent

Microchip Technology