Arduino has debuted a new board dubbd the Arduino Due. The device is powered by an ARM Cortex M3 processor and is targered at modders interested in projects requiring higher computing power. To be sure, Arduino specifically highlights the Due as an ideal piece of hardware for projects such as remote-controlled drones that need to process heavy loads of sensor data to fly.
Arduino says that the Due is also perfect for students who want to learn the inner workings of the ARM processor in a cheaper and easier way than before. Of course, the Due can also be used for scientific projects that require the rapid and accurate acquisition of data. In addition, the board offers devs a viable platform for the creation of open-source tools.
Indeed, the new platform is designed to help the open-source digital fabrication community achieve higher resolutions and faster speeds with fewer components than was previously required. Meaning, using the new Due board, 3-D printers, laser cutters, and CNC milling machines will be able to operate more efficiently than in the past.
The specific processor the board uses is a SAM3X8E from Atmel based on a 32-bit Cortex M3 operating 84 MHz. The Arduino Due also features USB 2.0 interface operating at 480 Mb that allows the board to act as a USB host. That means you can interface other USB devices with the board such as mice, keyboards, cameras, and more.
The Due also supports the Android ADK 2012 protocol and has 12 analog inputs 12-bit resolution, along with four high-speed serial communications ports, 70 input/output pins, a high-speed CAN interface, 12 PWM channels and two i2C bus.
Additional specs include:
- Microcontroller AT91SAM3X8E
- Operating Voltage 3.3V
- Input Voltage (recommended) 7-12V
- Input Voltage (min/max) 6-20V
- Digital I/O Pins 54 (of which 6 provide PWM)
- Analog Input Pins 12
- Analog Output Pins 2 (DAC)
- Total DC Output Current on all I/O lines 130 mA
- DC Current for 3.3V Pin 800 mA
- DC Current for 5V Pin theoretical 1A, recommended 800 mA
- Flash Memory 512 KB
- SRAM 96 KB (64 + 32 KB)
- Clock speed 84 MHz
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Debug access JTAG/SWD connector
