How many Linux and Android single board computers with a price of $39.00, compatible with Arduino shields, powered by 1GHz dual-core processor and with 1GB DRAM do you know? The answer to this question may decide how important is for any maker and hacker who develops things using prototyping platforms. The pcDuino3Nano is designed as a high-performance and cost-effective embedded platform which allows consumers to explore the power of Ubuntu Linux and Android.
With millions of hackers and makers worldwide who prototype things to explore the human needs, I will look at the most important features that make pcDuino3Nano a unique tool that would radically improve your work and allow you to build almost anything.
Anyone can realize that a single board computer with a set of features closer to Nano would typically go for about $60 or more. But the manufacturer makes it happen on a small board large enough to host no more than several coins.
Overview of pcDuino3Nano (image credit)
LinkSprite, a Colorado based company, added to its pcDuino family the $39 single board computer having the goal to help professional makers and hackers, and also the students and the hobbyists to enter in both software and hardware areas. Of course, using a Linux SBC doesn’t automatically make engineers better at their craft, but the embedded platform is going to make a big push for its users to embrace its enormous potential for prototyping robots, and Internet of Things or Industry 4.0 projects also.
To make it happen, the pcDuino3Nano is compatible with the popular Arduino ecosystem including the Arduino shields and is featured with easy-to-use set of linked development tools from the open source community.
For programming, the tiny board support C, C++ with GNU toolchain and also Java with standard Android SDK and Python. The 3.63 x 2.13-inch pcDuino3Nano can run Android or Ubuntu on the dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A7 processor with 1GB of DRAM. For storage are available up to 4GB of flash memory, and if an increased amount of memory is needed, the total onboard storage space can be increased up to 32GB microSD card.
One of the most important features offered in the Nano is related with compatible expansion header that supports a wide range of Arduino shields. More than that, its extension interface is similar with Arduino board and includes 14xGPIO, 2xPWM, 6xADC, 1xUART, 1xSPI, 1xI2C and 1xUSB OTG.
For the electronics enthusiast, the possession of a 5 volt DC embedded platform is the best workspace that can be used. And yes, to power the Nano you have to use a 5V power supply.
Read more: The new pcDuino3 is Featured Enough to Become your Next Option for Prototyping Things
I’m sure that if you’re working in the prototyping area you’ve been reading a lot about the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone or pcDuino. But you might still be wondering what the pcDuino3Nano could do more than these popular platforms. In robotics or automation, the best DIY projects use microcontrollers or cheap single board computers such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi. Is there place for improvements in the do-it-yourself area? Yes, there is a lot of space for more powerful and versatile platforms with support for extended capabilities. In this space is placed the pcDuino3Nano.