After working on the Goldilocks project, we're moving forward and developing a new ATmega1284P-powered Arduino compatible board for general release. However before hitting the "Go" button on manufacturing, we're taking the time to ask for your ideas, opinions, suggestions and feature requests.
That is - what do you want out of such a board? Naturally you'll get the extra memory and CPU speed - consider the following:
| ATmega1284P board | Freetronics Eleven/Arduino Uno | Freetronics LeoStick/Arduino Leonardo | |
| SRAM | 16kB | 2kB | 2.5kB |
| Flash | 128kB | 32kB | 32kB |
| EEPROM | 4kB | 1kB | 1kB |
| Clock | 20MHz | 16MHz | 16MHz |
Apart from the benefits of the better microcontroller, we could add a lot more features - or none at all (think Uno with '1284P). So what would you like? A DIP-format MCU so you can replace it at will? Memory card socket? Certain type of power supply? Or something we haven't thought of in the past?
Kindly leave your feedback in the Freetronics forum post accessible from here. And to keep up with news and other information, we're on twitter and Google+, so follow us for news and product updates as well.
In the meanwhile, if you're looking for an Arduino Uno-compatible board, choose what tens of thousands of others have done and use our Freetronics Eleven - the Arduino-Uno compatible with low-profile USB socket, onboard prototyping space and easy to view LEDs:
Comments
Jump to comment formChtistian said:
DS3231-based RTC (spi)
SDCard socket
Ethernet
(basically EtherMega with 1284 instead of 2560 + RTC)
Paul Alting said:
I wouldn’t put Ethernet on it, you already have a few boards with Ethernet.
Not unless, you give the option to power what ever Wiznet chip down if not needed.
If you do put Ethernet on it, go with a modern version of Wiznet, not the old 5000 series.
The SMPS is a must, you should have that on your EtherTen.
Yes, a real RTC on board would be nice, with battery, might need to be verticle battery holder.
Make sure you make the second USART available.
Another thing, how about making the board a little wider and have additional holes for screw terminals.
Then you can screw wires directly into the board and still have shields.
I’d like what the 1284 Goldielocks has, even though I’ve been faithful to your EtherMega boards.
Tim Stockman said:
Keep it basic – need shield compatibility and ability to move 2nd USART pins to suit and not affect external interrupt pins for example – OR make the 2nd USART feed D0 & D1 and the first USART for the programming/USB? With all that extra RAM software serial is not such an issue I guess!
All the fluff can be added with shields if need be and just jacks up the cost for those of us that JUST need the extra RAM. Ev
Juha Meriluoto said:
I’d go with just battery-backed RTC and SD card socket.
HD said:
Maybe you could also sell the 1284 chip separate like you do with the 328p?
David Eather said:
Keep it mostly basic. Uno footprint, DIP chip if possible and SD card.
Or perhaps 2 new boards: one basic and one fully loaded.
Bruce Vernham said:
I’d go with just battery-backed RTC and SD card socket.
Please use FTDI!
effgee said:
+1 for battery backed RTC
+1 for SD card socket
+1 for ’standard" uno footprint
guess who’s thinking “diy datalogger” :)
Bruce Vernham said:
SD card should be full size and microSD’s have poorer SPI performance than full size SD cards.
Philip Sharp said:
base it on the XMEGA chipset A3BU with built in RTC /USB/DAC/ADC add Battery
256MB Flash
upto 32MHz
keep microSD
3.3/5V tolerant digitals
Servo'd said:
DIP footprint for the MCU.
Not just a suggestion but a downright requirement.
nesa said:
yes i second the dip footprint. i would also keep the uno compatable. but i would add a non arduino connetor so that a daughter board could be added (maybe on the side) to get to the other features of the chip. and still be able to use it as standard UNO.
Peter said:
1 battery backed RTC
SD card socket – use a logic level chip (not resistors)
hiduino said:
I still say we need a drop in replacement for the Uno with more RAM and Flash. So many times I have need for an Uno form factor but with more RAM. It needs to be as much compatible with the Uno so there will be little to no modifications needed for a drop in replacement.
Tim said:
Another one for RTC & SD/microSD please.
While there are lots of RTC add-ons, none of them seem particularly elegant. A small unit with standalone capabilities is what’s missing – plenty of choices with ethernet, but rtc would be appreciated.
Jeff said:
I’d like to see it use a baud friendly crystal, i.e. 18.4320, 20.2752, 22.1184.
Adrian Levi said:
*DS3231 RTC battery backed with interrupt connected.
*SDcard slot.
*ESP8266 onboard.
*LiPo battery.
*Solar charger.
I’m not fussed with sticking to the arduino form factor.
Boris said:
Hi,
It has now been just over a year. What is the status of the board?
Personally, i have a couple of great ideas for one… bit will share if the status is shared, and the ideas I have will become a “must have” ;-)
Elsewise, I would in theory agree with the following people:
Servo’d,
HD,
effgee,
and
David Eather
Message me if you would like details ;-)
John said:
We don’t have any ETA at the moment. I believe Phillip Stevens is working on his own new version.
Greypanda said:
I really wish someone would redesign the Arduino headers to get rid of that really stupid .160 spacing. Optional ethernet/wifi using wiznet 5200 or ESP8266.
Shane said:
I’d like to control an SLA printer using a CNC shield, but have the beefier RAM to allow a full modified Marlin to live on the board, whereas an Uno probably doesn’t have enough flash. I’d also like to use an ESP8266 module to supply the GCODE to the printer, so a header for that would be helpful.
Chris said:
TXCO driven clock please!
Dorival said:
Simple and low cost, please. Put in the board one conector to a ESP8266 and this board will have the extra memory and a simple way to get a time in the internet. If possible, publish an aticle to explain how program the ATMEGA wireless using the ESP8266.
Vino said:
+1 on the ESP8266. Make space for a ESP-01 header.
Herve said:
small board with no usb to serial (low power):
- all pin broken out on 3 rows on each side (exterior signal then vcc then gnd internal – servo compatible)
- FTDI pins on one end of the board
- ICSP and I2C headers (x2 or x3) with VCC and ground on the other end with reset button on between (but on the edge to be easilly accessible)
- “pad ready” for I2C resistors near the I2C headers
Tomasz said:
Two versions
1:
- microSD card slot
- dual operating voltage 3.3V and 5V
- RTC with battery backup
2:
- all above
- li-poly battery with charging circuit, would be nice to have it monitored via voltage divider (like Feather boards),
- ESP8266 header
- built-in Ethernet
Does not have to be 100% same form factor as Arduino
Vino said:
I’ve noted trending towards smaller footprint devices (think Arduino MKR, RPi Zero, Ada Feather etc.) and 3.3V (better suited for battery dependent projects).
I would love to see a Goldilocks on a small footprint – like the Nano, and/or a pro version like the Pro Mini (with external FTDI).
The trick here is to pick a pin-layout that will make this more usable with the existing market shields in those formats. This also means the Uno size can be offered as a sheild.
Avijit Das said:
IMO…1284p is a powerhouse, that alone should be its selling point, so make it run at 24+ MHz, make ALL the IOs available within the UNO form factor, place a microSD slot, and an RTC battery connector.