chipKIT ecosystem expanded with Digilent development tools

4th December 2013

Staff Reporter

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The Arduino compatible chipKIT ecosystem from Microchip has been expanded to include two new development tools from Digilent, and an embedded cloud software framework. Minimising the the need for users to purchase additional hardware or shields, Digilent’s chipKIT WF32 board integrates with Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32MX695F512L MCU with Full Speed USB 2.0 Host/Device/OTG, its agency-certified MRF24WG0MA Wi-Fi module and an energy-saving switch-mode power supply that employs Microchip’s MCP16301 DC-DC converter, in addition to a microSD card - all while maintaining an Arduino hardware-compatible form factor.

Digilent’s chipKIT Motor Control Shield allows users to ake advantage of the extra I/O pins found on many of the chipKIT development boards, and also enables the development of applications using a wide variety of motor types, including servos, steppers and DCs. This additional I/O provides added connectivity and more features than traditional, lower pin-count Arduino shields.

On the software side, an embedded cloud software framework enables designers to easily create “Internet of Things” applications with the chipKIT WF32. Additionally, Digilent facilitates the rapid development of wireless HTTP server applications, via its comprehensive sample application that supports static pages loaded from the chipKIT WF32’s microSD card, as well as dynamically generated Web pages. The combination of Digilent’s chipKIT WF32 base board and its HTTP server example application provides hobbyists, students and academics with an easy way to add wireless connectivity to their Arduino projects. This board also provides professional engineers with a rapid method for evaluating Wi-Fi in their embedded designs, and for creating embedded cloud computing services using Exosite. As with all chipKIT base boards, the chipKIT WF32 can be connected to Microchip’s PICkit 3 programmer/debugger, allowing users to seamlessly move into Microchip’s professional MPLAB X IDE and XC32 C and C++ compilers.

Those who have an interest in robotics applications, such as hobbyists and students, will find that their Robotics robots are driven by the motor types that the chipKIT Motor Control Shield is designed to support. Likewise, Microchip’s PIC32 MCUs enable a high level of integrated features and capabilities onto a single board, reducing development costs and complexity for hobbyists, academics and professional engineers.

Digilent’s chipKIT WF32 (TDGL021) priced at $69.99, and chipKIT Motor Shield (TDGL020) priced at $29.95, are both available today.