Microchip and Digilent launch first Arduino-compatible 32-bit microcontroller development platform

The chipKIT boards and software provide more features, performance and functionality than any other Arduino solution on the market. With boards starting at just $26.95 each, academics and hobbyists can experience four times the performance of any existing Arduino solution and have projects up and running in minutes.

The platform consists of two PIC32-based development boards and open-source software that is fully compatible with the Arduino programming language and development environment. The chipKIT hardware is compatible with existing Arduino shields and applications, and can be developed using the Arduino IDE and existing resources, such as code examples, libraries, references and tutorials. The easy-to-use, low-cost solution supports project development by hobbyists and academics from many disciplines, such as mechanical engineering, computer science and even art.

The PIC32-based chipKIT boards enable 80 MHz performance, and provide up to 512 KB Flash, with up to 128 KB RAM. They 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 Analogue-to-Digital Converter (ADC), two comparators, and multiple I2C™, SPI, and UART interfaces. The chipKIT
integrates Microchip’s PIC32 microcontroller which is the highest performance 32-bit microcontroller in its class, featuring the industry-leading MIPS32® M4K® core from MIPS Technologies, Inc.

The software has been engineered 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. With the exception of a small number of shields that require 5V operation, the vast majority of existing Arduino hardware and software applications are fully compatible with the chipKIT platform, without modification.

The chipKIT Uno32™ (part # TDGL002) development board, priced at $26.95, is a clone of the Arduino Uno board and features 128 KB Flash programme memory and 16 KB RAM, with two each I2C, SPI and UART peripherals. The chipKIT Max32™ (part # TDGL003) development board, priced at $49.50, is a clone of the Arduino Mega board and features 512 KB Flash programme memory and 128 KB RAM, with USB, CAN and Ethernet communication, as well as five I2C, four SPI, and six UART peripherals.

Both chipKIT boards and supporting open-source are available today, with chipKIT Network and I/O Shields expected to be available in June 2011.