What to do with the UDOO?

The UDOO is a ARM-based Linux board like the Raspberry Pi, with a second ARM processor onboard to mimic the Arduino Due which is now raising money on Kickstarter. It has some impressive specifications. The main CPU is either a dual or quad core ARM cortex-A9 CPU, and alongside that is the Arduino Due’s ARM SAM3X.

UDOO's ARM CPUs and Arduino compatible pinout, connections.
UDOO’s ARM CPUs and Arduino compatible pinout, connections.

It has integrated graphics, with acceleration for OpenGL® ES2.0 3D and OpenVG™, 1 GB or DDR3 RAM, 54 Digital I/O and Analog Input (with an pinout compatible with the Arduino R3), Ethernet, on-board WiFi, HDMI, USB, SATA, analog audio. Like the Raspberry Pi it boots from a Micro SD device.

The UDOO

Despite their pitch, I’m not entirely sure what niche this board is for. It’s an impressive piece of hardware, but effectively it’s a laptop with a built-in Arduino. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to get one. But I can’t think of a use for this that isn’t met better by having independent boards. If you can think of something, leave a comment, I’d love to figure out what this is for other than just having one.

Although they’ve already met their goal the Kickstarter for the UDOO runs until Early June. Boards are expected to ship around September.

1 thought on “What to do with the UDOO?

  1. Greg Laden says:

    Well, you can use the arduino part to operate a power switch so this little computer can turn itself off with a software command. The controller can also pick up temperature and run a fan as needed. Motion sensors to beep loudly when someone picks it up.

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Alasdair Allan is a scientist, author, hacker and tinkerer, who is spending a lot of his time thinking about the Internet of Things. In the past he has mesh networked the Moscone Center, caused a U.S. Senate hearing, and contributed to the detection of what was—at the time—the most distant object yet discovered.

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