Introduction
In the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in single-board microcontrollers. Nowadays, a trend has shifted towards the development of full-fledged credit-card sized computers like Arduino Mega2560, Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, Chip and even Beaglebone. So, These boards are low cost, low power, easily deployable and have user-friendly configurable options. This technology is speeding up and growing like anything as millions of pieces are sold worldwide till date. On the other hand, these boards are showing a tremendous increase in adaptability and implementation in diverse areas like Robotics, Drones, Smart Homes, IoT devices, Linux and Cloud Computing Servers and even more.
Overview
Beaglebone is a credit-card-sized Linux computer that connects to the Internet and runs software such as Android 4.0 and Ubuntu. It is nothing but a stripped-down version of its better known precedes BeagleBoard. BeagleBone has plenty of input & outputs and the processing power for real-time analysis is provided by Texas Instruments AM335x 720 MHz ARMA(r) processor. BeagleBone can be complemented with cape plug-in boards to augment functionality. It allows developers to evaluate Sitara, AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 processors with a single cable, under 10-second Linux boot; enabling development in less than 5 minutes. Adding cape plug-in boards to the popular BeagleBone computer allows hobbyists, makers and developers to quickly and easily augment BeagleBone’s capabilities with LCD screens, motor control and battery power, as well as the ability to create their own circuits.
Technical Specifications and Features of Beaglebone
Specifications:
PROCESSOR:
AM335X 720MHz ARM Cortex-A8 is the processor used in BeagleBone. The Frequency of the processor can be superscaled up to 720MHz. The processor has the following features:
- 3D graphics accelerator
- ARM Cortex-M3 for power management
- 2x PRU 32-bit RISC CPU’s
CONNECTIVITY:
- USB client: power, debug and device
- USB host
- Ethernet (10/100 Ethernet RJ45 socket, IPv4 and IPv6 networking)
- HDMI
- 2x 46 pin headers
SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY:
- 4GB microSD card w/ Angstrom Distribution
- Cloud9 IDE on Node.JS w/ BoneScript library
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS:
- Angstrom
- Debian
- Ubuntu
- Fedora
- Arch-Linux
- Gentoo
- Sabayon
- Build-root
- Nerves Erlang/OTP
Features:
- It has a large number of GPIO I/O Pins.
- High-Performance Computing experience.
- Supports deterministic execution hardware via a dedicated processing unit.
- Robust and Wide options for connectivity.
- Open Source Hardware technology- Giving Options to manufactures to integrate ARM Technology for developing cloned Beaglebone development boards.
- Open Source Software Technology- Giving Options to install a wide range of Android and Linux flavored operating systems.
- Support via the large and continuous expanding community of developers, users and researchers.
- Supports interfacing with a wide range of Analog cum Digital Sensors in turn opening doors for various IoT and Cloud-based projects.
- Low-Power Credit Card Small Size compact ergonomics.
Why Beaglebon is Important?
Beaglebone, a powerful ARM Technology-based development board is widely adopted by researchers and embedded systems enthusiasts all over the world because of the following reasons:
Networking Capabilities:
Beaglebone has onboard 10/100 Ethernet port. Apart from peer to peer network connectivity, it is capable for providing all sorts of networking services like FTP, TELNET, SSH and even has the capability to act as webserver to publish a website using Lighttpd web server package.
Remote Control:
Beaglebone has efficient networking capabilities, it also facilitates Remote Control access. In some cases, it is necessary to control Beaglebone remotely. Thus, with the use of VNC/MobaXterm based software, the entire graphical desktop can be viewed and edited remotely without any disturbances.
File system:
Compared to Windows, Embedded Linux file systems have much-enhanced security, organization and retrieval capabilities. Linux file system is known on ext3/ext4 which is pure file-based system providing much better capabilities towards managing and organizing system functions/system calls as compared to FAT32/NTFS file systems.
Time Management:
Beaglebone board is equipped with NTP (Network Time Protocol) which enables accurate time synchronization via Internet time servers.
Wide range of Programming Languages:
Beaglebone has the capability to support various compilers, tools and editors to facilitate users to write programming code of various programming languages like C, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Ruby, Shell Scripting, Ruby on Rails and even latest programming languages like R, even Hack from Facebook is also supported.
Supports Multitasking:
Beaglebone runs a Linux operating system which has the capability to run multiple-processes in terms of programs and tasks at a single point of time. Beaglebone provides users with Multi-tasking capability in terms of multi-processes without hindering its performance.
Growing Worldwide Support:
As of now, Beaglebone has plenty of users, research groups cum institutions and Hobbyists working on several multi-platform projects, any person using Beaglebone can take help from online forums, developer communities and even manufactures are providing customer support 24×7 which in-turns makes it widely adaptable platform across other development platforms.
Complete Analysis of Various Beaglebone Board
In this section, a review of various Beaglebone Boards available till date would be covered.
1. BeagleBoard
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Audi o/ Video) | Storage/ Network Option | Internal Modules | Software | Price |
| OM AP3 530 | AR MCort ex A8 | Pow er VR SGX 530 | TMS 320C 64x+ | 128 MB | USB (OTG), DVI-D | MMC/S D/SDIO. Ethernet | McBSP, DSS,I 2C, UART, McSPI, PWN, JTAG | Debian/ Gentoo/ Ubuntu/ Angstrom | $125 |
Applications: Linux based Projects, IoT Applications, Drones, Robotics
2. Beaglebone xM
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Audi o/ Video) | Storage/ Network Option | Internal Modules | Software | Price |
| DM3 730 | ARM Corte x A8 | Powe r VR SGX 530 | TMS 320 C64 x+ | 512 | 4 usb, DVID, S-video, 3.5mm Audio | microSD /Fast Ethernet | McBSP, DSS, I 2C, UART, McSPI, PWN, JTAG, Camera Interface | Ubuntu, XBMC, Android, Angstrom Linux | $149 |
Applications: Medical Equipment, IoT Devices, Robotics, RC Helicopters.
3. Beaglebone
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Aud io/ Video) | Storage/Network Option | Internal Module s | Software | Price |
| AM3 358/9 | ARMCortex A8 | Power VR SGX5 30 | N/A | 256 | 1 USB, Cape Add-ons | Fast Ethernet | t UART, PWM, GPMC, MMC, SPI, I2C, ADC, CAN bus, Timers, JTAG | Ubuntu, Android 4.0, Angstrom Linux | $89 |
Applications: IoT, Cloud Computing, Super Computer such as Cluster of Board’s, 2.4 GHz RC Planes.
4. Beaglebone Black
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Audi o/ Video) | Storage/ Networ k Option | Internal Modules | Software | Price |
| AM 335 8/9 | ARM Corte x A8 | Powe r VR SGX 530 | N/A | 512 | 1 USB Micro-HDMI, cape add-ons | Fast Ethernet | UART, PWM, GPMC, MMC, SPI, I2C, ADC, CANbus, Timers, JTAG | Ubuntu, Android, Debian, Cloud 9 IDE on Node.js w/Bones cript Library | $55 |
Applications: Robotics, Solar Technology, Full-Fledged Portable PC, Spider Bot, Camera Drones.
5. SeeedStudio Beaglebone Green (BBG)
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Aud io/ Video) | Storage/ Network Option | Internal Modules | Software | Price |
| AM3 35x | ARM Cortex A8 | Power VR SGX5 30 | N/A | 512 | 1 USB, Micro HDMI | Fast Ethernet | UART, PWM, GPMC, MMC, SPI, I2C, ADC, CAN bus, Timers, JTAG | Ubuntu, Android, Debian, Cloud 9 IDE on Node.js w/Bones cript Library | $39 |
Applications: Smart Homes, IoT Gadgets, DIY Projects based on Smart Lightning, Robotics, High-End Surveillance Drones.
6. Beagleboard-X15
| SoC | CPU | GPU | DSP | RAM | Connectivity Options(Aud io/ Video) | Storage/ Network Option | Internal Modules | Software | Price |
| Sitara AM5 728 | ARM Corte x A15 | Dual Powe r VR SGX 544 | Dual TMS 320C 66X | 2 GB | 3 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, HDMI, LCD via expansion | Gigabit Ethernet | UART, GPMC, SPI, I2C, ADC, CAN bus. | Ubuntu, Android, Debian, Cloud 9 IDE on Node.js | _ |
Applications: Network Security, Portable Linux Power Machine, Drones, Robotics, Telecommunication, Sensor Network, IoT, Super Computing etc.
Optional expansion boards
- BeagleBoard Zippy – Expander daughter card for BeagleBoard.
- BeagleBoard Zippy2 – Second-generation Zippy such as UART, EEPROM, 100BASE-T, SD-Slot, RTC, I²C (5 V).
- BeagleTouch Display – It has Touchscreen 4.3″ OLED panel with touchscreen, and drivers for Angstrom Linux built by Liquidware.
- BeagleLCD2 Expansion Board – 4.3″ wide-aspect LCD panel + touchscreen with the interface board.
- BeagleJuice – Lithium-ion battery pack for portability developed and built by Liquidware.
- WLAN adapter – A additional expansion card enables wireless connectivity functionality for the BeagleBoard.
- BeadaFrame – 7″ TFT LCD kit includes a touch panel and a plastic frame, by NAXING Electronics.
- 4DLCD CAPE – 4.3″, 480×272 resolution LCD cape with resistive touch or non-touch and seven push buttons
- Vifff-024 – A very sensitive camera allowing capture of video stream at quarter moon illumination.
