HawkBoard development platform combines ARM® plus floating-point DSP for high-performance, low-power Linux™ innovations

Based on TI's OMAP-L138, new development board enables developers to harness digital signal processing power and ARM performance

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Texas Instruments

Jul 13, 2010, 08:00 ET

BANGALORE, India, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovators, engineers, developers and hobbyists can now effortlessly create state-of-the-art products with the flexible, user-friendly HawkBoard, an open source embedded processor development board. This low-cost development board provides processing power through a robust ARM® and digital signal processor (DSP) and has multiple expansion and interface options to allow users to create end-use applications such as portable test and measurement systems, portable medical devices, public safety and military radios, power protection systems, networked audio/video servers and receivers, VoIP solutions and Qt development applications. The HawkBoard is available for global shipping today from Farnell.

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Offering portability and diversity in its small, 9x10-cm form factor, the HawkBoard, based on the OMAP-L138 processor from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), enables Linux developers to harness the power of floating-point DSP to design unique open source applications. Developers can utilize ARM without DSP with TI's pin-for-pin compatible AM1808 microprocessor from the Sitara™ family of processors. This low-power board requires only a five-volt power supply, allowing portability by connecting to a laptop. For more information or support for your innovations, visit the HawkBoard open community at www.HawkBoard.org.

HawkBoard key features and benefits
Features	Benefits
OMAP-L138 processor integrates an ARM 926 applications processor and C674x floating-point digital signal processor, delivering up to 450 MHz performance	Two processors in a single package increase board space savings and offer developers processing efficiency by allowing the ARM to support complex operating systems and the DSP to handle high-precision data processing
128 MB of DDR2 RAM and 128 MB of NAND flash	Large on-board memory allows developers to run multiple applications on an open platform
Built-in SATA controller supports SATA I and II interfaces as well as built-in MMC/SD	Allows developers to connect a high capacity storage drive or other memory interfaces
JTAG interface	Provides low-level debugging and reads/writes software and data into system memories
Two integrated USB ports, including USB on-the-go (OTG)	Power can be driven by PC or laptop, and developers can easily plug and play other USB-enabled devices
Stereo audio in/out and video (VGA) in/out interfaces	Facilitates a seamless audio and video experience
Contains serial interfaces and additional expansion ports (SPI, UPP, PRU, VPIF, GPIO, UART, I2C, LCDC, eCAP and eHRPWM)	Allows communication with numerous devices and customization for proprietary interface

HawkBoard.org webinars spur innovation

Further encouraging development of innovative open source applications, HawkBoard.org and Element14 announced today a series of "Hawk Tawks" webinars aimed at familiarizing industry innovators with the HawkBoard's wide range of end applications. Hawk Tawks will be offered July 20, July 22 and August 3. Those designing for work or fun can find more information and participate in the Hawk Tawks at www.HawkBoard.org/hawktawks.

For additional information regarding HawkBoard developments and innovations, or to participate in the online activities, please visit www.HawkBoard.org, the open source community portal that provides innovators with HawkBoard training while leveraging and supporting innovations.

Pricing and availability

The open source HawkBoard is now available worldwide at the Farnell website for 73.69 pounds ($108.86). Innovate Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of high-quality commercial engineering solutions, is the developer of the HawkBoard.

About HawkBoard.org

HawkBoard.org is a growing online community for the HawkBoard, a Texas Instruments OMAP-L138 / Sitara AM1808 open source development platform. The community encourages engineer-to-engineer collaboration and technical support and is facilitated by volunteers interested in creating and supporting low-cost, low-power open source innovations. For more information, visit www.HawkBoard.org.

Trademarks

OMAP and Sitara are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Texas Instruments