$39 86Duino ZERO is an x86 Arduino Compatible Board that Supports DOS, Windows, and Linux

Intel Gallileo Development Board with a Intel Quark processor, and Arduino software and hardware, now gets some competition with DM&P Electronics’ 86Duino ZERO board powered by the company’s Vortex86EX processor and 128MB RAM, that is said to support DOS, Windows, and Linux.

86Duino ZERO Specifications:

• Processor – DM&P Vortex86EX 32-bit x86 processor @ 300MHz
• System Memory – 128MB DDR3
• Storage – 8MB SPI flash, and microSD card slot
• Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet (at the back of the board, not RJ45)
• USB – USB host connector, micro USB port for development
• Arduino Leonardo compatible headers
• Misc – Reset button, PCIE bus
• Power Supply – DC-IN 7 to 12V, or via microUSB port.

The board is comprised of a daughter board (DM-222) and a System-on-Module (SoM) either called DM-205 and or Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX which the following specs (some of which are not accessible in 86Duino Zero):

• Processor – Vortex86EX @ 300MHz
• System Memory – On-board 128MB DDR
• Storage – On-board 8MB SPI Flash
• Ethernet MAC + PHY
• SATA Interface
• PCI-E Control Interface and Target interface
• 8x ADC Channel
• USB 2.0 Port
• DMA Controller
• Interrupt Controller
• MTBF Counter
• xISA Bus Interface
• 10x COM Ports
• 80 Pin selectable multi I/O
  • COM with TX/RX only
  • RS485 Auto Direction
  • SPI 1 or 2
  • Parallel Port
  • SD/eMMC
  • I2C, CAN, PS/2
  • Ethernet LED
  • Clock Out WatchDog
  • HD Audio
  • MCM (Motin Control Module)

The company provides support for DOS, Linux, Windows Compact 7.0, QNX and VxWorkx for their Vortex86EX processor. A custom Arduino IDE, called 86Duino IDE, is available for Windows and Linux. Schematics (PDF and Allegro), BoM, and Gerber files are available for the daughter board, and the SoM’s schematics (PDF) are also provided. The company claims this is an open hardware board, but if that’s all they provide, they’re not fully compliant. Nevertheless, hardware files, tools, and application samples are available via github.

The company also have two other products featuring Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX:

• 86Duino One – Similar to 86Duino ZERO for with more I/O including 11 PWM outputs to control servos. It also supports 6 to 24 V input, and comes with with extra Line-out and  Microphone ports. The PCIe connector is moved at the back of the board (Mini PCIe connector). Finally there’s a CR2032 battery for the RTC in the SoM.
• 86Duino EduCake – This product is also Arduino compatible for software, but not for the header. It features a daughter board and a breadboard connected with the SoM, all placed into an enclosure. External ports include 2x USB ports, an SD card slot, headphones and microphone jacks, an Ethernet port, a DB9 COM port, and a micro USB port for power and development. The breadboard is accessible via the top of the enclosure as shown in the picture below.

Like for 86Duino ZERO hardware files are fully available for the daughter boards of the two aforementioned products. 86Duino EDUCAKE is destined to be used for eduction purposes, and some teaching/learning materials are available but currently only in simplified or traditional Chinese.

86Duino ZERO is available for $39, Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX for $32, and 86Duino EduCake for $49 on DM&P e-Store. Arduino One is not available yet. Further information is available on 86Duino website.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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