CrazyPi is a maker board powered by Rockchip RK3128 quad core Cortex A7 processor that can take various magnetically connected modules such as LIDAR, gimbal, 4G LTE, etc.., and runs both Ubuntu and ROS (Robot Operating System) for DIY robotics & IoT projects.
CrazyPi main board specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RK3128 quad core Cortex A7 processor @ 1.2 GHz with ARM Mali GPU
- MCU – ARM Cortex-M3 @ 72 MHz
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3L @ 1066 MHz
- Storage – 16GB eMMC flash pre-loaded with Ubuntu and ROS
- Connectivity – 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi @ 150 Mbps, Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port
- Expansion Headers – Two headers with a total of 36-pin exposing 1x HDMI, 1x speaker, 1x microphone, 3x PWM, 1x I2C, 1x UART, 1x SPDIF, 1x SPI, 1x USB
- Power Supply – 5V via micro USB port ?
- Dimensions – Smaller than credit card
The full details are not available yet, but the company claims CrazyPi is “completely open source and DIY”, so I’d assume more details will eventually show up on CrazyPi github repo (now empty). A cloud service also allows you to stream the webcam output from anywhere in the world.
What’s quite interesting is that the board is designed to be connected to add-on boards, modules and accessories allowing you to build robots:
- Robotic shield board to control motors / servos
- Media shield board for HDMI output and use the board as a mini computer
- 4G LTE module (maybe part of the robotic shield board?)
- Crazyou 4K LIDAR sensor with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) function to automatically create map of your environment
- 720p camera module
- 2-degrees gimbal
- 4-wheel robot chassis
- 2x 18650 batteries and case
Again, we don’t have the exact details for each, but the promo video explains what can be done with the kits.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crazypi/crazypi-the-maker-board-designed-for-diy-robot-mak
Crazyou – that’s the name of the company – has launched the project on Kickstarter to fund mass production with a 200,000 HKD goal (around $25,800). The board is supposed to cost $29, but is not offered standalone in the crowdfunding campaign, so instead you could start with a $59 CrazyPi Media Kit with the mainboard, camera and media board. If you want the complete robot shown above, you’d have to pledge $466 for the CrazyPi Advanced Kit reward with the camera module, the mainboard, the gimbal, the robotic shield board, battery case and charger, the chassis, and LIDAR. Various bundles are available to match different projects’ requirements. Shipping to most countries adds around $19, and delivery is scheduled for October 2017. There’s not much to see on Crazyou website, but eventually more details may emerge there.
Thanks to Freire for the tip.
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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What happened to the word crazy? Well, here it is 🙂
The OS is preloaded onto the eMMC and there’s no microSD slot? No thanks.
@Razzburry_Pie
You should be able flash the OS over USB if you need to change it.
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)
That helps. But if the eMMC chip fails — and we know eMMC will fail at some point down the road — the board becomes a throwaway. At least with microSD’s you can replace it with another if it fails.