Computing and Communication Platforms presented in the Marketplace
Our goal was to introduce already available hardware platforms to the SMART4ALL Marketplace that can be used by SMEs, startups and mid-caps to implement experiments or to develop products. As an expert on the field of embedded systems we focused on solutions that are already very popular and present in global markets and used by companies, startups, and universities for several years. Another very important aspect was to select platforms that are easy to use and great for fast prototyping in order to make it simple for users to implement experiments. We also compared price / performance efficiency and power consumption as well as connectivity, since nowadays these are very important factors especially due to the IoT era where systems are built of several devices that communicate together and are mostly accessed remotely.
Since our participation in Smart All is mainly focused on digitalization in the education area, we introduced several artifacts that are related to education, like FPGA, Python, C & MATLAB programming, signal processing, measurements, and control. Goal of this artifacts is to help universities that collaborate on SMART4ALL to get in touch with proper tools for practical experiments. Examples of current contributions are as following:
Hardware platforms currently available in the SMART4ALL Marketplace[edit | edit source]
| Type | Name | Link | Type | Licence type (open source, free, GNU etc.) | Supported operating system(s) | Pros | Cons | Typical usage (by companies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Raspberry Pi | [1] | Small single-board computers to promote teaching of basic computer science in schools and in developing countries. | Open source software (raspbian OS); hardware schematics available | runs Raspbian / Debian | -low cost
-many projects/examples of use available -strong community - possibility for wireless communication over wifi - many add on boards available to extend functionality |
-higher power consumption compared to microcontroller solutions | great for projects that require small integrated computer with app that runs on Linux OS with display functionality |
| Hardware | Arduino | [2] | Open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects. | Free development environment,
open-source hardware |
n/a | -low cost
-many projects/examples of use available -strong community - ethernet or wireless or bluetooth - many add on boards available to extend functionality |
-very little processing capabilities | great for embedded electronic projects that require low power consumption and don't require OS |
| Hardware | Red Pitaya | [3] | Credit size mobile IoT hardware & software platform that
replaces many expensive laboratory measurement and control instruments, great for education and as well for rapid product development |
Open source software;
hardware schematics available |
runs Linux Ubuntu | -affordable
-many projects/examples of use available -strong community -many test and measurement -applications available for free - ethernet or wireless control interface - sensor addon board available |
-higher power consumption 4.7Wats due to more processing power | great for projects that require small integrated
computer with app that runs on Linux OS, requires slow or fast signal acq. processing (DC-50MHz), also affordable substitute for oscilloscope, spectrum LCR meter, bode analyzer, FPGA dec. platform, ham radio sdr, rapid prototyping |
| Hardware | Hack RF | [4] | Wide-band software defined radio (SDR) half-duplex transceiver | Open source software / hardware | n/a | - affordable
- great for radiocommunications or spectrum research - open source code examples available |
- USB based, no remote control possibility | great for projects that require to observe or
generate frequencies in the spectrum from 1Mhz to 6Ghz |
| Hardware | Groove sensors | [5] | Modular, standardized sensor prototyping system, great for fast prototyping | Open source hardware, free drivers available | n/a | - low cost
- standardized connector and interface - drivers available |
- great for prototyping but not so great
for final products - sensors comes with no enclosure - sensors are not advanced or professional grade |
good for projects where sensors and control of
actuators is needed are needed (temperature, moisture, water level, relay, light sensors, etc.) |