Highly Anticipated 32-bit "Due" due When?

Jantje:
low level language as C++

Now that's a surprise :smiley:

On topic - I see no much incommon between Arduino and R-Pi. Having IO pins doesn't make it a controller. I guess optimal solution would be having both boards at once, communicating and minding each it's own business. I wonder how soon a communication shield will appear for Arduino-RPi (to stack them together, not utilizing USB). Same goes for Due. I don't believe a computer can replace controller or vice-verso. It's like screwing nails and hammering screws.

Edit: said that, I'm just an artist :slight_smile:

I'm just an artist

You might be but you are quite right.
The raspberry pi expansion board is in fact very similar to an arduino complete with AVR processor.

It seems to me that this whole debate is about which viewpoint you have.
Fx. I see the RPI as a new Ethernet/Video Shield, while a RPI freak will see Arduino as a new RPI shield (they only have their Gert Board)

Kivig

kivig:

Jantje:
low level language as C++

Now that's a surprise :smiley:

According to wikipedia C++ - Wikipedia

It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features.

In the arduino context I say it is a lowlevel language as most of the high level features are not really usable.

Best regards
Jantje

Jantje:
In the arduino context I say it is a lowlevel language as most of the high level features are not really usable.

I somehow thought of convenience of compiler interpretation as high level... at least my brother debugging instructions in hex at that moment giggled :slight_smile:

OK, not January...

April 2012.

I would really like just one thing: Where can Ordinary Mortals actually order and pay for a Due??, so, we are at least in line with the rest of the Planet??

I was at least able to get in the queue for my RaspberryPi and now I have been told that I'll actually get it.. That feels a lot more like I have some connection to the process.

If you want an Arduino with the performance of the Due now, just buy a Uno32:

http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Catalog.cfm?NavPath=2,892&Cat=18

You can then buy a Due if and when it goes into production, and all your code should run on it.

If you want an Arduino with the performance of the Due now, just buy a Uno32:

You can't say that because you don't know what the performance of the Due will be. The processor decision has not been announced.

Grumpy_Mike:

If you want an Arduino with the performance of the Due now, just buy a Uno32:

You can't say that because you don't know what the performance of the Due will be. The processor decision has not been announced.

Exactly 8)
You don't even know which software and hardware incompatibilities there will be between 1.0 and the due. :grin:
Unless you are part of the team working on the due; in which case we would appreciate some information ]:smiley:

Greeting from Belgium
Jantje

All the latest Atmel Cortex-M3 parts have about the same performance, AFAIK.

The PIC32 used on the Uno32 has about the same performance as the Atmel Cortex-M3 that will be used on the Due. The PIC32 only runs at 80 MHz, but it has a five-stage pipeline, whereas the M3 only has a three-stage pipeline. I just can't see there being much difference in performance between the Due, if it ever goes into production, and the Uno32.

A few people have actually got prototype Due boards. Perhaps someone with one of those will provide some timings so that the two can be compared.

A recent tweet from the Arduino team

the processor is a SAM3/X from ATMEL

Hopefully this snippet of information means the release is close.


Rob

The SAM3X offers high-speed USB and Ethernet, which would make the Due better than the Uno32 in some ways. I'd guess that they are using the SAM3X4C:

Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be some time before they are available. I'd say it will be six months, at least, knowing Atmel's habit of announcing new devices long before they actually have working silicon. None of the SAM3X family is available, in fact.

At 84 MHz, the SAM3X will actually be slower than the PIC32 used on the Uno32.

Neither the 4C or 8E are showing as in stock at any of the usual distributors.

Why do you think they would use the 4C? it has less memory and no EBI, it is however 100 pins.


Rob

100 pins is the main reason. The designers will presumably want to keep the cost as low as possible, to compete with the Uno32.

I've been reading up on the 3X chips, they have some really nice features (CAN, LIN, EMAC, DAC, more memory etc) but I'm wondering if they are too complicated for an Arduino.


Rob

Hi Rob,

IF the software library support keeps all the simpler existing Arduino commands, I don't think it's a problem.

IF the documentation has a nice subset for beginners, even better.

IF the Price Is Right then having features/capabilities that many don't use is not a problem.

Consider a Mega today, and the many, many contributed libraries. That has a lot more complexity than most people use. And few use a lot of it at once..

What's your opinion??

All valid points, just because there is complexity that doesn't mean the average person has to deal with it. In fact that's what the Arduino idea is founded on.

It will be interesting to see how some things go, for example explaining to beginners how some analogWrite() commands produce a square wave and others an analogue voltage. This is where bad choices for function names eventually bites you in the arse. And if you differentiate between a "normal" analogue output and a DAC output what do you call the new functions, realAnalogWrite() :slight_smile:

There is the occasional push for "advanced" documentation that doesn't gloss over the hard bits, maybe this will be an opportunity for a bright young lad.

One thing using a 3X will do is squash the constant "generate a random number" threads, it has a TRNG.


Rob

For what its worth I received some SAM3X samples today - 144pin. Production is supposed to be July, though Digikey is saying it can ship May24th. The big advantage to the Atmel low cost ARM is integrated Ethernet, USB OTG, ADC12bits and 96Kb ram - and wide Vcc range.

Yep it looks like a nice chip alright, not a world beater but a good step up for an embedded board like the Arduino.


Rob

Shoes dropping: http://www.atmel.com/about/news/release.aspx?reference=tcm:26-41493

(not a lot of info there, though...)