A complete robotics controller built around the BeagleBone open hardware computer

BeagleBone Blue is a complete robotics controller built around the popular BeagleBone open hardware computer. Linux-enabled, it is community-supported and fully open-source. High-performance, flexible networking capabilities are coupled with a real-time capable Linux system and a compelling set of peripherals for building mobile robots quickly and affordably. By utilizing the pre-configured WiFi access point, starting code development is as simple as connecting a battery and opening a web browser. The electronic components needed for a wide variety of mobile and flying robots are all included. The device has onboard two cell (2S) LiPo battery management with charger and battery level LEDs, eight real-time software controlled PWM/PPM outputs for 6V servo motors or ESCs, four PWM-enabled DC motor drivers, four quadrature encoder inputs, on-board sensors including a nine-axis IMU and barometer, a wide array of GPIO and serial protocol connectors including CAN, four ADC inputs, a PC USB interface, a USB 2.0 host port, a reset button, a power button, two user configurable buttons and eleven user configurable LED indicators. Built on Octavo Systems’ System-In-Package that integrates a high-performance TI AM3358 processor, 512MB of DDR3 and power management, customizing the Autodesk EAGLE based design to include any of your specific needs is simple and affordable. The device leverages and engages a large community of experienced Linux and robotics developers, providing integrated solutions for numerous robotics challenges. Designed and developed in coordination with the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab, the basis for the hardware and software setup has been utilized by hundreds of students already, before this general public release. Several programming approaches are supported today, including a C API supporting the integrated sensors and drivers, mainline support for the Ardupilot open-source autopilot software for UAVs, multi-rotor-copters and rovers and an evolving integration with ROS allowing for high-level programming in Python or across the network. Additionally, partners have created fully graphical programming options, eliminating barriers even to those brand new to programming. Not yet another microcontroller robotics platform, the high-performance interactive Linux-based Blue has test programs ready-to-run and cycles to spare, helping you get a robot moving fast.