As you know, I'm wrapping up FastSPI_LED2 support for arduino platforms and arm with

As you know, I’m wrapping up FastSPI_LED2 support for arduino platforms and arm with the teensy3. Here’s a rough roadmap for what will be coming down the line after this first release is out the door:

  • DMA support on the teensy 3
  • Arduino due support (possibly w/DMA support? Remains to be seen)

Also - I have made a decision on the first non-arduino based platform that I’m going to be porting the library to - it’s currently running a kickstarter here - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966383008/coaction-hero-32-bit-open-source-arm-cortex-m3-boa - and I’d suggest folks interested in my library check it out.

The device has a 120Mhz arm processor, and 64kb of ram - both of which make it natural targets for the led library. However, it is not arduino based, rather it has its own realtime OS environment that people will be able to develop apps in.

Why am I interested in this board for FastSPI_LED2? Well - multiple reasons. One is -2- channels that can be used for controlling SPI style chipsets (LPD8806, WS2801), possibly with DMA if I’m reading the reference manual properly. The other is that the real time OS core on this device may make certain other types of multi-plexing easier and more powerful.

If you’re feeling experimental, and looking for boards that are a level up from the arduino/teensy’s but not quite going for the 700Mhz arm platforms yet - this may be worth checking out.

(Note - I’m still giving thought to how to support linux based environments like the raspberry pi and the beagleboard/bone - however there are some challenges on those platforms that I would need to resolve before I go down that route).

CoAction Hero looks like a neat little board. Are you planning on an expansion board specifically for FastSPI_LED2? grin

Haha! No, not yet. I’m having a hard enough time keeping up with the software I need to get out the door - ill leave the hardware to differently capable folks :slight_smile:

Oh fine, if you’re going to twist my arm … smirk

Any chance of getting USART based SPI support in your roadmap? Being double buffered, it might even have some advantages. Two fast SPI based light control outputs on an Arduino Uno or Pro Mini (even if you have to unplug the second one for program loading); lots on a Mega, and no need to share the USART with program loading on a Teensy or Leonardo.

Yes - USART support is on the list (for all the reasons you mention above and more) - but unlikely to make it into the first release of FastSPI_LED2.

I don’t know if this is of interest (old thread and all that, @Daniel_Garcia ) but a 72MHz ARM M3 with: 20KB RAM, 128KB Flash, USB port, 34 GPIO, 9 Analog, 12 PWM, Dual I2C and SPI ports, 3 USART Serial ports and 7-channel DMA - all for $7.

I’m going to grab a couple and play around. Might be a suitable alternative to the Raspberry Pi for some of my projects.

Docs: http://leaflabs.com/docs/hardware/maple-mini.html

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/leaflabs-Leaf-maple-mini-ARM-STM32-compatibility/213957_1400667476.html

I just checked Seeed and Sparkfun - they have the Maple Mini at around $35…

How about $5? http://www.aliexpress.com/item/leaflabs-Leaf-maple-mini-ARM-STM32-compatibility/1055554802.html

The stm32 has an irritating I/o register configuration and control setup, it’s part of why other devices (due, rfduino) have gotten implemented first.