SCIENCE

Microchip Technology and Digilent announced expanded capabilities for the 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller-based chipKIT Development Platform for the Arduino community. First, the companies unveiled two shields for the chipKIT platform--the chipKIT Basic I/O and Network Shields. Secondly, new online support resources for the community are now available, including software library support for Ethernet, CAN and USB, as well as an online chipKIT forum and wiki. The shields and online support resources enable users to take advantage of the high-performance, 32-bit PIC(R) microcontroller-based chipKIT development platform to add more features and functionality to their projects, even if they are not engineers.

A video can be viewed at the following link (feel free to embed on your site): http://www.microchip.com/get/UVRQ .

The chipKIT development platform is a 32-bit Arduino solution that enables hobbyists and academics to easily and inexpensively integrate electronics into their projects, even if they do not have an electronic-engineering background. The platform consists of two PIC32-based development boards and open-source software that is compatible with the Arduino programming language and development environment. The chipKIT hardware is compatible with existing 3.3V Arduino shields and applications, and can be developed using a modified version of the Arduino IDE and existing Arduino resources, such as code examples, libraries, references and tutorials. The chipKIT Basic I/O Shield (part # TDGL005) announced today is compatible with the chipKIT Uno32 and Max32 boards, and offers users simple push buttons, switches, LEDs, I(2)C EEPROM, I(2)C temperature sensor, and a 128 x 32 pixel organic LED graphic display. The chipKIT Network Shield (part # TDGL006) enables users to use the chipKIT Max32 development board to implement 10/100 Ethernet, USB OTG and CAN communications.

"The introduction of these two new shields for the chipKIT platform demonstrates Microchip's and Digilent's commitment to the Arduino community," said Fred Eady, hobbyist and editor with Nuts & Volts and SERVO Magazines. "Not only will users have additional I/O functionality with the chipKIT Basic I/O Shield, they will be able to integrate advanced communications such as Ethernet, CAN and USB into their projects with the Network Shield."

"We're excited to continue supporting the academic and hobbyist communities with the expanded capabilities of and support for the chipKIT development platform," said Derek Carlson, Microchip's vice president of development tools.

Clint Cole, president of Digilent, Inc., said, "These new shields and online support resources open new opportunities for industry, hobbyists and academics to do more with their chipKIT-based projects, as well as collaborate and share ideas."