The open-platform Hawkboard, which offers an ARM9 processor and a DSP (digital signal processor) for as low as $89, is now available with a Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 BSP (board support package). The BSP supports the single board computer's Texas Instruments (TI) OMAP-L138 system-on-chip (SoC), Ethernet download of an OS image, and other features, MPC Data says.

The community-driven Hawkboard project is structured on the TI-sponsored BeagleBoard project, and is similarly designed for hobbyists and general testing. But, where the BeagleBoard is based on TI's ARM Cortex-A8-based OMAP3530 SoC, the Hawkboard (right) is built around the lower-cost OMAP-L138 SoC announced last year.

According to TI, the OMAP-L138 combines one of three TI floating point TMS320C674x digital signal processors (DSPs) with a 300MHz ARM926EJ-S core, allowing developers to add human machine interfaces (HMI), as well as applications that support touchscreen or networking capability. Power usage is said to total only 440mW.

OMAP-L138 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

Thanks in part to the lower-cost SoC, the Hawkboard -- which was announced in October 2009 and became available around the world in May -- sells for as little as $89. Distributors include the well-established UK-based distributor Farnell; Scottsdale, Arizona's Special Computing; India-based IDA Systems; and the driving force behind the project, Bangalore, India-based Innovate Software Solutions.

Hawkboard
(Click to enlarge)

Initially supported with several Linux distros as well as ports of the eCos and QNX RTOSes, the Hawkboard now runs Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 too, thanks to U.K.-based MPC Data. (MPC earlier provided Windows CE 6.0 support for the BeagleBoard too, including a R2 BSP that was announced in February 2009 and a R3 BSP that was announced in May.)

MPC Data says its BSP includes a "full range of quality drivers." Features said to be supported "out of the box" include custom splash screens, Ethernet download of an OS image, plus the following:

• EMAC NDIS Ethernet
• AIC3106 audio
• VGA output
• Serial UART
• USB 1.1
• USB 2.0 host/device
• NAND flash
• LED notification
• SD/MMC card
• GPIO
• EDMA
• McASP support library
• PWN
• McSPI
• I2C

MPC Data adds that, like its earlier R3 BSP for the BeagleBoard, the new BSP for the Hawkboard has been designed to support integration with Datalight's Reliance and FlashFX. These separately available tools have been claimed to make flash memory performance "100 times faster."

Background

A spinoff of sorts from the BeagleBoard project, but with no direct sponsorship from TI, Hawkboard.org hosts an open source community with blogs, community chat rooms, and Linux development tools. The site also posts full schematics, documentation, and development tools.

Hawkboard, detail
(Click to enlarge)

The 3.94 x 3.54-inch (100 x 90mm) Hawkboard uses a 300MHz version of the C674x DSP line, which would appear to be the high-end C6748 model. It also offers 128MB each of DDR2 RAM and NAND flash. In addition, there are MMC/SD and SATA connections for storage. Other standard I/O includes an Ethernet port, serial port, USB Host and OTG connections, as well as a debug port.


Hawkboard with peripherals

A/V connections include a VGA and composite port, as well as audio I/O. An expansion connector, meanwhile, gives rise to additional I/O, including I2C, SPI, and LCDC signals for driving an LCD display, among others, says the project.


Hawkboard block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

Specifications for the Hawkboard include:

• Processor -- OMAP-L138 @ 300MHz
• Memory -- 128MB DDR2 RAM
• Flash -- 128MB NAND flash; MMC/SD slot
• Storage -- SATA connector
• Display -- VGA port; Composite video in
• Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
• USB -- 1 x USB host Type-A; 1 x USB OTG (for power)
• Serial -- 1 x RS232
• Debug -- 1 x JTAG; optional XDS 100 JTAG Emulator
• Audio -- Audio in/out
• Expansion I/O connector:
  • I2C
  • SPI
  • LCD signals
  • VPIF
  • PWM
  • eCAP
  • UART
  • GPIO
  • PRU
  • UPP
  • eHRPWM
• Power -- 5V DC
• Dimensions -- 3.94 x 3.54 inches (100 x 90mm)

Hawkboard, back side

In his October 2009 announcement FAQ, Innovate Software Solutions' Khasim Syed Mohammed, who heads up the Hawkboard project, noted that a chief goal is to introduce ARM programmers to DSP programming and get DSP programmers to work with ARM.

Availability

MPC Data says its Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 BSP for the Hawkboard is available for free as a pre-configured binary image that can boot from the SBC's NAND flash. Subject to an undisclosed one-time fee, the BSP may be used in custom designs without royalties, according to the company, which also cites a $500 commercial license with 30 days of bundled technical support.

More information on the BSP may be found on the MPC Data website, here. More information on the SBC may be found at Hawkboard.org, here.

The Hawkboard is available now for $94 from Innovate Software Solutions, here, for $89 from Special Computing, here, as well as for 73.7 Pounds from Farnell, here, or for 5,000 Rupees plus tax at IDA Systems, here.

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