Hey there, i was interested in buying a UDOO board, possibly the quadcore version. but before buying i had a few questions: 1. what could some practical uses for the board be ? (i know about the arduino ones) 2. is coding knowledge needed because i have none 3. could i use my windows laptop keyboard to use the UDOO board ? or do i need and external usb one ? id use either my laptop itself as a screen or my tv. Thanks in advance P.s. if this is in the wrong section mods please move it
Hi 1. Well, it is quite common for Arduinos to 'report back' to something. EG it collects data and sends that to a web server. The i.mx6 is a full/powerful computer quite capable of running a server setup (or a full desktop). So you have the best of both worlds on a single board. 2. Yes, some at least. Most people would describe it as a 'development board'. Having said that there are tools that make it much easier for beginners. 3. Yes, you can use any PC/phone/tablet to do either a 'remote shell' (SSH) or even a full remote desktop (VNC). Don't be discouraged by any of this or intimidated. Think of it as the ideal time to learn this stuff!
Hi TheJRT, 1. UDOO (by definition) is a MiniPC with an Arduino DUE embedded (http://arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardDue) that can run Android or Linux. So, basically, you can either use the board as a normal PC/Android device or take advantage of the Arduino side using sensors and actuators to realize projects and prototypes: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Projects/. Here's the first part of a project we developed with UDOO if you wanna take a look: http://www.udoo.org/ProjectsAndTutorials/meteorological-station-with-udoo-part-1/ 2. A little bit of coding knowledge is mandatory but we're producing plenty of tutorials for beginners: http://www.udoo.org/tutorials/. 3. Of course, you can use the SSH to do so but if you're a beginner i suggest you to get started using an external keyboard, mouse and HDMI monitor (see http://www.udoo.org/getting-started/) and THEN try with something more advanced. Don't worry btw, we've got a growing community that will help you to solve any problem you'll encounter with UDOO. Also, i guess this is a great "excuse" to start learning some coding stuff Cheers
Well i can already see what a great community this is Thx for the help and ill look forward to try and buying a board.
Well im back So i had an idea which consisted in making a small portable mini computer similar to a smartphone but that runs linux so more like a proper pc. Now, would it be possible to run linux on this screen http://www.sainsmart.com/arduino-compat ... -2560.html or something similar, and control it with this keyboard http://www.amazon.it/Rii-Elegance-Wirel ... b+keyboard . After i have linux installed would it be semi ready to run ? Is the resolution of that screen good enough to run linux ? if no any other solutions? Thanks in advance Update: after more research i ended up finding this http://www.skpang.co.uk/blog/archives/541 , the final idea should resemble something like this. could it be achieved with an UDOO board ? Update 2: i found this new touchscreen that seems way better then the previous one http://www.ebay.it/itm/5-0-inch-MIT-Tou ... e66&_uhb=1 can it work on the UDOO and is it ready to run ?
No idea about the screen, but the keyboard that you mention works fine - I have one attached to my UDOO.
Hi JRT 800x480 is good enough, just depends on what apps/usage you have in mind. More of a mini-tablet/slate than a phone I'd say. One of those cheap 'landfill' 7" tablets would probably be better for you in that scenario but less fun of course. A google search has revealed this bit of info http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,152053.0.html
yep looking for the fun part thx for the help, for what i could read there could be a problem with the libraries (i have raw basic knowledge about them) and the screen but there is a possible solution. one more thing, do i need an en extra shield between the screen and the UDOO board or can i plug the 20 pins of the screen with the 20 pins of the board directly ? the voltage the screen needs is 5v
I can't make out the silk screen labelling of the 2x20 pin connector clearly enough to be sure. The item is labelled as SPI, which normally is 4 Pins. More Pins needed for Touch of course. I suspect the 40 Pins on that connector are: a) mostly Not Connected or various Voltage levels b) cover a few different interfaces (SPI, I2C etc). So you don't use all of them at the same time, you choose a sub-set. However, as mentioned, I can't be sure. However it does say it's 3.3V Arduino compatible and there does seem to be a library(ies) so this seems to be low risk as a mini-project, depending on your skills/experience. I don't know if you'd get 800x480 @ 60 Hz out of this though, that might be pushing it over SPI, perhaps just (or perhaps you'd get 25-30Hz... just guessing).
This might sound extremely bad and noobish from my part, dosent the udoo have 2x20 pins and i count 2x20 pins on the screen so if i simply put them together shouldnt it work ? update: would this etan electronics one be better ? http://www.ebay.it/itm/5-5-Inch-TFT-LCD ... a#payCntId btw im open to suggestions on screens like the ones i have previously linked, so if you know a good one that works im more then happy to look at it also what changes between the MD050SD solution, the SSD1963 solution and the XPT2046 solution?
The UDOO's CN13 connector has 24 Pins (2x12), this is for LVDS+Touch. In addition there is a HDMI connector. That latest TFT you link is a 16 wide Parallel interface. There isn't any way to plug that in unless you have an adapter shield/module. I also see in the blurb that 'upto 16 Hz refresh rate'... pretty rubbish. (same comments for MD050SD - the other two parts you mention seem to be controller/adapter parts not displays themselves?).
ok, uhm do you know any good screens i can use similar to the ones i found, in size and possibly in price ? or maybe do you know what adaptor i could buy ? sorry to keep bothering you, i really appreciate your help
No problem, happy to help. Well, I don't know your budget but I'd suggest you get one of Team UDOO's own LVDS 7" with Touch (http://shop.udoo.org/other/accessories/ ... touch.html). An LVDS display will still keep your HDMI connect available for a 2nd display of course.
Yes i thought about those screens but i needed a 5 inch screen plus they wont be available till end december and i need it before. after a bit of research i found this screen http://www.elechouse.com/elechouse/inde ... ts_id=2237 it has an adaptor like you said and the quality seems good. could it work or is it still not compatible ? there is also a pin mapping pdf for the adaptor and screen but i have no clue on how to check if it corresponds to the UDOO board pin mapping. thanks again
That looks fine, it is sold as being suitable for Due (which UDOO is of course) so *guaranteed* to work. You do lose some pins though, as its a shield type. Not all pins, so that's good... they do make that clear in their description.
uhm i just had a terrible doubt, will the screen only display arduino related images since its connected via the arduino pins or can i display linux/android using the arduino connection but running on the raspi hardware ? what i mean is, can i use the screen for everything included using chrome or similars on linux/android via that screen ?
Yes quite right, if it's plugged into the pins of the SAM3X8E then you'll only see output that CPU generates. BUT the UDOO is a special board. Most of the IO Pins can be switched from SAM3X8E over to i.MX6 (for output, the Digital Pins can be read by both... mostly - see documentation for full details of course). However If you do that, plug that 5" shield display in and remap the Pins as appropriate, you would still have a driver issue to solve (under Linux/Android). So you'd have some work to do. Be very interesting to hear if you go down that road how you get on with it.