Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

The official pyboard running MicroPython.
This is the reference design and main target board for MicroPython.
You can buy one at the store.
Target audience: Users with a pyboard.
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pythoncoder
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by pythoncoder » Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:08 am

@pagano.paganino The Pyboard MPU supports encryption in hardware. All it needs is for someone who understands cryptography to write a driver for it.
Peter Hinch
Index to my micropython libraries.

nsoatw
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by nsoatw » Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:27 am

What I've dreamed about for a long time is more RAM. Put 1Mb external SRAM on the current board, and I would be VERY satisfied.

pagano.paganino
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by pagano.paganino » Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:44 am

pythoncoder wrote:@pagano.paganino The Pyboard MPU supports encryption in hardware. All it needs is for someone who understands cryptography to write a driver for it.
From : http://www.st.com/web/catalog/mmc/FM141 ... 577/LN1035

Rich connectivity: Superior and innovative peripherals
•2x USB OTG (one with HS support)
•Audio: dedicated audio PLL and 2 full duplex I²S
•Up to 15 communication interfaces (including 6x USARTs running at up to 10.5 Mbit/s, 3x SPI running at up to 42 Mbit/s,
3x I²C, 2x CAN, SDIO)
•Analog: two 12-bit DACs, three 12-bit ADCs reaching 2.4 MSPS or 7.2 MSPS in interleaved mode
•Up to 17 timers: 16- and 32-bit running at up to 168 MHz
•Easily extendable memory range using the flexible static memory controller supporting Compact Flash, SRAM, PSRAM, NOR and NAND memories
•Analog true random number generator
The STM32F415 also integrates a crypto/hash processor providing hardware acceleration for AES 128, 192, 256, Triple DES, and hash (MD5, SHA-1)


Only the 415 has a hardware acceleration for crypto/hash.

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pythoncoder
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by pythoncoder » Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:51 am

Oops. Missed that!
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Damien
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by Damien » Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:55 am

Thanks everyone for the ideas and suggestions! I see a few themes emerging:
  1. Concentrate on core software development, improve support for existing pyboard, more docs, etc.
  2. Support other modules and layouts (eg RPi, Arduino, Mikro click) instead of developing own.
  3. Develop a cheap, low power, breadboard friendly board.
I agree that it's important to keep developing the software, and provide excellent docs and learning resources. And producing yet-another-microcontroller-board (and/or add-on boards) does add to the noise somewhat. But it is nice to have a board that is tailor made for uPy and well supported. And it's important to realise that a big part of MicroPython's success and growth is because it is backed by a physical piece of hardware.

Please keep the ideas coming!

Turbinenreiter
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by Turbinenreiter » Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:58 am

I really like this: https://www.adafruit.com/products/2796
Adafruits Feather form factor looks really nice.

Jonas
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by Jonas » Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:40 am

How about something like this?

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspbe ... w-product/

I would like to see a Pyboard for "finished projects".
Most boards are designed for education and experiments but when you have a complete product to sell to others, you can't ship that with a pyboard on a breadboard and wires hanging out from all sides.
It would be great to have a Pyboard of a more "industrial" and cleaner design that will slot in and blend in with the rest of the products electronics.

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dhylands
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by dhylands » Sat Dec 12, 2015 4:16 pm

Well, by putting your pins on the bottom of the pyboard, it coild just plug into your base board.

Although if you're using a custom base board, I would have just expected you would make a custom board which included the STM32F405.

The reason that the compute module makes sense is because the schematic for the Raspberry pi was never released, and requires soldering BGA parts. You still need to create a custom base board for the compute module to plug into, and if you're making a custom base board, just include the pyboard bits on your baseboard.

JimTal001
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by JimTal001 » Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:31 pm

I second the vote of more FLASH and RAM on the next version.

and please a more accurate RTC crystal.
Last edited by JimTal001 on Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

beyonlo
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Re: Ideas for next evolution of pyboard

Post by beyonlo » Mon Dec 14, 2015 12:03 am

Well, I have some considerations if we think something for IoT:

1. We really need to think in a cheap board, not $20-$30 board.
2. Mostly real cases in the world are for connected system, not standalone. In other words, using the WiFi and/or bluetooth.
3. We need a little board size.
4. We need an "ultra low power" when connected and an "very ultra low power" when in hibernated.

Pyboard actually has just "parts" of item 4. I would like it better.

Ps:
a. The pyboard and micropython community has growing so fast since pyboard release, but if we want to continuity that and grow faster, we need all this features (1,2,3,4) - are not exception.
b. I would like just to talk about the success of expressif ESP8266. It has that success because have items 1 and 2 and "parts" of items 3 and 4.

Thank you.

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