UDOO – Single Board Computer runs either Android or Linux

UDOO is a single board computer development platform and best suited for prototyping with both software and hardware design. UDOO merges a dual core and quad core ARM Freescale Cortex-A9 i.MX6 CPU and Arduino compatible board embedded with dedicated ARM Atmel SAM3X8E CPU. UDOO is capable of running either LINUX or Android, alongside the same ARM SAM3X (not to mentioned all the input and outputs) of an Arduino due board. User only need to change micro SD card to switch operating system. UDOO is an open hardware and effectively one-stop shop for driving electronic projects. UDOO merges different computing worlds in one: each world has its strength and weaknesses and all of them are useful today in education as well as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and rapid prototyping endeavours.

Here are couple of things I found interesting in UDOO

• First off the UDOO is a good all in one platform for building powerful applications . It houses a controller along with a powerful multi-core processor on a well designed PCB.
• Truly a Multi Development platform as they call it rightly on the UDOO community website.
• The pre-built Linaro images lets users not only run a powerful Linux operating system on the ARM processor but also enables development on the controller side enabling developing as well as deploying capability without the need for extra cables to be connected.
• UDOO is also capable of running the Android OS and also support the ADK mode so you get to scale your imagination both into the App development space as well as the accessory development all in one platform .
• The Platform also houses all the peripherals like WiFi, Audio, Ethernet, HDMI a lot of GPIOs about 76 which makes it a resource rich platform to do a lot !
• When it comes to graphics each processor provides 3 separate accelerators for 2D, OpenGL® ES2.0 3D and OpenVG™. This is something awesome !

For more details please visit UDOO official site

Flexible development environment

UDOO is a multi development platform solution for Android, Linux, ArduinoTM and Google ADK 2012. The board is designed to provide a flexible environment that allows to explore the new frontiers of the Internet of Things. UDOO allows you to switch between Linux and Android in a few seconds, simply by replacing the Micro SD card and rebooting the system.

Running Linux

UDOO is a stand alone computer itself and since is based on the Freescale i.MX 6 CPU, it runs an optimized version of Linux Ubuntu for ARM architecture, called Linaro (11.10 at the moment). Linaro environment has everything you need for programming, for example you can use the Arduino IDE to build & upload your sketches to the Arduino-compatible embedded board, without additional/external cable connections.

Running Android

Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich runs smootly on UDOO giving you all the features of an Android device (further Android releases will be available at the time of distribution). Apps interface with Arduino-compatible embedded board through Accessory Development Kit (ADK) connection for building accessories and smart devices based on Android.

ArduinoTM

UDOO is compatible with all the sketches, tutorials and resources available on the Arduino community as well as all the shields, sensors and actuators for Arduino DUE available on the market