MatchboxARM fits a powerful 32-bit ARM chip, that runs at 72MHz and has 64Kb flash memory. It comes with pre-burned bootloader so you can start programming right away without needing any other tools. Everything in a tiny format to instantly improve your electronic projects. You develop software for it with open, cross-platform and easy-to-use tools. Everything about MatchboxARM is optimized to help you make things better.
Is a tiny revolution in rapid electronics prototyping. It combines a powerful ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller on a tiny circuit board, allowing hobbyists and professionals alike to turn project ideas into reality faster and better than other microcontroller platforms.
About 2 years ago, the ARM revolution started when ARM micro entered in the world of hobby development boards with faster and faster microcontrollers. In the present we have ArduinoDUE, Maple and few other boards. None so easy to use in our opinion. We thought… Why not build a small, yet powerfull development board based on ARM micro, the Cortex-M3 one, which in our opinion is still easy to understand for a beginner, has lots of peripherals and speed. Here started the research in how to make a board to be simple and easy to use, not use any external hardware except one simple USB adapter cable, be seen by the host computer as a usual usb memory stick, not need any drivers, have an ecosystem of examples to learn from, free compiler and IDE.
And of course to be small enough to enter in a matchbox!
After many days analyzing datasheets information and lots of schematics based on STM32 micros we had knowledge enough to manually make the first board so we can start checking the schematic consistency and also start developing the USB mass storage based bootloader. This was our first result :), the war horse!
After spending few months and see that we were heading in the right direction, we thought it was time to bring to life the MatchboxARM.
So we did it!
How can you use it?
Plug MatchboxARM into a standard breadboard for quick prototyping, or integrate it directly into your commercial product. MatchboxARM is inexpensive enough that you can leave it built into a project and is the first prototyping platform specifically designed to be cost-competitive with custom PCB engineering for small production runs. This means you can prototype a product with MatchboxARM, put it on Kickstarter and afford to produce the first batch using the same hardware you prototyped with. Incredible!
Developing with MatchboxARM
MatchboxARM plugs into a standard solderless breadboard and connects to your computer with miniUSB cable. The USB connection permits downloading firmware just like you would have an flashdisk, plus it will power MatchboxARM if it’s not connected to another power source. Write C, C++ code with Coocox simple but powerful development environment and deploy it to the hardware with a single click.
Where we are
Design MatchboxARM board … DONE
Develop MatchboxARM bootloader technology … DONE
Build MatchboxARM prototypes … DONE
Exhaustively test MatchboxARM prototypes over the span of seven months … DONE
