Thinklabs UNIBOARD V1.1, User Manual, Page: 5 / 129

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Introduction
The uNiBoard version 1.1 is an ideal open source development platform for Embedded and Real
Time Systems Programming. Powered by a RISC machine (ATMega128) that provides a throughput
of 16 MIPS and up to 128KB of internal storage (flash), the board would be suitable for any sort of
embedded application development.
On-board peripherals like Joystick along with the communication ports (RS232) and the Gtkterm
driver (hyper-terminal for Windows) make the board apt for basic game development in an
Embedded (non-OS) as well as OS based environment. RT Kernels with small footprint (uC/OS-II,
FreeRTOS, nut OS
) can be ported on the board to gain hands-on experience of Real time application
design.
The board is powered by the USB port. The board is also programmable through USB port thereby
making it complete stand-alone lab equipment needing nothing apart from a basic PC/laptop to get
started with the development process. The open interface (open LED interface, open ports) extend
the platform’s role for prototyping applications like external device/sensor interfacing. The
controller by itself supports protocols like SPI, I2C (on-board I2C based RTC), UART (dual
programmable UART) which can be used for multi-board communication.
Additionally, the board also features an on-board motor driver which allows to control up to two
DC motors bidirectionally. External supply, if required for the motors can be provided with
appropriate hardware configuration settings.
The board along with its content-rich user manual is a perfect companion to have for
hobbyists/aspirants seeking a career in Embedded software design, since it can accommodate
preliminary applications like port control or sensor data processing built on Embedded C to
complex real time applications
built
on RTOS
like DAS (Data Acquisition Systems), embedded web-
server, FAT FS for embedded systems and more.
We plan to adhere to the Creative Commons license (Refer licensing terms), which has the
philosophy of “Share, Remix, Reuse - Legally”. It means that anyone is allowed to produce copies
of the board, to redesign it, or even to sell boards that copy the design. You don’t need to pay a
license fee to the
ThinkLABS team
or even ask permission. However, if you republish the reference
design, you have to credit the original group. And if you tweak or change the board, your new
design must use the same or a similar Creative Commons license to ensure that new versions of the
board will be equally free and open.