Jupiter Nano is an open-hardware, ARM-based development board that runs the NuttX RTOS or Linux. It has a tiny, 48-pin form factor—similar in size to the Teensy 4.1, at 2.86 x 6.35 cm (1.125 x 2.5 in)—and its SAMA5D27C-LD1G microprocessor is 10x more powerful than the Arduino Due.

Jupiter Nano is perfect for Arduino users who need a tiny, powerful computer with a fast CPU, plenty of RAM, an Internet-connected real time operating system (NuttX), or all of the above. It should also be attractive to Linux users who need a small, open-hardware computer with lots of I/O and support for high-speed networking. A board this small and this powerful is suitable for a nearly endless list of possible applications.

Powerful, Versatile, and Easy to Work With

Massive, fast storage: microSD cards with up to 1 TB (a terabyte!) of storage are available these days, as are special-purpose microSD cards that allow you to write data at high speeds. And because Jupiter Nano boots from its microSD card, it can’t be "bricked" (stuck in an unbootable, unfixable state). If something bad happens to the contents of your microSD card, all you have to do is reformat it and try again.

Lots of sensor or device connections: Jupiter Nano is a capable robot controller with the following interfaces: 5 SPI, 5 TWI, 4 USART, 1 CAN, and 1 I²SC. The USARTs can handle the RS-232, RS-485, and LIN protocols. This is made possible by the SAMA5D27C’s special Flexcom peripherals which can be individually configured to do any of these jobs. Jupiter Nano also uses DMA so its processor doesn’t have to do a lot of work to get data into or out of the chip.

Motors, audio, and lighting: If you need to control motors or lighting directly, there are 6 PWM outputs for that purpose. The I²SC interface can drive digital audio amplifiers, and there is one channel of Class D amplified PWM audio capable of driving an analog amplifier directly. Five 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels will help you digitize analog signals or analog audio. So if you’ve got sensors, screens, sound systems, or motor controllers to talk to, this tiny board has you covered.

Built-in development interfaces: Jupiter Nano has an on-board USB-to-UART converter, so you can just connect a USB cable to log in to the main console or read system logs and error messages. It has a mini-JTAG connector as well, so you can plug in a hardware debugger – essential for getting to the bottom of subtle bugs.

Encryption: Finally, Jupiter Nano includes dedicated crypto hardware, to handle intensive encryption operations, and a true random number generator (TRNG) that allows it to create stronger encryption keys.

Massive Utility in a Tiny Package

Despite its diminutive size, Jupiter Nano is suitable for a huge variety of applications. It has what you need if you’re looking for:

• A Linux board in a tiny, battery-powered form-factor
• A high-speed NuttX board with a lot of RAM (128 MB) for an embedded system
• A way to transfer sensor or I/O data to a host computer via TCP/IP
• A high-speed, low-latency solution for controlling robots, drones, aircraft, or LED arrays—to name just a few examples—using an embedded computer
• A platform upon which to build a high-speed miniature data logger with gigabytes of storage
• An embedded device with which to record and/or play large amounts of audio

Features & Specifications

• Runs NuttX RTOS or Linux: Das U-Boot open-source boot loader works for Linux and NuttX (or Linux can be booted directly)
• Size:
  • 48-pin form factor
  • 2.86 cm x 6.35 cm (1.125" x 2.5")
  • Similar in size to Teensy 4.1
• Programming: JTAG port for programming and debugging
• CPU: Microchip SAMA5D27C-LD1G running at 498 MHz
• DRAM: AP Memory AD2100XXX 128 M x 32 LPDDR2 DRAM chip integrated into system-in-package (SIP)
• Power management: Qorvo ACT8945A with integrated LiPo battery charging capability
• Power delivery: Compatible with many LiPo batteries
• Open Hardware: Design can be altered using 100% open source KiCAD software
• 10x more powerful than the Arduino Due:
  • ARM Cortex A5 processor running at 498 MHz (7x the clock speed of an Arduino Due)
  • 128 MB RAM (1280x the RAM of an Arduino Due)
  • Key peripherals (USB, SPI, I²C, Flexcom) support DMA
• I/O:
  • USB 2.0 High-Speed port on USB Micro B connector (Port A, 480 Mbps, host or device)
  • USB 2.0 High-Speed port on a pin-header connection (Port B, 480 Mbps, host only)
  • USB 2.0 Full-Speed debug console port on USB Micro B connector (12 Mbps)
  • microSD card slot (50 MHz DDR) supports booting from removable storage, making it impossible to brick the device
  • Native SPI, TWI, CAN, and I²SC ports
  • 4 FLEXCOMs on I/O pins – flexible serial controller peripherals that can be SPI, USART, or TWI

Comparisons

¹ Via Raspberry Pi Zero W acting as a Wi-Fi adapter

Jupiter Nano Board Layout

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Jupiter Nano Pinout Diagram

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Support & Documentation

The Jupiter Nano hardware design files, in KiCAD format, and various software tools, including scripts to build U-Boot, Linux, and a Debian Linux file system, are all available on GitHub. If you have a question, please get in touch.