ChApTEr 2 ■ hArdwArE for IoT SoluTIonSBeagleBone Black
The BeagleBone Black is a small board designed for developers and hobbyists to experiment with hardware
in embedded solutions using a Linux-based experience. In fact, the BeagleBone Black is designed to boot its
Linux operating system in as little as ten seconds. A growing community of supporters are adding daily to the
knowledge base and forum. Perhaps one of the best things about the BeagleBone Black is the startup guide
at http://beagleboard.org/getting-started. It was written to get you up and running using your new
“bone” in as little as five minutes. Thus, this board has a lot of appeal for someone familiar with Linux who
wants to get started quickly. Figure 2-27 shows the BeagleBone Black.
The board is also a capable low-cost computer with an A8 ARM processor, 512MB RAM, 4Gb of flash
storage, USB host and client (for power and terminal access), a graphics chip with HDMI output, and
Ethernet. There is also a power connector for sustained operation.
The footprint of the BeagleBone Black is rather unique. It can fit inside a larger metal tin like some
breath mints are packaged. You would need to take a pair of tin snips to cut access for the USB, power, and
Ethernet, but it will fit. In other words, it’s a bit smaller than most boards.
It also has two rows of 46-pin GPIO headers for use in connecting hardware such as sensors, LCD
panels, and more. In fact, you would use these headers in a similar way as you would on an Arduino or
Raspberry Pi. You can also connect daughter boards called capes for added functionality. There are several
capes available from vendors like Sparkfun, which offers the following capes:
- 4.3" LCD panel: http://sparkfun.com/products/12085
- 7" LCD panel: http://sparkfun.com/products/12086
- ProtoCape for prototyping circuits: http://sparkfun.com/products/12774
- CryptoCape for hardware encryption: http://sparkfun.com/products/12773
Figure 2-27. BeagleBone Black