ARM-based platform simplifies machine learning for developers

Chicago, September 18, 2018 – Newark element14, the Development Distributor, has announced the availability of the Ultra96™, an ARM-based Ultra96 development board jointly created by Avnet, Xilinx, and 96Boards. The development board is based on the Linaro 96Boards Consumer Edition specification, features the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and provides developers with a unique and powerful environment to simplify machine learning. The 96Boards' specifications are open and define a standard board layout for development platforms.

The Ultra96 is uniquely designed to offer a wide range of potential peripherals and features programmable logic acceleration engines which help to deliver complexity with simplicity. It allows software developers to accelerate the development process for applications that require intense processing and high performance in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, virtual reality, IoT and industrial control.

Cliff Ortmeyer, Global Head of Solutions Development for Premier Farnell and Newark element14 said: “As the Development Distributor, our aim is to provide design engineers with the latest technologies that enable them to speed up their design process and get products to market faster. The Ultra96 board combines Arm processing with programmable logic in a convenient, low-cost and expandable board which showcases a wide range of potential peripherals and acceleration engines that will help design engineers counter software bottlenecks.”

The Ultra96 boots from the industrial rated Delkin 16GB MicroSD card (supplied with the Ultra96 board), preloaded with Embedded Linux. Design engineers can connect to the Ultra96 through a Web server using its integrated wireless access point capability, or use the pre-loaded Embedded Linux plus Enlightenment Desktop via integrated Mini DisplayPort video output. Multiple application examples and on-board development options are provided as examples.

The board includes four user-controllable LEDs. Design engineers can also interact with the board through the 96Boards-compatible low-speed and high-speed expansion connectors by adding peripheral accessories such as those included in Seeed Studio’s Grove Starter Kit for 96Boards.

Features include:

• Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC ZU3EG A484

• Micron 2 GB (512M x32) LPDDR4 RAM

• 16 GB microSD card pre-loaded with Embedded Linux OS

• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 (provides both Classic & BLE)

• Mini DisplayPort (MiniDP or mDP)

• 1x USB 3.0 Type Micro-B upstream (Device) port

• 2x USB 3.0 and 1x USB 2.0 Type A downstream (Host) ports

• 40-pin Low-speed expansion header

• 60-pin High-speed expansion header

The Ultra96 development board is available from Farnell element14 in EMEA, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

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