Divided into sections for microcontroller (MCU), single-board controller (SBC) and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based boards, the guide is intended to help students, makers and professional engineers.
Digi-Key has included an augmented reality app leveraging cameras, displays and sensors in mobile devices. With over 50 boards available in AR, the app provides users with virtual interaction with these platforms. The Digi-Key AR app has been designed to work in conjunction with the guide or as a standalone experience.
With detailed comparisons of over 150 boards, leading vendors include: Adafruit, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, SparkFun, BeagleBone, Micro:bit, Seeed Studio, DFRobot, and Espressif, among others. New to this year’s guide is a focus on the rise of the Raspberry Pi RP2040 and Espressif ESP32 during chip shortages. RP2040 is currently shipping about 500,000 units per month.
Another exclusive available only from within the app includes a video discussing in depth details of the boards and the selection process by David Groom from Make:.
“We are excited to launch the new Boards Guide inside the Digi-Key AR app. Being able to scan the boards and get an up-close look in AR is an experience you must see to appreciate,” said Kevin Walseth, manager of technical marketing at Digi-Key. “The ability to rotate, zoom and see all angles of the new boards is a great visualiSation tool for students, makers and engineers wanting to take their projects from ideation to a useful design or project.”
