Bucking the trend of miniaturization, Arduino introduces the Giga R1 WiFi, a behemoth of a board based on the Due form factor. With an impressive 76 GPIO pins and substantial compute power, this board packs a punch, offering immense possibilities for makers and developers alike.

ABX00063 - Arduino Giga R1 Wifi Board

Impressive Processing Power

Inspired by the larger Portenta H7, the Giga R1 WiFi features a dual-core STM32H747XI processor from STMicroelectronics. Boasting a Cortex M7 core running at 480 MHz and a Cortex M4 core at 240 MHz, this board delivers unparalleled processing capabilities. Similar to the Portenta F7, it supports machine learning tasks with Tiny ML. Wireless communication is expertly handled by the Murata LBEE5KL1DX-883 module, which supports both WLAN and Bluetooth communication. For enhanced security, the board is equipped with a Microchip ATECC608A secure element, required by some cloud providers.

Expanded GPIO Pin Count

Arduino bridges the gap with the Giga R1 WiFi, offering an impressive total of 76 digital GPIO ports. With four UARTs, three I2C buses, two SPI transceivers, and one FDCAN port, the hardware-accelerated buses round out the board's impressive complement of peripherals. Notably, the board does not feature an integrated antenna for wireless communication, necessitating the use of an antenna with a U.Fl connector or the one provided by Arduino.

antenna with a U.Fl connector for Arduino

Seamless Accessory Integration

For seamless integration into the Arduino SRL accessory ecosystem, the board is equipped with dedicated connectors, including a USB-A connector for USB sticks, a 3.5mm input-output jack connected to DAC0, DAC1, and A7, and a USB-C® for power and programming. Additionally, a JTAG connector is flanked by a 20-pin Arducam camera connector. While the USB-C port is limited in functionality, it effectively powers and programs the board while simulating an HID device, such as a mouse or keyboard.

Enhanced Power Supply and RTC Module

Arduino emphasizes the board's increased voltage range, accommodating 6V to 24V, providing more flexible power supply options. Furthermore, the availability of an RTC (Real-Time Clock) module is a noteworthy addition, simplifying the power supply of the real-time element.

Availability and Pricing

A scan for Arduino Giga R1 WiFi availability on OEMSecrets reveals wide listings by distributors, albeit with lead times. Prices for the board range between 65 and 71 EUR per unit(price correct as of the date of publication), providing excellent value for its performance and features.

Conclusion

The Arduino Giga R1 WiFi development board kit is a high-performance successor to the Due, offering a substantial amount of GPIO and a blazing-fast processor. If your projects demand significant computational power and GPIO options, the Giga R1 WiFi is the ultimate choice, if available. With its immense capabilities and compatibility with the Arduino ecosystem, this board opens up endless possibilities for cutting-edge projects and innovations.