The Embedded Open Source Summit showcased the rising popularity of Zephyr as a top-class real-time operating system, even finding use in ChromeBook's PMIC. The FRDM-K64F development board provides an affordable entry point for exploring Zephyr or CMSIS on various Kinetis MCU lines.

FRDM-K64F – Affordable Kinetis dev board with Zephyr support

Board Features and Compatibility

Designed with a form factor derived from the Arduino Uno, the FRDM-K64F evaluation board (depicted in the figure) offers compatibility with many shields designed for the Arduino ecosystem. However, it's important to note that this compatibility is limited to 3V3 boards, as the Kinetis board lacks support for 5V.

Kinetis board features and compatibility

MK64FN1M0VLL12: A Powerful MCU with Robust Zephyr Support

Powered by NXP's ARM Cortex-M4 based 32-bit microcontroller, the FRDM-K64F supports emulation of various chips within the Kinetis family including the K64, K63, and K24. With a maximum frequency of 120 MHz, these microcontrollers deliver ample CPU performance for demanding MSR tasks. Both MBED OS and Zephyr are compatible with the Kinetis K series, and the Zephyr port offers extensive peripheral device support, as demonstrated in the figure found at https://docs.zephyrproject.org/latest/boards/arm/frdm_k64f/doc/index.html.

MK64FN1M0VLL12 emulates K64, K63, and K24 microcontrollers and has great Zephyr support

OpenSDAv2: A Remarkable Open Source Debugger

Unlike many other development boards that rely on proprietary debugger interfaces, the FRDM-K64F features the OpenSDAv2 debugger, as illustrated in the figure. This open source design not only facilitates debugging on this board but also serves as a reference implementation for future development boards.

OpenSDAv2 – an open source debugger

Availability and Pricing

The FRDM-K64F is available from various distributors, and prices may vary. An oemsecrets.com price comparison reveals a range of offers, with the cheapest option around 40 EUR and the most expensive above 80 EUR. Due to the recent OSS Summit and the increased demand for Zephyr, the stock situation is currently tight, with limited availability from catalog distributors (Price correct as of the date of publication).

Conclusion

The FRDM-K64F development board is a highly regarded choice among open-source enthusiasts, offering excellent support for Zephyr RTOS and demonstrating a commitment to openness. Additionally, developers can leverage the versatile features of this board for Kinetis MBED OS development. The compatibility with the Arduino shield ecosystem accelerates prototyping, allowing for faster realization of innovative systems. With its affordability, extensive support, and wide range of applications, the FRDM-K64F is an ideal platform for exploring the potential of Zephyr and Kinetis MCU lines.