Espruino Pico: a miniature JavaScript development board to help you get started quickly in the electronics world

The Espruino Pico miniature board for the JavaScript developer is an interesting device, inside which there is everything you need to work with electronic devices. The board allows you to quickly configure interaction with a wide variety of modules and systems, without the need to write a large amount of code and its constant debugging.

Instead, JavaScript is used as the control layer. The developers claim that this solution allows you to work with iron directly, exposing the necessary voltage values, and adjusting the interaction with external components. From a regular AA battery, the chip can work for more than 10 years, such a low power consumption of the board.

How to use it?

The video shows that you can achieve the result you need by entering a few lines of code:



To work with the board does not require a lot of knowledge in electronics - basic concepts are enough. The device is compatible with most digital electronic devices and modules, and you can set up work with them in a few minutes. Developers compare the setup process with the Lego constructor - everything is just as simple and straightforward.

What can I use for?

The answer is simple: for everything. Another example shows that this is true. You can use the microcard with any gadget that has a USB connector.

Why javascript?

JavaScript is used by millions of people every day. Almost every website also works with JavaScript. On the Web you can find thousands of examples of working with JavaScript, the most detailed documentation is available. This allows you to create an application to work with your device or component very quickly. At the same time, JavaScript works directly "on board" the microboard.

This means the following:

• Third-party software systems are practically not needed - all that is needed is already inside Espruino Pico;
• Changes are made very quickly, you can view the results immediately;
• To complete the command, very little code is needed - as mentioned above, just a few lines;
• You can debug all this right in the process of work;
• If the problems are not with software, but with hardware, then Espruino Pico can be turned into a whole measuring laboratory, with a voltmeter, logic analyzer and oscilloscope;
• All commands are executed directly;
• If you stopped working on a project and decided to resume it in a year, the source code will wait, because it is stored in the chip. If necessary, the code can be obfuscated.

Internet of things

The microplate is ideal for connecting everything to the Internet of things. At the same time, third-party modules can be used with the device, adding support for Ethernet, WiFi, NRF24, Bluetooth, and the 315 / 433Mhz range.

By the way, the board comes in two versions: with and without pins. The version without legs is slightly cheaper than the version with legs, and is intended for people with a certain soldering experience.

Kits

Along with the board, kits with various elements are also offered. Kits developers offer different.

Starter Kit



This kit allows you to do without soldering, if you need to pre-configure any system.

Geek's Toy Kit



The kit immediately includes 3 boards, LCD, servo, relays and various sensors to create a variety of projects.

Ultimate Toy Kit

Here we have 10 boards (2 of them with legs), plus all of the previous kits, plus the ESP8266 WiFi and the WIZnet W550io Ethernet module.

Options may still vary slightly.

Specifications

• 32mm x 15mm (1.26 x 0.6 inch)
• 22 GPIO pins: 9 Analogs inputs, 21 PWM, 2 Serial, 3 SPI, 3 I2C
• All GPIO is 5 volt tolerant (Arduino compatible)
• 2 rows of 8 pins, with 12 pins on double-sided end connector
• On-board USB Type A connector
• STM32F401 CPU - ARM Cortex M4, 384kb flash, 96kb RAM
• On-board 3.3v 150mA voltage regulator, accepts voltages from 3.5v to 16v
• Current draw in sleep: <0.05mA - over 2.5 years on a 2500mAh battery
• On-board FET can be used to drive high-current outputs

Price

Of course, many are interested in how much it costs. So, the cost of one board without legs is 15 pounds (23 dollars).

• Starter Kit - 61 US dollars;
• Geek's Toy Kit - 123 dollars;
• Ultimate Toy Kit - $ 342

The developers have already collected more on Kickstarter than they planned, so in April 2015 the shipment of the mini-board will begin.