DevBoard Watch: BeagleBone Green showcases Grove sensors

Here is an interesting one to note – a variation on the BeagleBoard theme, the BeagleBone Green (BBG).

BeagleBone Green

Apparently it is a joint effort by BeagleBoard.org and Seeed Studio and is based on the open-source hardware design of BeagleBone Black.

In fact the difference between Black and Green is that the on-board HDMI is removed from the Black in order to make room for two Grove connectors. The idea is to make it easier to interface to the wider worked generally, and the large family of Grove sensors specifically. Which two Grove connectors you choose is up to you.

This also makes the Green cheaper than the Black ($39 versus $55).

The tech spec is as follows:

Processor:
AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8
• 512MB DDR3 RAM
• 4GB eMMC on-board flash storage
• 3D graphics accelerator
• NEON floating-point

BeagleBone Green

Software Compatibility:
• Debian
• Android
• Ubuntu
• Cloud9 IDE on Node
• Support much more

Connectivity:
• USB client for power & communications
• USB host
• Ethernet
• 2x Grove
• 2x 46 pin headers

I must admit, I haven’t come across the Grove connectors before (MESH, LittleBits, SAMS, yes. Grove, no).

Grove is a modulated, ready-to-use tool set. Much like Lego, it takes a building block approach to assembling electronics. Compared with the traditional, complicated learning method of using a breadboard and various electronic components to assemble a project, Grove simplifies and condenses the learning process significantly. The Grove system consists of a base shield and various modules with standardized connectors. The base shield allows for easy connection of any microprocessor input or output from the Grove modules, and every Grove module addresses a single function, such as a simple button or a more complex heart rate sensor. Each one comes with clear documentation and demo code to help you get started quickly.

The Grove system also offers stand-alone mixer packs (Grove – Mixer Pack and Grove – Mixer Pack V2) that include a set of Grove modules that can be connected with each other to circuits without having to use a base shield of any sort. This way, various projects and circuits that do not need micro-controllers or microprocessors can be built.

The range includes Environmental Monitoring modules, Motion Sensing modules, User Interface modules, Physical Monitoring modules, Logic Gate modules and Power modules.

The Environmental Monitoring modules are shown below: