This week FTDI Chip have announced a range of Arduino-compatible development platforms to support the company’s Embedded Video Engine (EVE) technology. The VM800P series provides engineers with everything necessary to implement Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) featuring display, audio, touch elements and data processing aspects too.

The units can be programmed using the standard Arduino IDE (using a pre-programmed Arduino-compatible bootloader). In addition to support for various Arduino libraries, every VM800P incorporates an FTDI Chip FT800 EVE graphic controller IC and its FT232R USB interface IC as well as an ATMega328P 8-bit microcontroller running at 16 MHz. Also featured are a touch-enabled display LCD panel, a backlight LED driver, an audio power amplifier and a micro speaker. A choice of 3.5, 4.3 and 5.0-inch display formats is available which have precision fitted bezels to enable operation in industrial environments. The VM800P units also have a USB serial port for firmware upload and application communication, a battery-backed real time clock (RTC) for carrying out system timing and a micro SD socket loaded with a 4GByte SD card containing sample applications.

These Arduino-compatible display system development platforms run off a standard 5V either via a micro USB cable or directly from an external supply. In the release, Paul Huang, Display Product Line Manager at FTDI Chip commented that “The impact of the Arduino phenomenon has been far reaching. It presents engineers with a powerful and extremely flexible foundation on which to create exciting new design implementations and now we are harnessing this in relation to our EVE technology, with the VM800P series, we are bringing to market something far more impressive than simple development boards. These PLUS boards are able to give engineers much more. They are complete stand-alone display subsystems based on Arduino with all the attributes necessary to create game changing HMIs - from the initial conception phase right through to final deployment. They can be utilised solely for development purposes or alternatively they will be easy for engineering teams to integrate into end product designs if this is preferred.”

FTDI Chip also provides over 50 EVE sample applications categorised into basic, intermediate and advanced levels. These include straight forward gauges and keyboards through to white goods and industrial controls.

Unit pricing for the VM800P series begins at $89.00. Arduino libraries, software and support documentation are provided free of charge. For more information on these products visit: http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/VM800P.html