Microchip has expanded its chipKIT platform with new tools from Digilent, Fair Use Building and Research (FUBAR) Labs and Schmalz Haus. The new tools are based on Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers (MCUs) in prototyping-friendly, low pin count SOIC or SPDIP packages, previously more common in 8-bit MCUs. The aim is to enable all users to benefit from the PIC32’s high performance, memory and integrated peripherals while using the basic hobbyist prototyping equipment found in most home workshops.

 

Digilent’s chipKIT DP32 board features basic I/O and interface components, expanding the 32-bit chipKIT ecosystem while providing a low-cost development platform. For users who want to build applications without a development board, Microchip also offers the prototyping-friendly PIC32 MCUs in PDIP packages with the preprogrammed chipKIT USB boot loader. In particular, the PIC32MX250F128B in a 28-pin package is a 32-bit microcontroller with a 40 MHz clock rate, 128 KB flash and 32 KB RAM, along with integrated peripherals for touch sensing, graphics, audio processing, USB and advanced control applications.