BeagleBoard Documentation

Welcome to the BeagleBoard project documentation. If you are looking for help with your Beagle open-hardware development platform, you’ve found the right place!

Note

The BeagleBoard.org Foundation is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing open hardware computing solutions for a community of makers, educators and professionals that enable rapid prototyping without barriers to creating real-world embedded systems. The BeagleBoard.org Foundation supports the BeagleBoard community through efforts like developing this documentation.

Introduction

Get started quickly on our Linux-enabled boards with Blink an LED, follow-up with articles in An Introduction to Beagles, and reach out via resources on our Support page as needed to resolve issues and engage with the developer community. Don’t forget that this is an open-source project! Your contributions are welcome. Learn about how to contribute to the BeagleBoard documentation project and any of the many open-source Beagle projects ongoing on our Contribution page.

• Get started quickly at Blink an LED.

• Go a bit deaper at An Introduction to Beagles.

• Read the book at BeagleBone Cookbook.

• Get help from the community at Support.

• Learn how to contribute to the project at Contribution.

Boards

This is where you will find the System Reference Manuals (SRMs) for all of the boards.

All Beagles are open-hardware with documentation on the design, including the materials to modify the designs from source using appropriate design tools.

• Check out our easy-to-use Linux-based board at: BeaglePlay

• Check out our highest performance (8 TOPs) board at: BeagleBone AI-64

• Check out our first Zephyr-based board at: BeagleConnect Freedom

• Find all of our boards at: Boards

BeagleY®-AI

An industry standard form-factor 64-bit ARM computer with 4 TOPS AI engine and integrated ARM Cortex-R5 for low-latency I/O tasks.

BeaglePlay®

A 64-bit ARM computer designed to simplify physical world interactions to the connected world.

BeagleConnect™ Freedom

BeagleConnect™ Freedom is based on a TI Arm Cortex-M4 wireless-enabled microcontroller and is the first available BeagleConnect™ solution.

BeagleBone® AI-64

A complete 64-bit AI and Machine Learning System with the convenience and expandability of the BeagleBone® platform with the peripherals on board to get started right away learning and building applications.

BeagleV®-Fire

Awesome quad-core RISC-V and FPGA SBC with BeagleBone cape headers, PCIe over M.2 and SYZYGY high-speed connector!

BeagleV®-Ahead

High-performance quad-core RISC-V SBC with neural network and media accelerators with BeagleBone cape headers, mikroBUS shuttle connector, 2x CSI and DSI expansion.

BeagleBone® Black

1GHz Single-Board Linux Computer based on ARM Cortex-A8 with PRU microcontrollers and tons of features like Ethernet and HDMI – credit card sized with over a decade of support, software and materials behind it making it ready for any application.

BeagleBone® AI

Filling the gap between small SBCs and more powerful industrial computers, BeagleBone® AI, based on the AM5729, makes it easy to explore how artificial intelligence can be used in every day life. Powerful compute performance and software support.

PocketBeagle®

This ultra-tiny-yet-complete open-source USB-key-fob computer has the same processor as the BeagleBone® Black at one third the size. Give small projects the Linux computer they deserve. Hundreds of example projects to help you get started.

BeagleBone® Blue

An all-in-one Linux-based robotics computer with compatibility to BeagleBone® Black and tons of integration including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IMU/barometer, power regulation, H-Bridges, motor connectors and more. Robotics made streamlined, affordable and fun.

Capes

BeagleBone® Servo Cape

Control up to 16 servos for many remote control, robotics or automation projects

BeagleBone® Fan Cape

Keeps BeagleBone® cool under heavy operating loads while still providing easy access to the headers. Essential for BeagleBone® AI Projects

BeagleBone® Robotics Cape

Loaded with features needed for mobile robotics supporting movement, sensing, power management and communication

BeagleBone® Relay Cape

Control things like lights, pumps and more in any home automation project quickly with 4 relay switches

BeagleBone® Proto Cape

Provides a blank slate including a grid of plated through-holes for external components and supportive buttons and LEDs

BeagleBone® Power Cape

Provides a complete power interface with regulated 3.3V and 5V out as well as up to 30V input voltage

BeagleBone® Load Cape

Drive high-current loads like relays, motors, solenoids, and high current LEDs

BeagleBone® Motor Cape

Drive up to 4 DC motors with direction and PWM control

BeagleBone® Comms Cape

Quickly develop industrial communication applications with an array of protocols including RS485 and CAN

BeagleBone® GamePup Cape

For making a handheld arcade emulator, your own games or otherwise taking your PocketBeagle on the go, PocketBeagle® GamePup provides all the features you need in a slick shape for gaming

BeagleBone® Grove Kit

A complete kit for developing projects with PocketBeagle® and Grove modules. Great for teaching embedded processing and Linux development. Comes complete with PocketBeagle® as well as Grove Cape and 10 modules to get started.

BeagleBone® TechLab Cape

Designed with years of educational lessons-learned in mind, PocketBeagle® TechLab Cape delivers easy introduction to programming, Linux and even hacking the kernel itself. Supported by teaching materials from the Linux Foundation and eALE.

Projects

A number of software projects, like simpPRU exist to help Beagle developers. Some developers choose to host documentation for their Projects here.

Books

This project hosts a collection of open-source Books written to help Beagle developers.

• Find a great introduction to BeagleBone at: BeagleBone Cookbook

• Learn one of the most amazing Beagle features at: PRU Cookbook

Accessories

This is a list of hardware accessories tested with BeagleBone hardware. The list is growing with support of volunteers like you. Checkout the Accessories page for more information.

Indices and tables

• Glossary of Terms

• Index