Arduino, an open-source hardware and software platform, announced the launch of its next-generation UNO board, a revision of its 8-bit technology. Powered by a 32-bit microcontroller, the new UNO R4 comes in two versions: the UNO R4 Minima and UNO R4 Wi-Fi, meeting the budgetary and needs of the maker community.
Preserving the standard form factor, shield compatibility and 5 V power supply of the UNO R3, the UNO R4 adds a 32-bit microcontroller with up to 16x the clock speed, memory and flash storage with the integration of the RA4M1 processor from Renesas. Renesas is a global provider in microcontrollers, analog, power and provides developers with a boost in processing power, memory, and functionality.
Based on an Arm Cortex-M4 core, the RA4M1 microcontroller on the Arduino UNO R4 features a clock speed of 48 MHz for high processing power. To accommodate more complex projects, the UNO R4 is fitted with 32 kB of SRAM (static random-access memory) and 256 kB of flash memory. Plus, the Arm Cortex-M4 core features a floating point unit (FPU), bringing a high performance boost for certain applications. Software scalability is also supported on the new board, allowing upgrades for projects made with UNO R3 or Leonardo.
Requests from the Arduino community see the USB port upgraded to USB-C (Universal Serial Bus Type-C) and the maximum power supply voltage increased to 24 V with an improved thermal design. The board provides a CAN (controller area network) bus, which allows users to minimise wiring and execute different tasks in parallel by connecting multiple shields as well as two SPI and two I2C serial ports. Finally, the new board includes a 12-bit analog DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and operational amplifier.
Keeping the pinout, voltage and form factor unchanged from the UNO R3 ensures maximum hardware and electrical compatibility with existing shields and projects while allowing the UNO R4 boards to be a high-performance drop-in replacement.
The UNO R4 Wi-Fi version comes with an Espressif ESP32-S3 module for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth low Energy connectivity. The bright 12×8 red LED (light emitting diode) matrix is ideal for projects using animations or for plotting sensor data without the need for additional display hardware. With a wide variety of compatible modules that can be connected via the Qwiic I2C (inter-integrated circuit) connector, combined with the large ecosystem of shields for UNO already in the market, UNO R4 Wi-Fi provides a plug-and-play experience that allows the creation of projects without soldering, breadboards or manual wiring.
For makers seeking a boost in processing power without the additional features, the UNO R4 Minima provides a cost-effective option. With the HID over USB capability, makers can simulate a mouse or a keyboard to create interfaces with minimal effort.
“We are excited to make our technology more accessible to a broader base of customers as we continue to collaborate with Arduino,” comments Chris Allexandre, SVP, CSMO and head of global sales and marketing at Renesas. “After the success of the Portenta C33, we are now launching the next-generation UNO R4 using our 5 V 32-bit Arm Cortex M4-based microcontrollers. We believe this iconic board will provide an enhanced user experience to a wide range of customers.”
Massimo Banzi, co-founder and chairman at Arduino, says “With the ever-changing needs of our community and technological advancements, even the most popular UNO R3 must evolve, though we have no plans to discontinue the board. In close collaboration with our partners, Renesas and Espressif, we believe the UNO R4 is the most versatile maker board on the market. Using the Wi-Fi option, users can connect to the Arduino Cloud or other platforms to easily create connected projects.”
To learn more about the UNO R4, please visit Arduino.
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