AKAREL - Android and Arduino hardware platform
AKAREL is a hardware development kit that integrates Android ARM Cortex A7 and Arduino ATmega328p on a single board with touch screen and free software.
Prototyping phase finished.
Ready for manufacturing!
Support us by purchasing one of the first devices!
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The Dream - Product for Hobbyists/Hackers
Our dream is to build a development kit that can be used by Android and Arduino hobbyists around the world to implement their ideas that require a touch screen interface.
There are tons of development kits around, but none of them is actually a complete solution which can be used in the real world. Some development kits are missing displays or touch, others use obscure software stacks. We would like to bring something to the world that has not been here yet. Imagine implementing your hack ideas within hours instead of days like you've been doing until now.
Do you want to build a fancy door locker, your own home automation or something else that requires a touch input?
We think our product AKAREL is the best fit for you. Do not hesitate and see the product specs, videos and our prototypes.
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AKAREL Description
AKAREL comes in two slightly different models AKAREL7 (7 inch display) and AKAREL22 (22 inch display).
Please note that AKAREL7 features an industrial grade projected capacitive multi touch connected via I2C and AKAREL22 features a USB connected capacitive single touch.
AKAREL integrates Android OS running on ARM Cortex A7 interconnected via UART with Arduino software running on ATmega 328p.
Integration and connection of both chips on one PCB brings you the following advantages:
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Best graphic and user experience of Android OS UI.
- Fast application development of Android OS - use of java libraries, emulator etc.
- Network connectivity problem solved - forget WiFi modules kernel hacking. Just connect AKAREL to WiFi like you are used to doing with your phone. Please note that AKAREL features also an Ethernet connector.
- Universe of libraries from the Arduino community that speed up your low level GPIO programming. Forget about writing a kernel module just to move one pin up. Just send the command from Android to Arduino via UART to do so.
AKAREL7 has the best class 7" multitouch touch screen. The utilized projected capacitive touch technology (PCT) allows to operate the touch screen with your fingers or even with your gloves on. More over PCT works when it is wet and can sustain scratches. We have spent quite a lot of time choosing the right touch and this is the one that is going to work all the time and is highly durable.
AKAREL Possible Uses
AKAREL is a perfect fit for the following applications:
- Smart home/Home automation/Home security system
- Kiosks or Payment terminals
- Smart devices connected to the Internet - i.e. washer machine, refrigerators etc..
- Heating systems control
- And thousands of devices waiting for you to invent them!
Progress, Plan and Current Status
Prototyping phase finished. Ready for manufacturing!
Latest Status
- 10.2.2014 - Indiegogo campaign start. - DONE
- 1.9.2013 - 1.2.2014 - Prototyping, hardware and software hacking, see the photos in the gallery to veiw all our prototypes. - DONE
The Plan
- 3.3.2014 - CE mark certification.
- 4.3.2014 - Ordering components for April batch (Displays, Touches, CPUs etc.).
- 1.4.2014 - PCB manufacturing for April batch start.
- 1.4.2014 - Metal parts manufacturing for April batch start.
- 10.4.2014 - Indiegogo campaign end
- 11.4.2014 - Ordering components for June batch (Displays, Touches, CPUs etc.)
- 12.4.2014 - Metal parts manufacturing for July batch start.
- 14.4.2014 - Final assembly of April batch(frames and PCBs put together).
- 21.4.2014 - April Batch shipping.
- 22.4.2014 - PCB manufacturing for July batch start.
- 15.5.2014 - Final assembly of July batch(frames and PCBs put together).
- 10.6.2014 - July Batch shipping.
We have concluded the prototypes stage and we have got the final product. We are ready to start buying components and begin manufacturing.
Your Contribution
We are NOT looking for money to support the run of our office or pay the phones.
We NEED your contributions only for the product manufacturing expenses (manufacturing the final PCBs, purchasing displays and other components). So when you purchase a perk you will receive one of the first devices.
Our modest goal is to manufacture one batch of 200pcs of AKAREL, but of course we hope for more pieces - that depends on YOU! :)
You can also help us by spreading the word about this campaign to your friends.
And all the contributors' names will be written on the final product!
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AKAREL Hardware Specification
CPU - 1GHz Allwinner A20 dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor.
MCU - 16 MHz ATmega 328p
RAM - 1 GB
Internal Flash - 4 GB
Peripherals and capabilities:
- 7" or 22" LCD display (800x480 or 1680x1050) connected via LVDS
- 7" or 22" capacitive touch (7" projected capacitive dualtouch or 22" capacitive singletouch)
- 2xUSB 2.0 host
- 1xUSB 2.0 micro OTG
- 1xUART RS232-12V
- 1xUART TTL
- Arduino 5V compatible headers with GPIOs (A0-A5, D0-D13, etc)
- Arduino ICSP
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WiFi b/g/n
- Ethernet 100Mbit
- Built in microphone
- Built in speaker
- Built in 10W amplifier for external speakers.
Dimensions:
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AKAREL7 - 175mm x 115mm x 45mm
- AKAREL22 - 500mm x 325mm x 45mm
What else comes with the package:
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External Power supply 12V (2A).
- Metal box and mounting plates
- Paper with login information to the software portal (Git,wiki, bugtracker, forum etc)
AKAREL Software Specification
With the AKAREL kit everyone gains GIT repository access to the following:
- Uboot source code
- Linux kernel source (3.4.39)
- Finetuned Android OS sources (4.2.2)
- Arduino firmware sources
- Arduino tools (i.e. avrdude) compiled for android.
- Example applications sources
More software:
- Download access to virtual machine image with pre-installed tools enabling you to start modifying the code right away.
- Scripts that compile entire thing (uboot, kernel, android, arduino)
Our philosophy is that everything should work out of the box and that includes the software stack.
We want you to concentrate on writing an application not on spending time to make the basic things work. We have done it for you already. And if you want to dive deeper and modify the Linux kernel or Android OS...Why not? You have all the sources available for you to change and compile.
In case you want to modify the kernel or Android OS faster we have something for you.
In order to save you from the hell of installing all the toolchain (correct version of gcc, libs, headers, automake, make, java, you name it) we have prepared a Ubuntu virtual machine for you which may be downloaded and which has all this toolchain preinstalled so that you can start recompiling your complete stack within a few minutes.
Package Contains
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Photo - AKAREL7
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Photo - AKAREL22
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FAQ
1. How do i put my Arduino software/firmware on the chip?
There are 3 ways:
- You can use standard ICSP header which is present on the board using Arduino IDE.
- Over the micro USB cable from Arduino IDE. Just replace avrdude executable on your computer with our script (part of the software package) that facilitates adb commands.
- You can use our sample android application that uploads hex files using avrdude.
2. AKAREL7's price seems to be high for me, why is that?
- We are trying our best to push the price as low as possible. But until we have some solid volumes it is hard.
- Most of the development kits are cheap because they don't contain expensive stuff like displays, touchscreens, audio amplifiers
- Also the price is partially high due to the touchscreen we use. But believe us our projected capacitive touch is very durable and it is industrial grade. We didn't want to use a cheap Chinese touch that would stop working with the first scratch.
3. Can I completely hide the Android System and Navigation Bars?
Yes, we have already done that. This is a common requirement to block a user from switching between apps. It is simple you will find it in the sample apps.
4. Android 4.4 (Kitkat) support?
Currently no plans. We have to wait for a chip vendor to come with the support first (GPU drivers, kernel, etc.)
5. What USB devices are supported?
This depends on the kernel configuration. USB mass storage, mouse, keyboard, webcam, USB to serial, USB to LPT should work out of the box with the default configuration. If you find out that something is not enabled by default, just change the configuration and recompile kernel.
6. How is the touch calibration done?
Software for touch calibration is included.
7. 3G/LTE support?
Currently out of scope. Networking is supported only via WiFi or Ethernet. We recommend to use WiFi tethering from another phone if you really need to be connected via a cell network. It should be possible to use 3G USB stick, but currently, this has not been tested.
8. Camera support?
Currently out of scope. You will need to use a USB webcam. At this moment Microsoft LifeCam HD-6000 rendering into Android SurfaceView has been successfully tested, see the sample apps. But it should work with others too. It all depends on the webcam support in the Linux kernel and V4L.
9. Opensource hardware?
The question of open-sourcing PCB layout has not been resolved in our heads yet. We will reconsider the subject based on the success of this campaign. Possibly yes, we will see...
Who We Are
We are a small start-up company GENERAL BYTES s.r.o. based in the Czech Republic with professionals having more than 20 years of software and hardware experience and one big dream.
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