What Is Arduino Portenta H7 Module and How It’s Better? (Explained)
Jan. 14, 2020What is Arduino Portenta H7 Module?
Arduino Portenta H7 module is the first member of the powerful low-power new Arduino Portenta Family which is designed for demanding industrial applications, AI edge processing, and robotics. The Portenta H7leverages the performance and flexibility of the dual-core STM32H747 that can run tasks in parallel. It can simultaneously run a high-level code along with real-time tasks. For example, according to Arduino’s website, it is possible to execute Arduino compiled code along with MicroPython one, and have both cores to communicate with one another.
It is made possible by the Portenta H7 module’s dual-core processor made ofa Cortex M7 core running at 480 MHz and a Cortex M4 core running at 240 MHz. According to Arduino, the two cores communicate via a Remote Procedure Call mechanism that allows calling functions on the other processor seamlessly. The components have an operating temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees Celsius (-40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit) which makes it perfect for industrial usage.
You can find the tech specification of the Portenta H7 module in the table below.
In this section, we are going to briefly talk about the features of Arduino Portenta H7 module that we have not discussed. We have already talked about the module’s processor, operating component temperature, and the supported programming languages. Let’s see what else it brings to the table.
One of the best features of the Portenta H7 module is theon-board GPU, the Chrom-ART Accelerator. This GPU chip also includes a dedicated JPEG encoder and decoder. The addition of a graphics accelerator opens several possibilities for users. For example, users can now connect an external monitor and build their own dedicated embedded computer with a user interface. This was not possible before as you need a graphics accelerator to drive external displays. This addition alone is going to be a game-changer.
One of the biggest addition to the new Portenta H7 module is the USB-C connector. Today all the modern smartphones and laptops are coming with a USB-C port as it offers tons of benefits andaccessory support. You will be happy to know that thePortenta H7 module also comes with a USB-C connector. It is used as the board’s programming connector and can also be used to power the board, as a USB Hub, to connect a DisplayPort monitor, or to deliver power to OTG connected devices. The versatility of the USB-C port gives the module much-need flexibility.
The Arduino Portenta H7 will be available in different configuration options that you can choose depending on your budget and needs. The default Arduino Portenta H7 comes with following:
You can upgrade this default configuration to get a more powerful board.The Portenta H7 can host up to 64 MB of SDRAM, and 128 MB of QSPI Flash. You can also add an external UFL connector to get a higher gain-antenna and choose between crypto-chip from Microchip and NXP. The configuration options will go live when the board is up for order.
The power and versatility of the Arduino Portenta H7 module open it up for being used in various industries. While the company is targeting the product at SMBs and Enterprises, thanks to its affordable pricing, even individual tinkerers can get their hands on it to play with the device. According to the company, among other use cases, it finds the Arduino Portenta H7 Module to be most used in the following:
The Arduino Portenta H7 module is available for pre-order with February being the expected delivery date.You can pre-order the device right now for $99.90. I could not see an option to customize the device as of now. I am guessing that the customization options will go live when the device goes live. If you cannot wait for the device, you can apply to become the beta customers to get it now. Note that the beta program is initially targeted to enterprise and SMB customers and professional makers.
