Arduino's New UNO SPE Shield Brings Single-Pair Ethernet, RS485 to the Arduino UNO R4 Family

Arduino has announced a new add-on for the Arduino UNO R4 development board range, built in partnership with Microchip: the UNO SPE Shield, which adds Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) and RS485 connectivity.

"SPE is a new Ethernet communication standard that enables power and data to coexist on a single pair of wires, referred to as Power over Data Line (PoDL)," the Arduino team explains, though SPE was standardized in an amendment to IEEE 802.3bw in 2015 and PoDL added in 2016. "This allows for faster data transfer and reduced wiring complexity and costs, leading to more streamlined and rapid deployment of integrated strategies for the automation of buildings, factories, and processes, in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)."

The Arduino UNO SPE Shield, as the name suggests, adds Single-Pair Ethernet connectivity to the Arduino UNO — though, at the time of writing, had only been confirmed as "plug-and-play compatible" with the latest Arduino UNO R4 models. The shield was developed in partnership with Microchip, which provides the LAN8651B1T-E/LMX SPE MAC-PHY chip at its heart — while the board also offers RS485 connectivity, which Arduino positions as ideal for those looking to augment or upgrade legacy systems for faster or longer-range wired communication.

"Our collaboration with Arduino in launching the new SPE Shield aims to empower the maker and engineering communities by providing them with advanced tools to drive new breakthroughs," says Microchip's martin Miller. "This solution represents our commitment to developing and delivering flexible, connected and scalable solutions for the future."

"The Arduino UNO SPE Shield represents a pivotal step in accelerating the adoption of 10BASE-T1S technology across industry and maker communities alike," adds Arduino chief executive Fabio Violante. "By bringing single-pair Ethernet to our globally trusted platform, we’re making this game-changing standard accessible to millions of innovators worldwide. What sets our implementation apart is our unique addition of Power over Data Lines capabilities – an industry-first feature that extends beyond the standard specifications to unlock entirely new possibilities for powered, single-cable solutions."

Arduino has not yet announced pricing and availability for the new board, but has published more information on its blog — with a waitlist opened for those eager to get their hands on the hardware when it goes up for sale.