Signaloid's Tiny FPGA Development Board Is the Size of a microSD Card
Signaloid C0-microSD contains an iCE40 FPGA and runs custom designs or a Signaloid C0 RISC V-based core for processing data uncertainty.
The Signaloid C0-microSD from Cambridge-based Signaloid is a tiny iCE40 FPGA development board with a unique interface and programming model. As the name suggests, it fits into a standard microSD card socket — and that's how you program it!
Signaloid provides a platform for cloud and edge-based computing of uncertain data. Signaloid's technology is an alternative to traditional uncertainty analysis. Unlike Monte Carlo analysis, Signaloid's RISC-V-based processor core offers near real-time decision-making results.
Currently, the core is available as an FPGA image for Lattice iCE40UP5K FPGAs. This FPGA is the basis of the Signaloid C0-microSD.
This tiny FPGA development board contains the iCE40UP5K FPGA, 128 Mbit flash memory, 11 I/O signals, and two onboard LEDs. It is the size of a microSD flash card! The LEDs sit near the card's top edge, making them visible when inserted into a socket. Six of the programmable I/O pins are connected to the microSD interface. The other five I/Os are available as surface mount pads on the back.
The microSD interface makes this development platform unique. When you insert the Signaloid C0-microSD into a host computer, it appears as a file-based device. Your application can either natively talk to the board or use an Operating System's disk utilities. For example, you can program a new bitstream without an external programmer!
Signaloid offers the C0-microSD as a general-purpose FPGA development board. The board supports the same open-source toolchain as other iCE40-based designs. For example, you can develop for it using Icestorm, Yosys, NextPnR, and Icestudio.
Alternatively, you can use the pre-built (and included) Signaloid C0 RISC-V processor core. This core allows you to use Signaloid's uncertainty algorithms in your applications. Since the device appears as a microSD card, you can use it with platforms like single-board computers (SBCs) or standalone microcontrollers (with an SPI interface).
Signaloid also offers a carrier board for development work called the Signaloid SD-Dev. This 57 x 57 millimeter board contains a full-size, micro-SD card socket, USB-C ports, micro HDMI, and other connectors.
Signaloid plans to release the design files to its GitHub repository after completing the campaign. For more information, check out the Signaloid C0-microSD FPGA development board page on Crowd Supply. There, you can sign up for notifications to be notified when the campaign goes live.
Update: The Signaloid C0-MicroSD pre-order campaign is now live. Prices start at $45.
Learn more about Signaloid's platform in this Uncertainty-Tracking Deep Dive article.