Designed for professional engineers to develop embedded systems, the new Raspberry Pi 3 module (CM3) fits into a standard DDR2 SODIMM socket and provides the same basic processing capabilities as the Raspberry Pi 3.
Like the Raspberry Pi 3, the CM3 incorporates a 64-bit Broadcom BCM2837 application processor, built around a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.2GHz and 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM. It provides 4GB of onboard eMMC Flash storage and maintains an identical pinout to the original CM1 module.
In addition, RS and Allied offer the new low-cost Raspberry Pi 3 Lite module (CM3L). This includes the BCM2837 application processor and 1 GB of RAM, but lacks onboard flash storage. Developers can incorporate an eMMC device or SD card slot on the application-specific motherboard.
Like its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 3 module is designed for integration into industrial applications. One example is NEC's next-generation range of large-format displays. These integrate a connection for an optional Raspberry Pi 3 module and are designed for use in brightly lit public spaces such as schools, offices, shops, and railway stations.
The Raspberry Pi 3 module is also available from RS and Allied as part of a development kit, along with the I/O module board. This simple, open-source development board brings all the I/O connectivity of the CM1, CM3, or CM3L to the pin and flex connectors, and allows developers to program onboard eMMC Flash via USB. It serves as a prototyping platform and a starting point for developing application-specific motherboards.
"Our initiative to expand the deployment possibilities of the Raspberry Pi has already been a great success, with many innovative applications developed based on our first Compute Module," says Eben Upton of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. "We expect that this more powerful second-generation device, together with the existing ecosystem resources, including the accompanying software and hardware, will enable greater penetration into industrial markets.".
"The introduction of this new Compute Module version demonstrates the Raspberry Pi Foundation's strong commitment to industry, going beyond the platform's original mission as an educational programming tool," said Rob Maycroft, Global Product Manager for Raspberry Pi at RS. "Embedded system designers can leverage the resources of the extensive Raspberry Pi community and take advantage of the Raspberry Pi 3's enhanced processing capabilities to develop exciting new applications.".
The Raspberry Pi 3 module, associated development kit, and accompanying board can now be purchased through RS in EMEA.
