Embest: BB Black Development Platform based on TI Sitara™︎ AM3358 Processor Exclusively for China

Overview

Embest in association with Texas Instruments brings the new generation BeagleBone, a low-power open-source hardware single-board computer, exclusively for the China market. The China version of BeagleBone named BB Black is exactly the same development platform as BeagleBone Black in other markets. The BB Black is a lower-cost, high-expansion focused BeagleBoard using a low cost Sitara AM3358 ARM Cortex-A8 processor from Texas Instruments. BB Black ships with the Ångström Linux distribution in onboard FLASH to start evaluation and development. Many other Linux distributions and operating systems are also supported on BB Black including Ubuntu, Android,  and Fedora. Like its predecessors, the BB Black is designed to address the Open Source Community, early adopters, and anyone interested in a low cost ARM Cortex-A8 based processor. It has been equipped with a minimum set of features to allow the user to experience the power of the processor and also offers access to many of the interfaces and allows for the use of add-on boards called capes, to add many different combinations of features. A user may also develop their own board or add their own circuitry.

The BB BlackBB Black features TI's Sitara AM3358AZCZ100 microprocessor (Note: For the initial release, the board uses the Sitara XAM3359AZCZ processor. But eventually the board will move to the Sitara AM3358BZCZ100 device), which is based on ARM Cortex-A8 core with enhanced image, graphics processing, peripherals and industrial interface options such as EtherCAT and PROFIBUS. The board is equipped with 256Mb x16 DDR3L 4Gb (512MB) SDRAM, 32KB EEPROM, and 2GB embedded MMC (eMMC) Flash as default boot source. The board is also populated with a single microSD connector to act as the secondary boot source for the board and, if selected as such, can be the primary boot source. The BB Black supports four boot modes, including eMMC boot, microSD boot, serial boot, and USB boot. A switch is provided to allow switching between the modes.

Different from the original BeagleBone, the BB Black has an onboard HDMI interface to connect directly to TVs and monitors. Other features include a 10/100 Ethernet interface, a serial debug port, a PC USB interface, an USB 2.0 host port, a reset button, a power button, and five indicating blue LEDs. The BB Black has the ability to accept up to four expansion boards or capes that can be stacked onto the expansion headers. The majority of capes designed for the original BeagleBone will work on the BB Black.

Key Applications: Robotics, motor drivers, Twitter printer, data backup, SDR base station, USB data acquisition and more.

Development Tools

Software Development Tools

Tool Type	Supplier	MPN	Supported Family	Description
IDE	Texas Instruments	Code Composer Studio (CCStudio)	TI ARM MCUs	CCStudio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for TI embedded   processor families. CCStudio comprises a suite of tools used to develop and debug embedded applications. It includes   compilers for each of TI's device families, source code editor, project build environment, debugger, profiler, simulators,   real-time operating system and many other features. Learn More
IDE	ARM	DS-5DS-5	ARM Cortex-A  / Cortex-R / ARM9 / ARM11	The ARM Development Studio 5 (DS-5) tool enable developers to get the best from their ARM technology-based systems. Whether implementing an ARM processor-based SoC or writing software for an Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP), ARM tools enable you to deliver the best solution with the highest performance and lowest power. Learn More

Hardware Development Tools

Tool Type	Supplier	MPN	Supported Family	Description
Debuggers, Emulators & JTAG Tools	ARM	DSTRM-KT-0181ADSTRM-KT-0181A	ARM7 / ARM9 / ARM11 / Cortex-A / Cortex-R / Cortex-M	DSTREAM Debug and Trace Unit
Debuggers, Emulators & JTAG Tools	Segger	J-LinkJ-Link	ARM Cortex-M  / Cortex-R4 / Cortex-A / ARM7 / ARM9	JTAG/SWD Emulator with USB interface
Programmer	Segger	Flasher ARMFlasher ARM	ARM Cortex-M  / Cortex-R4 / Cortex-A / ARM7 / ARM9	Flash Programmer for ARM and Cortex cores

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Technical Documents

Learning Center

Design Elements

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Video

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Kit Features

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Kit Contents

The BB BlackBB Black will ship with the following components:

• BB Black Board
• miniUSB to USB Type A Cable
• Instruction Card

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