• BeagleBone platform adopted by thousands of developers for developing creative electronic products and applications
• The BeagleBone platform, a credit card-sized Linux computer platform based on the ARM® Cortex™ A8 processor capable of running Android 4.0 and Ubuntu software, which removes entry barriers to enable easy development work.
• Open source Linux developers can more easily develop creative new features such as cameras, touch screens, motor control, and battery power using the BeagleBone with the “Cape” plug-in board.

TI Korea (CEO Kent Jeon, www.ti.com/ww/kr ) August 16, 2012 — BeagleBoard (BeagleBoard.org) has unveiled over 20 new plug-in boards available for the BeagleBone Linux computer platform. BeagleBone is an open-source platform created and provided by the open-source community BeagleBoard to enable designers, enthusiasts, and developers to more easily and affordably develop creative Linux-based electronics. Inspired by the cape worn by the once-popular cartoon superhero Beagle, the active BeagleBoard named the new plug-in "Cape." BeagleBoard stated that it designed the new plug-in boards to contribute to the advancement of innovative applications, such as robot motor drivers and sensors for position and pressure measurement. By adding a Cape plug-in board to an expandable BeagleBone computer and using it as a development kit, both developers and amateurs can quickly and conveniently add features such as LCD screens, motor control, and battery power to the BeagleBone platform, or design their own circuits. The new Cape plug-in board can be purchased through www.beaglebonecapes.com .

Currently, numerous designers, developers, enthusiasts, and engineers are widely adopting the BeagleBone platform, which is equipped with exceptional performance capabilities. The BeagleBone enables creative and innovative features, such as connecting to the internet and running software like Android 4.0 or Ubuntu on a Linux computer that is only about the size of a credit card. The new Cape plug-in board provides rich I/O and processing power for real-time analysis of the TI Sitara™ AM335x ARM® Cortex™ A8 processor, enabling developers to differentiate their products and accelerate time-to-market.

The BeagleBone computer platform, equipped with a feature-rich processor, enables full utilization of the technology possessed by the Open Hardware Linux Development Kit. Additionally, users can exchange opinions and provide and receive help through an online support system in the BeagleBoard.org community, which has over 5,000 active members.

Users of the BeagleBoard.org community developed the Cape plug-in board to enhance the sensors, actuators, and interfaces available on the BeagleBone platform, thereby diversifying the development options available for the BeagleBone minicomputer platform. Cape plug-in boards can be inserted into the BeagleBone's dual 46-pin 2-row expansion headers, so up to 4 Cape plug-in boards can be plugged in at once.

Clint Cooley, President of CircuitCo., said, “The BeagleBone is inspiring countless developers to create a wide variety of innovative and creative devices, ranging from self-learning electronic educational kits to underwater robots. These ‘Cape’ plug-in boards will simplify design and offer infinite possibilities for developing new innovative features. I am very excited and looking forward to seeing what new things the developers in the BeagleBoard.org community will come up with next using the BeagleBone.”

Application development made easier with the “Cape” plug-in board
The BeagleBone LCD7 Cape is a popular “Cape” plug-in board that offers touch screen functionality using a 7-inch TFT LCD screen, 4-wire resistive touch, and 5 user buttons. The BeagleBone LCD Cape comes with default standoffs, or you can purchase a piano-black aluminum stand.

The BeagleBone Camera Cape is the latest “Cape” plug-in board that allows the camera to avoid using the sometimes limited USB port and helps lower total system power consumption. The QuickLogic CSSP Camera Interface (CAM I/F) solution will enable the expansion of BeagleBone's application range in the automatic recognition and data capture, portable electronic devices, and industrial tablet/smartphone markets.

Other BeagleBone “Cape” Plug-in Boards: (Numerous other plug-in boards are also available)
• LCD Touch Screen Capacitance (7-inch and 3.5-inch) – Providing LCD solutions with touch screen capabilities
• BeagleBone Weather Cape – Provides data such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and ambient light.
• BeagleBone DVI-D Cape – Provides a DVI-D interface for connecting external monitors
• BeagleBone Breakout Cape - Allows access to various BeagleBone components during troubleshooting
• BeagleBone Breadboard – Provides a powerful prototyping tool that does not require soldering
• BeagleBone CANBus Cape – Interfacing with automotive components and motor controllers, such as TI’s Stellaris® ARM Cortex M-based Jaguar Module used in the popular US FIRST® Robotics League, via the DCAN1 interface of TI’s AM335x processor.
• BeagleBone RS232 Cape – Provides RS232 interface
• BeagleBone Battery Cape – Provides portable power solutions

Jason Kridner, a BeagleBoard community activist, stated, “BeagleBone ‘Cape’ plug-in boards provide open hardware examples and tested configurations for implementing various interfaces, enabling rapid evaluation.” He added, “In fact, on these ‘Cape’ plug-in boards, young“Inspired by this, thousands of BeagleBoard community developers are creating their own unique plugin boards. We expect over a hundred of these boards to be added next year,” he said. (“For a list of “Cape” plugin boards, visit www.beaglebonecapes.com ; for more information and Cape registration, see www.beagleboard.org/capes )