Goldilocks = 1284p Arduino Uno

This project is to implement an Arduino clone using the ATmega1284p MCU, as replacement for the normal ATmega328p MCU, bringing significant improvements and longevity into the existing Arduino platform.

I believe the Goldilocks solution is to use the Arduino Uno / Leonardo physical format, for 100% Arduino Shield compatibility at 5V and with the standard pin layout. But using the ATmega1284p processor to provide significant improvements in RAM, FLASH, EEPROM, interfaces, and other factors.

The current Arduino Uno and Leonardo devices cater for many applications, but they are becoming limited for some modern applications, such as Ethernet networking, SD Card storage, and USB based systems. The limitation in SRAM in the 328p and 32u4 is the most apparent issue, and this is the most difficult to supplement with external components. The Uno platform is too small for demanding applications, and therefore it is not the right solution.

Arduino Mega devices are available which provide more RAM (but still less than Goldilocks) and many more interface pins, but unfortunately many of the standard Arduino Shields will not work with the Mega, unless you are prepared to hack them. The Mega platform is too big for the standard Shields, and therefore it is not the right solution.

Arduino and others are moving towards 32 bit MCU devices, including ARM Cortex based platforms such as the Arduino Due, which brings significantly more resource into play, but these platforms will require a major re-education of users, and may actually fragment the Arduino user group. Also, these ARM processor based devices must be operated at 3.3V and can only supply 4mA per I/O, which makes them incompatible with many of the existing Arduino Shields.

I've been working with Arduino devices now for some years, and have found that my interest remains in fully understanding the way the "bare metal" processor is working. The Arduino platform gives me that opportunity.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/avrfreertos/

Whilst many argue that the days of 8 bit processors are numbered, and that devices such as the Raspberry Pi are the future, I would say that there remains a need for very simple, but very capable platforms, such as the Goldilocks platform proposed here. Raspberry Pi and others are essentially Linux machines, and are addressing different needs to this platform.

So that I can get this platform designed and developed with the minimum risk, I am working with very reputable Australian open source manufacturer. They have committed to building prototypes if I can provide a minimum number of initial orders. To get the prototypes built I need to get 90 units committed (in addition to the 10 units that I am ordering). Therefore this project will proceed if 90 units are ordered.

To be crystal clear. The Goldilocks will be shipped preprogrammed with an Arduino compatible boot-loader, and the necessary Board description files will be available to provide a 100% compatible Arduino IDE experience. Additionally, links for SDA/SCL to A4/A5 ensure that current Shields (anything prior to the Uno/Leonardo R3 standard) will still just work, simply by closing a solder-bridge
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This is a view of the pledge production board, and has all of the features described at the link below. http://feilipu.me/2013/03/08/goldilocks-1284p-arduino-uno-clone/

The ATmega1284p has a number of significant differences from the 328p that make it a great MCU for the Arduino platform. Some are listed below, in no particular order.

16kByte SRAM = 8x Arduino Uno
4x Flash & 2x EEPROM of the Arduino Uno
2x Programmable USART
Independent Analogue Platform (separate I2C bus pins), but solder bridges for Pre-R3 Shields.
Timer 3 (Extra 16bit timer)
JTAG
RTC
Better PWM access
Extra I/O pins (e.g. for internal SPI SS pins)

If you missed out on this Pozible campaign, Freetronics is picking up the Goldilocks into their catalogue, and I believe it will be available in store from August 2013. Also, the design files will be made available then too (Creative Commons), should you wish to fabricate one yourself.