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I made an open-source FPGA development board!
I wanted to get started with FPGAs by making my own development board, and thus I made Arctyx Nano!
https://github.com/Keyaan-07/Arctyx-Nano - everything is open-sourced under MIT License!
Arctyx Nano is a low-cost, open source FPGA development board carrying the ICE40-UP5K FPGA from lattice along with the RP2350A in a raspberry pi pico form factor. It consists of 6 LEDs and one RGB LED. All the pins on both the ICs are used in one way or another.
I am currently using APIO open-source toolchain to verify, simulate and build projects and to upload using APIO, i have to figure it out.
This is my first FPGA PCB and i would love feedback on my design!
This board was created as a project for bsp;;hackclub blueprint, check it out!!
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Now we just need an FPGA dev environment that make sense :3
i use vs code paired with apio for now! i am relatively new to this but i will probably create a new board configuration on apio so you only need apio with the Arctyx Nano!
I believe vscode is open source and can be modded (see windsurf ide). Not sure regarding how it works on the licence side.
Didn't you just post this yesterday?
Edit: nvm that was a different subreddit haha
Yes that was r/FPGA lol
I was like "wait, this is familiar"
You cleaned the USB! Lol
I love this form factor for dev kits, as it keeps them breadboard friendly, and usually pocketbook friendly.
I don't think most of the MCU people seem to understand what a revolution the arduino nano, bluepill, esp boards all were. If I want those other things such as ethernet, etc, I will add them as I see fit. I now see late model dev kits without usb-C as a huge indication of just not giving a crap.
Thank you.
Yes. It's 2025. Any dev kit without USB C is not getting my money.
Thank you! I designed it to be breadboard-friendly, so I’m really happy to hear it came across that way!
Perfect combo! The RP2040 is amazing.
Thanks! I have used the RP2350, the successor to the RP2040.
yea noticed :)
Very powerful PIO.
Since this is open-source hardware, consider selling it on lectronz!
Combining FPGAs and microcontrollers are always pretty cool, what kind of projects would you want to implement with this kind of form factor?
I don't have any really big ideas but i think i will learn communication protocols in detail along with making some CPU cores(ben eater's 8 bit computer would be an okay starting point for CPU architechture i think)
I’d like to buy one (or two)… can I do that or do I have to make them myself?
you can get them directly from your PCB manufacturer. there are production files in the github repository. or you can get from me.. i'll have to order some extras tho.
Just out of curiousity how much did it cost for you to get one of these printed / assembled? I’m likely going to be doing that in the next few days as this is seriously an awesome device
this board cost me ~$50 excluding shipping for two assemblies, but the prices per board reduces with increase in assembled boards!
Fantastic, have you considered a two layer board with components on both sides? That's how STM32 bluepills and nanos are made. Maybe it turns out to be cheaper as you have a bit more apace for components.
Is the interface to the RP a parallel bus or just some generic serial lines routed to it?
Assembly on both side is way more costly than on only one side
I have considered 2-layer boards, and i initially designed it in 2 layers. i was unable to route everything down in two layers so i had to choose 4 layers.
small board sizes don't affect the price at my pcb manufacturer, but when you buy them in bulk it and the prices skyrocket for 4-layer boards, so it's not great for mass production but i think i'll improve on it! and yes as said by u/ElPablit0, dual sided assembly is way more costly than one side. and again this is not a product, so one sided assembly is fine for me!
the 8 lines connected to RP can be used however you want. those pins of the RP2350 support SPI, I2C and UART. They can also be used as a parallel bus!
Googleing some of the major parts, I find the ICE40UP5K-SG48ITR is Obsolete !
Have you verified if there is a replacement part or an updated part that is pin compatible ??
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Lattice/ICE40UP5K-SG48ITR?qs=Slt%252B5btlScSrGwwLH0Ym5w%3D%3D
Hi, I think I made a minor error in my BOM as the part is ICE40UP5K-SG48! and not ICE40UP5K-SG48ITR. this part is not obsolete and is available in ample quantity! Both of these parts are functionally the same.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Lattice/ICE40UP5K-SG48I?qs=Rp3RbKSfAt3UqOG1AN4%2FAg%3D%3D
Great work this will be popular, however it would have been lovely to see with an esp32 so you have some native Wi-Fi in there as well
I have almost no experience working with ESP-32 so unfortunately i didn't include it.
Thanks for the suggestion though!
Yo this is so cool! How do you develop the FPGA side?
Would have used the Pi Pico Pinout so that this can be used as a drop-in replacement but otherwise a nice board. <3
i would have used that but then i would be unable to map out all the pins of the FPGA + MCU in the same size and thus i had to do something different than that :(
I would like to order like 1-5. I saw you had some production files. It would be nice with a guide for how to order from a pcb manufacturer. You have presumably done so at least once. Adding the steps needed would really help take the project to the next level
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What can be on with the fpga? The only application I know about is signal processing.
hey i am interested in this custom fgpa , any tutorials ?