Arduino Create Now Supports Intel-Based and UP Squared Grove IoT Platforms

The great hardware isn’t the only reason the Arduino ecosystem is so incredibly popular, the software is also a major factor. It’s easy to use, works reliably, and because it has been around for so long there is a practically endless repository of documentation freely available online. But, if you find yourself needing to use hardware that isn’t Arduino-compatible, you may end up being stuck with clunky and frustrating software.

Luckily for fans of Intel-based platforms, and the UP Squared Grove IoT Development kit in particular, Arduino Create has just added support for boards that use Intel processors. Now users of these platforms can benefit from the usability of the Arduino ecosystem on more powerful boards like the UP Squared. Libraries and access to Intel System Studio are even available for optimizing and debugging your projects.

If you’re not familiar with the UP series of boards, the basic idea is that they combine a true computer (running Ubuntu) with a development board. You get the power of an Intel processor, with the low-level access of a development board that has made Arduinos so popular. The GPIO pinout even matches the Raspberry Pi, so finding compatible parts is easier.

While this is obviously great news for makers and developers who want the power of an Intel-based platform, it’s also exciting for the tech industry in general. The UP Squared Grove IoT Development Kit is joint effort of AAEON, Canonical, Seeed, Arduino, and Intel. That’s the kind of cooperation the tech industry really needs, and it looks like it’s definitely paying off.