Seeed Studio’s reThings Family has another addition to its series – the reTerminal, a single board computer. reTerminal has been designed to be the core of IoT/Edge systems. Termed as the “Human Machine Interface” device, it proves to bridge the gap, ease interfacing, and enhance IoT/Edge systems.
Diving into the specifications of reTerminal
At the heart of the reTerminal is the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4). This Module incorporates a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor that runs at 1.5Ghz. Users will also have the option to replace the CM4 module. This can be done by de-assembling the outer shell and inserting the module of their choice into the carrier board inside. The availability of 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE 5.0 connectivity on reTerminal not only ensures smooth configuration but also facilitates various implementations due to dual connectivity. In addition, it has been provided with a Gigabit Ethernet Port for faster network connections and has dual USB 2.0 Type-A ports. The Board offers reTerminal about 4GB RAM, giving way to smooth multifunctioning. Talking about the eMMC storage, about 32GB has a smooth user experience.
The device has interesting security features, including a cryptographic co-processor with secure hardware-based key storage using Microchip ATECC608A. reTerminal has a 5-inch 720×1280 resolution LCD Display supporting multi-touch. Interestingly, this resolution is higher than that of other 5-inch displays. Thus, giving the user a high definition and rich color quality. Also, it has been provided with various built-in modules. They include a real-time clock and an accelerometer driven by STMicroelectronics LIS3DHTR, along with a light sensor and internal IO expansion.
Interfacing and Power Specification
All interfacing options are available on the side panels of the device, keeping it sleek and flexible. reTerminal has about 40 pins that are Raspberry Pi compatible that open up to new opportunities. This includes 28 GPIOs along with pins for HDMI output and CSI camera interfacing. 5V/2A is the maximum power specification for the pin. However, the 5V/1A rating is a recommendation by the manufacturer. It has a USB type C port for the power supply. However, there is no option for battery, and Seed Studio may consider releasing a battery module in the near future. The total weight of reTerminal is about 0.285kg making it comfortable and easy to handle.
Pricing, availability and More
reTerminal comes at a price of $195. Currently, it is out of stock and pre-orders will be open by the end of April 2021. reTerminal is a versatile device to develop efficient IoT systems and machine learning applications. For more information, please visit the product page.
Prerna Anegundi is an engineering student currently pursuing Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. She has expertise in creating content that is oriented to embedded systems and IoT devices. Alongside this, she’s a home baker and owns a bakery “The Spongy Affair”.
