The brand new Arduino UNO Q just isn’t like earlier Arduino merchandise, which had been principally microcontroller improvement boards. As an alternative, the UNO Q is an entire single-board laptop (SBC) that additionally integrates a microcontroller with accessible IO pins, with the SBC in a position to discuss to the microcontroller seamlessly. As a result of it’s so distinctive, the group has a whole lot of questions concerning the UNO Q and its capabilities. Julian Caro Linares answered not less than a kind of questions by constructing this arcade cupboard primarily based round an Arduino UNO Q operating RetroArch.
That is the type of mission that most individuals would do with a Raspberry Pi. Many people have been anxious to learn how the UNO Q would deal with the job and now we all know. In keeping with the information written by Linares, RetroArch installs on the UNO Q’s default working system with none points. Utilizing it from there is rather like some other RetroArch set up: configure the cores for the consoles you wish to emulate, arrange the controller inputs, join a monitor, and begin gaming!
It might be potential to attach the controller inputs (the joysticks and buttons) to the UNO Q’s STM32 microcontroller and feed enter occasions to RetroArch on the SBC facet. However Linares selected to make use of an off-the-shelf USB arcade controller, which is what one would usually do with a “regular” SBC.
Not like most of these different SBCs, the UNO Q solely has a single USB-C port. That handles energy supply, video output, and USB peripheral enter. An adapter (out there on the Arduino Retailer and elsewhere) gives these ports. As Linares explains, you’ll want to attach a keyboard throughout setup. However afterwards, you’ll be able to take away the keyboard and rely solely on the arcade controls. The one different obligatory {hardware} is a 24” HDMI monitor and a USB speaker.
These elements all match right into a bar prime arcade cupboard equipment from an organization known as Talentec — although you possibly can definitely construct your personal cupboard if you happen to desire. Optionally, you’ll be able to add LED strips and management them with the UNO Q’s STM32 to get some cool lighting results. As a result of the STM32 can discuss to the SBC facet, it’s potential to make these lights react to the arcade controls and even issues taking place inside RetroArch.
This mission is cool in its personal proper, but additionally demonstrates one other use case for the brand new Arduino UNO Q.
