BeagleWire is a completely open source FPGA development board. Unlike most other FPGA dev boards, the BeagleWire’s hardware, software, and FPGA toolchain are completely open source. The BeagleWire is a Beaglebone compatible cape based on the Lattice iCE40HX FPGA. BeagleWire can be easily expanded by adding external modules such as, for example, modules for high speed data acquisition, software-defined radio, or advanced control applications. Using common connectors like Pmod and Grove makes it possible to connect various interesting external modules which are widely available in stores. This makes prototyping new imaginative digital designs easier.

BeagleWire caters to open source and open hardware enthusiasts. All of its schematics, software, and examples are totally open. Feel free to use them and share with others. The BeagleWire can be a great learning tool in an educational environment that teaches FPGAs, Verilog, and Linux kernel driver concepts. It allows users to break away from large, proprietary FPGA toolchains by allowing the use of the open source Icestorm toolchain. The IceStorm toolchain is lightweight so it can be installed on various platforms. Users can synthesize their Verilog code on BeagleBone without installing any additional software on their computer. Project Icestorm uses the Yosys synthesis suite and Arachne-PNR to generate programmable bitstreams. BeagleWire integrates closely with the BeagleBone Black and has the backing of the Beagleboard.org community. Thanks to that, a new user can receive help from more experienced members of BeagleBoard.org.

Possible Use Cases

Robotics and automation - Adding a BeagleWire cape to BeagleBoard can significantly expand its capabilities to work on even more advanced projects. It gives users access to additional ports such as i2c, spi, pwm, gpio, etc.
Logic devices prototyping - Many logic devices are tested with FPGA devices before production. For example, interface controllers in silicon are mapped in memory in the same way BeagleWire logic is.
Data acquisition and signal processing.
Mobile applications - Energy saving Lattice ICE40HX4k devices are easily powered with small batteries. Not only that, but BeagleWire is perfectly optimised and has only essential parts, which positively affects its energy consumption.
Education - FPGA evaluation boards are rather expensive. BeagleWire, however, is a low cost solution ideal for beginners. Thanks to BeagleWire, users can learn the Verilog language, combinational and sequential circuits, Linux driver development, and more.

A. Lattice iCE40HX4K - TQFP 144 Package	B. Power section
C. 2x20 BeagleBone P8 Connector	D. PMOD4
E. PMOD3	F. Grove 4
G. Grove 3	H. 32 MB SDRAM
I. Grove 2	J. 4 MB SPI Flash
K. Grove 1	L. PMOD 2
M. 8 KB EEPROM	N. 100 MHz Clock Oscillator
O. PMOD 1	P. 2x20 BeagleBone P9 Connector
Q. 2 Dip Switches	R. 4 Blue LEDs
S. 2 Push Buttons	T. Reset Button

Features & Specifications

FPGA: Lattice iCE40HX4K - TQFP 144 Package
Memory:
- 32 MB SDRAM
- 4 MB SPI Flash for FPGA self-configuration
Clock: 100 MHz onboard external clock
Extensibility:
- 4 x Pmod connector
- 4 x Grove connector
- GPIO
User Interfaces:
- 4 x LED
- 2 x push button(with hardware noise debouncing)
- 2 x DIP switch
Compatibility: access via GPMC port and SPI
- BeagleBone Black
- BeagleBone Black Wireless
- element14 BeagleBone Black Industrial
Operating Voltage: 3.3 V
Input Voltage: 5 V from BeagleBone
Fully Open Source:

1. Hardware: KiCAD repository

2.Software: GSoC 2017 repository

3. Toolchain: Project IceStorm

4.Documentation: Embedded Linux Wiki
Dimensions: 90 mm x 68 mm x 18 mm
Weight: 42.5 g

Comparisons

	BeagleWire	iCEstick	Ice Zero	DE0-Nano
FPGA	Lattice iCE40HX-4k	Lattice iCE40HX-1k	Lattice iCE40HX-4k	Cyclone® IV EP4CE22F17C6N
User Memory	32 MB	N/A	4 MB	32 MB
Clock	100 Mhz	12 Mhz	100 Mhz	50 MHz
Open Source Software	yes	yes	yes	no
Compatibility with BeagleBone	yes	no	no	no
Extensibility	4 x Pmod + 4 x Grove	1 x Pmod	4 x Pmod	2 x 40-pin Headers (GPIOs) + Arduino Connectors
Fast access via GPMC port	yes	no	no	yes
Hardware noise debouncing for push buttons	yes	N/A	N/A	no
User Interfaces	4 x LED + 2 x push button + 2 x DIP switch	5 x LED	3 x LED	8 x LED + 2 x push button & 4 x DIP switch
Open Source Hardware	yes	no	yes	no
Price	75$	21$	42$	79$

Communication with BeagleBone

Communication between BeagleWire and BeagleBone Black is over the GPMC port. This is a simple and efficient solution. The GPMC port has 16 lines width and its maximum clock frequency is 100 Mhz. After installing BeagleWire on BeagleBone, the required Device Tree Overlay is loaded automatically. By using simple components written in Verilog, FPGA logic is mapped to the processor’s external bus, allowing access using simple read and write operations. A Linux driver or an application written in any programming language allows for communication. The BeagleWire software repository contains a lot of ready-to-use solutions and simple examples.

Package Includes :

1 x BeagleWire