The Handheld Linux Platform Kit Is "Capable of Practically Anything," Its Creators Promise
STMicroelectronics STM32MP157 chosen to power this phone-like, 3D-printable handheld multitool.
A group of Polish engineers and developers are working on a modular handheld phone-like all-in-one Linux gadget, powered by the STMicroelectronics STM32MP157 system-on-chip: the Linux Platform Kit.
"We are a small group of engineers who met completely by chance in a comment section, united by a random desire to build something cool that we actually needed," the project's founders explain. "Our goal wasn't just to build hardware, but to gain a ton of knowledge in the process and eventually pass that on to others as an Open Source project. We simply wanted to create a device to carry with us for development — something that acts as a versatile tool, but is also built for personalization."
That something is the Linux Platform Kit, a device that its creators say is "capable of practically anything." The heart of the build is STMicro's STM32MP157, a system-on-chip combining two Arm Cortex-A7 application-class cores running at up to 800MHz with a Cortex-M4 microcontroller core running at up to 209MHz, pus a 3D-capable graphics processor.
This is paired with 4GB of DDR3 memory and housed behind a 4.1" 1080×480 ultra-wide display in a phone-like form factor — though there's no cellular connectivity, but Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard. There's an microSD card slot for storage, plus a "multi-functional external connector" that provides access to Ethernet, CAN, UART, RS485, I2C, I2S, and SPI buses, timer outputs, and general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins — with a physical keyboard module already in the works for those not convinced at tying on a touchscreen.
"We see it as an essential tool for embedded engineers, thinkers, and anyone who loves to model or develop custom solutions," its creators say. "It is also the perfect platform for those who want to learn real embedded Linux — whether you want to dive deep into the complexity of Yocto or just get straight to work with Debian."
More information is available on the project's Reddit post, while repositories containing project sources and hardware design files are available on GitHub under a mixture of specified and unspecified licenses.