On 07/10/2017 09:15 AM, Jon Elson wrote: > You could do a controller using the Beagle Bone black and the PRU > devices, which are 200 MHz 32-bit microcontrollers built into the > Bone's processor. I used an FPGA to do a formatted Pertec interface > for my CDC Keystone drives, but if I were to do it today, I would use > the Beagle Bone. The only thing I don't know how to do right now is > to open a memory window from the PRU to main ARM memory to handle > larger block sizes. But, I know others have already done that.
Well, that's the thing. I've been using the STM32F4 series of MCUs--cheap, lots of I/Os and an integrated external memory interface. Not super-fast; 168 MHz clock, but fast enough and 5V tolerant I/Os. And even that approach is dated today. Good grief--we have multicore ARM boards like the Pi Zero for, what $5? --Chuck
