Premier Farnell first to stock Microchip and Digilent's chipKIT 32-bit Microcontroller Development Platform in Arduino™ form-factor

Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), the leading multichannel distributor, is first to stock Microchip Technology Inc and Digilent, Inc's first chipKIT™ 32-bit microcontroller development platform. Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, analogue and Flash-IP solutions, and Digilent, Inc. recently launched the first 32-bit-microcontroller-based, open-source development platform that conforms to Arduino™ hardware and software. Designed and manufactured by Digilent, a Microchip Authorised Design Partner, the chipKIT™ platform is the first 32-bit solution in Arduino™ form-factor in the industry to enable hobbyists and academics to easily, and inexpensively, integrate electronics into their projects, even if they do not have an electronic-engineering background. The platform consists of two PIC32-based development boards - Uno32 and Max32. The chipKIT™ hardware is compatible with existing 3.3V Arduino™ shields and applications, and can be developed using a modified version of the Arduino™ IDE and existing Arduino™ resources, such as code examples, libraries, references and tutorials. The platform provides an unprecedented level of features for the Arduino™ community, and four times the performance of any existing Arduino™ solution at a low price. "The PIC32-based chipKIT™ boards are excellent tools for academics and hobbyists from many disciplines, such as mechanical engineering, computer science and even art, who want easy-to-use, low-cost solutions for creating projects," said Richard Curtin, Global Head of Strategic Supplier Engagement, Premier Farnell. "We are delighted to be the first global distributor to take the first 32-bit platform with Arduino™ form-factor to market, especially by featuring it first on our dedicated chipKIT™ group on element14, and enabling our customers to produce world class designs." "Students, educators and hobbyists, with or without electronic-engineering backgrounds, are looking for inexpensive solutions that will enable them to easily integrate electronics into their projects. The chipKIT meet these needs, providing more features, performance and functionality than other Arduino solutions on the market, at a low cost. The chipKIT platform is the first 32-bit solution of its kind in the industry academics and hobbyists can plug the boards into their design, download the open-source software and have their project up and running in minutes, Farnell understand the importance of having the chipKIT in stock for immediate call off for these customers," said Mike McGlade, Sales Channel Manager, Microchip. About Premier Farnell Premier Farnell plc is leading the way in the high service, multi-channel provision of essential products, information, software and technology solutions to electronic design engineers, maintenance and repair engineers and purchasing professionals globally. Its differentiated proposition includes 29 local language transactional websites, and the critically important element14 ecommunity for design engineers - an industry first. www.element14.com