Qualcomm has acquired Arduino, the Italian open source electronics firm responsible for the many hobbyist boards, coveted by tinkerers hobbyists, and educators. Neither party has disclosed the amount that the chipmaker paid for the acquisition, with the announcement being made earlier this week.
“The transaction accelerates Qualcomm Technologies’ strategy to empower developers by facilitating access to its unmatched portfolio of edge technologies and products. This acquisition builds on the Company’s recent integrations of Edge Impulse and Foundries.io, reinforcing its commitment to delivering a full-stack edge platform that spans hardware, software, and cloud services. The closing of this transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.”
In addition to the acquisition, Arduino also released the Uno Q, a Raspberry Pi equivalent that combines Qualcomm’s Dragonwing QRN2210 processor with a real-time microcontroller. As per the official video, the board enables Linux Debian to run on it, and allows a keyboard, mouse, and display with a USB-C dongle to be connected to it.
“Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation,” said Fabio Violante, CEO, Arduino. “The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning— we’re excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable, and open to everyone.”
(Source: Qualcomm)
