Intel's Curie Powers Arduino

Intel’s mini Internet of Things module, Curie, will power two forthcoming Arduino development boards. Arduino 101 and Genuino 101 are designed for entry-level makers and education environments.

Step 1: Intel's Curie Powers Arduino

“By partnering with Arduino, we are bringing the power of Intel to a new generation of makers,” said Josh Walden, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s New Technology Group in a statement. “With the advanced features of the Intel Curie module embodied in the Arduino 101 board, young learners as well as developers can now bring to life truly unique, smart and connected creations.”

Intel first announced Curie at International CES 2015. Curie is based on Intel’s smallest-ever SoC, based on a 32-bit Quark microcontroller running at 3.2 MHz with a Bluetooth Low Energy radio, and sensor hub with a “patterned ID engine,” and rechargeable or coin-cell battery.

“Curie can deliver wearables in a range of form factors—rings, bags, bracelets, pendants, and even buttons on our jackets. This changes the game of wearables,” Krzanich said in his CES keynote.

Intel's Curie module. (Source: Intel)

The development boards will be incorporated into a physical computing course for elementary and secondary students; Arduino has brought the course to Spain. Sweden and Ecuador but wants to move beyond in Europe and the U.S. The course was developed and tested by Arduino and has been deployed in more than 300 schools in the United States; Intel promised to work closely with Arduino to bring the program to schools across the globe in coming years.

“We worked closely with Intel on the development of this board and are expanding our educational courseware to incorporate the connectivity and advanced features expected by today’s student developers,” said Arduino CEO Massimo Banzi. “The Creative Technologies in the Classroom [course] is a good way for kids who aren’t going to self-identify as good at math or computer science, but will be interested in sculpture or building—creative projects. Arduino has been developed around electronics to get kids interested.”

Arduino 101 will be available in the first quarter of 2016 for approximately $30; the Intel-manufactured board will be sold under the Arduino 101 brand in the United States and under the Genuino 101 brand outside the United States. The boards will also be the featured prototyping tool for contestants on America’s Greatest Makers, a new reality TV competition slated for debut in 2016.