$3.50 nanoCH57x CH570/CH572 RISC-V development board offers USB-C port, 2.4GHz radio/BLE, and GPIO pins - CNX Software

Abstract

CNX Software reports on the launch of the nanoCH57x development board, featuring a CH570/CH572 RISC-V microcontroller at an aggressive price point of just $3.50. This ultra-affordable board is designed for embedded development, offering a modern USB-C port for power and data. Crucially, it integrates a 2.4GHz radio, providing support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) functionality alongside standard GPIO pins.

Report

Key Highlights

• Ultra-Low Cost: The development board is priced exceptionally low at $3.50, making RISC-V hardware highly accessible.
• RISC-V Architecture: Utilizes the CH570/CH572 series of RISC-V microcontrollers.
• Modern Connectivity: Features a USB-C port for convenient power and data interface.
• Integrated Wireless: Includes a built-in 2.4GHz radio supporting Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

Technical Details

• Microcontroller: nanoCH57x family (specifically CH570 and CH572 variants).
• Architecture: RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA).
• Wireless: Onboard 2.4GHz radio suitable for standard wireless communication and Bluetooth Low Energy protocols.
• Interfaces: Equipped with GPIO pins for interfacing with external peripherals and systems.
• Power/Data: Uses the modern and reversible USB-C standard.

Implications

• Accelerated RISC-V Adoption: The $3.50 price point significantly lowers the barrier to entry for developers, encouraging wider experimentation and adoption of the RISC-V ISA in the IoT and embedded space.
• Competitive IoT Development: By combining key features like BLE, USB-C, and a low price, the board directly competes with established low-cost microcontroller platforms (e.g., specific ESP32 or Arm Cortex-M modules).
• Democratization of Hardware: The affordability facilitates hobbyist projects and educational use, enabling budget-conscious developers to build complex, wireless-enabled devices.