Pynoq-Z1 board is a project from Xilinx. It’s an American technology company, known for supplying programmable logic devices. It is renowned for discovering the programmable gate lineup and as it is the first fabless manufactured model that was created by a semiconductor company. PYNQ-Z1 Python board is a convenient tool which is designed for the software developers and designers to accomplish the advantages of microprocessors and programmable logic to create more accomplished entrenched systems. It is the hardware platform designed for the PYNQ and can be easily programmed in Jupyter Notebook using Python. The circuits are introduced as hardware libraries which are programmed via their APIs in the same manner as the software libraries are ferried and programmed.
Uses of PYNQ-Z1
Designers and programmers can customize both its software and hardware for applications as diverse as:
- Computer vision
- Industrial control
- Drones
- Encryption
- Embedded computing acceleration
- Real-time processing
What software do I need to use this?
Only a compatible web browser is desirable to start programming PYNQ with Python. A Xilinx SDK software development is available for free and supports the PYNQ-Z1.
Let’s take a look at the memory of this tool:
It is designed with a memory of 512MB with a Double Data Rate3and a16-bit data bus processing data at the rate of 1050Mbps. It has 16MB Quad-SPI Flash with factory programmed universally unique analyzer and a Micro Secure Digital Card Slot
Ports supported
- USB or any 7V-15V source
- USB and Ethernet
- USB-JTAG Programming circuitry
- USB-UART bridge
- USB OTG PHY (supports host only)
Audio and Video:
- Electret microphone along with pulse density modulated (PDM) output
- 5mm mono audio output jack, pulse-width modulated (PWM) format
- HDMI sink input port
- HDMI source output port
- Switches
- Push-buttons
- 4 LEDs
This tool can be programmed by programmers and designers to be used in various ways for example. Drones used to control the working of machines in industries and more. What makes this a unique tool is that it helps embedded programmers to work in a straightforward way getting certain things done faster than usual. These boards can play all software based neural networks, but not very swiftly, that’s why their capability in fast moving applications is limited. These boards can play videos at 3 fps, but during resizing, framerate drops to 1.5 fps. Control the tool to connect and disconnect the link to other devices with the given buttons. The led lights are useful to know what the tool is processing at present.
Some ways to use this tool are:
Face and eye detection: you can modify and use it to detect your face and eye to unlock something like your pc, laptop, and locker.
Use it to connect to various devices like your android, pc, camera, micro SD and more.
The programmers use these tools to reprogram and modify different devices and techs. It can be used as an external for other devices. It does not have fast processing, yet but it is a unique yet simple tool for the designers and programmers to make their work easier. Do be disappointed with the speed because the future technology never seems to disappoint.
