ArmSoM has been expanding its lineup of hardware this year. Following the recent Forge1 launch, which focused on industrial SBC use cases, the company is now introducing a new compute module aimed at embedded and industrial players.
The ArmSoM CM1 is built around the Rockchip RK3506J processor and offered at a budget-friendly $15. It brings a modular design approach with the option to extend functionality through an add-on carrier board.
📝 ArmSoM CM1: Key Specifications
The CM1 uses a quad-core setup with three Cortex-A7 cores and one Cortex-M0, making it capable of handling both application logic and real-time control. Memory options include 256 MB or 512 MB DDR3L, paired with NAND storage and a microSD slot.
To expand connectivity, ArmSoM provides the CM1-IO carrier board. This adds interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, audio, wireless networking, and GPIO, making the platform useful for industrial IoT, automation, and HMI projects.
The focus during development is said to have been on modularity. The compute module and carrier board are separate, allowing users to upgrade or replace one without affecting the other. This design supports long-term, sustainable deployment in industrial environments.
The CM1 module and its optional CM1‑IO carrier board include the following ports and interfaces:
- Power: 12 V DC (carrier), USB‑C (module)
- Networking: 2 × 10/100 Mbps Ethernet (carrier)
- Audio: 1 × 3.5 mm headphone/mic (carrier), speaker/mic headers (carrier)
- Video: 1 × MIPI‑DSI (2-lane @ 1.5 Gbps)
- USB: 1 × USB‑C (for PD & programming), 2 × USB 2.0 host (carrier)
- Wireless: Wi‑Fi 5 (carrier), Bluetooth 4.2 (carrier)
- GPIO & Expansion: 40‑pin + 44‑pin headers (UART, SPI, I2C, PWM), 14‑pin RS485/CAN/Mic/Speaker (carrier)
For a closer look at the design philosophy behind the CM1, you can read ArmSoM’s blog post on its development.
🛒 Getting the ArmSoM CM1
The ArmSoM CM1 module is priced at $15, and a bundle including the CM1-IO carrier board is available for $28.50. Both can be ordered through ArmSoM’s online store.
ArmSoM has committed to keeping the CM1 in production and supported until at least July 2035, ensuring long-term availability for industrial customers.
Plus, they have indicated that the CM1 schematics will likely be made available on GitHub in the near future.
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Sourav Rudra
