Open Hardware/Modding: Raspberry Pi Boards and Qualcomm Acquisition of Arduino

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Oct 08, 2025,
updated Oct 15, 2025

• Embedded.com ☛ How to Cross-Compile a C/C++ Application with LVGL for Raspberry Pi Boards

  This project demonstrates successful cross-compilation of a C/C++ application utilizing the Light and Versatile Graphics Library (LVGL) on an Ubuntu 22.04 host system for deployment on a Raspberry Pi Zero W running Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy) Lite (target), which is a 32-bit operating system optimized for devices with limited resources. The application delivers a responsive graphical user interface (GUI) on the ELECROW 10.1-inch HDMI capacitive touch IPS display. It features a 1280×800 resolution LCD, touch screen, and supports plug-and-play functionality without any drivers.

• HowTo Geek ☛ Arduino Reveals Uno Q Board With Debian Linux, and a Qualcomm Acquisition

  Arduino boards are a popular choice for DIY electronics projects and embedded devices, especially in cases where a Raspberry Pi board or other single-board computer isn’t ideal. Now, the Arduino company has plans to be acquired by Qualcomm, while also revealing a new Uno Q board powered by Qualcomm hardware.

  Qualcomm has agreed to acquire Arduino as part of its “strategy to empower developers by facilitating access to its unmatched portfolio of edge technologies and products.” The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, and it’s still subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, so there is a (small) chance it could fall through. Qualcomm also recently purchased Edge Impulse, an AI development platform for embedded devices, and Foundries.io, a cloud management platform for embedded hardware.

• Electronic Design ☛ Qualcomm’s Acquisition of Arduino Creates a New Vibe—AI and Signal Processing on the UNO Q

  Qualcomm buys Arduino—and a Dragonwing MPU and STMicro MCU now creates the latest board, Arduino UNO Q, with development support for Linux OS and vibe-coded AI solutions.

• Hackster ☛ Qualcomm Acquires Arduino, Launches the New Arduino UNO Q Single-Board Computer

  Qualcomm is continuing its acquisition spree, and its latest target is none other than Arduino: the firm has been snapped up for an undisclosed sum, the biggest user-facing outcome of which is the release of a brand-new Arduino UNO powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing system-on-chip — turning the iconic development board into a fully standalone Linux-based single-board computer dubbed the Arduino UNO Q.

Linux Focus:

• Arduino has just been acquired by Qualcomm, and they're already launching a new product that runs Linux

  In a shock move, Qualcomm has acquired Arduino, the open-source hardware and software company. The move marks one of Qualcomm's most significant steps yet toward expanding its influence beyond smartphones and computing, and into the rapidly growing markets of Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and STEM education. What's more, the two companies are already launching their first product: the Arduino UNO Q.

  The Arduino UNO Q packs Qualcomm's Dragonwing QRB2210 (matching the part number of the company's RB1 platform) alongside a low-power STM32U5 MCU. It starts at $44 for 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of eMMC, and goes to $59 for 4 GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC.

• Qualcomm Introduces The Arduino Uno Q Linux-Capable SBC

  Generally people equate the Arduino hardware platforms with MCU-centric options that are great for things like low-powered embedded computing, but less for running desktop operating systems. This looks about to change with the Arduino Uno Q, which keeps the familiar Uno formfactor, but features both a single-core Cortex-M33 STM32U575 MCU and a quad-core Cortex-A53 Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 SoC.

  According to the store page the board will ship starting October 24, with the price being $44 USD. This gets you a board with the aforementioned SoC and MCU, as well as 2 GB of LPDDR4 and 16 GB of eMMC. There’s also a WiFi and Bluetooth module present, which can be used with whatever OS you decide to install on the Qualcomm SoC.

Linux Gizmos:

• Arduino UNO Q Combines Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 and STM32 MCU

  Qualcomm Technologies has announced its plan to acquire Arduino, marking a major development in the embedded and maker ecosystems. The acquisition aims to combine Qualcomm’s edge computing and AI expertise with Arduino’s large developer community and open hardware approach.

  As part of the announcement, both companies introduced the Arduino UNO Q, a new dual-processor development board based on the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 platform, and the Arduino App Lab, a cross-platform development environment designed to integrate Linux, real-time, Python, and AI workflows.

A couple more:

• Qualcomm's buying Arduino – what it means for makers

  But I have two big questions:

  1. How well will Qualcomm support Linux? It will ship with Debian, but will they devote the same amount of effort to keeping it up to date as Raspberry Pi, or will they abandon it in a couple years?

  2. How will they make it easier to develop things that fully utilize the little microcontroller? In other words: what makes this different than plugging an Uno into an SBC?

• Qualcomm solders Arduino to its edge AI ambitions

  Qualcomm has acquired Arduino, maker of microcontrollers (and now single-board computers), in a move designed to boost its presence in edge computing, as evidenced by a new Arduino product based on one of its Dragonwing chips.

Also here:

• A new chapter for Arduino – with Qualcomm, UNO Q, and you!

  Today we’re sharing some truly exciting news: Arduino has entered into an agreement to join the Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. family!

Spamfarm-ish:

• Qualcomm acquires miniature computer maker Arduino

  Qualcomm Technologies Inc. today announced plans to acquire Arduino S.r.l., an Italian company that develops open-source single-board computers. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Arduino’s computers are implemented on a single circuit board and cost under $100.

CNX as well:

• Qualcomm acquires Arduino, introduces Arduino UNO Q “dual-brain” SBC

  Qualcomm has just signed an agreement to acquire Arduino, and the goal of the purchase is to “combine Qualcomm’s leading-edge products and technologies with Arduino’s vast ecosystem and community to empower businesses, students, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, educators, and enthusiasts to quickly and easily bring ideas to life.” They also took the opportunity to launch the Arduino UNO Q “dual-brain” SBC powered by a Qualcomm DragonWing QRB2210 SoC running GNU/Linux and an STMicro STM32U585 MCU for real-time control, as well as the Arduino App Lab integrated development environment to “unify the Arduino journey across Real‑time OS, Linux, Python, and Hey Hi (AI) flows”. Will the acquisition change anything?

More details:

• More on: Arduino’s Linux-capable Uno Q

  Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 is included, as is Bluetooth5.1, both with on-board antennas.

  The QRB2210 Linux processor has a 845MHz ‘Adreno 702’ 2D/3D GPU, dual image processors for two concurrent 13Mpixel cameras (or one 25Mpixel camera), a MIPI-DSI output for a 1080p 60Hz display, and a DSP – the latter capable of “lightweight AI inference tasks”, according to Qualcomm.

  Interfaces for the larger processor are provided though two new connectors mounted underneath the Uno Q – for which connections have yet to be published.

  Video output is through USB-C (accepts dongle for HDMI) and MIPI DSI bus.

More here:

• Qualcomm to Acquire Arduino, Pushing Deeper Into AI

  Qualcomm acquires Arduino to expand its reach in AI, IoT, and edge computing development, and launches the Linux-powered UNO Q board.

Late coverage:

• Can Arduino Teach a Tech Giant How To Win Over Developers?

  Although Arduino has around 30,000 business customers for its industrial and enterprise Pro boards, what Qualcomm is after is its worldwide community of over 33 million makers and developers — not to mention its pervasive presence in hardware startups, who use Arduino for everything from prototyping to running test systems in their labs. The idea might be to upsell these existing users to more powerful compute, especially for edge AI and robotics.