SPIDER Automation Digilent Arty S7 Spartan-7 FPGA Development Board | 256MB DDR3L & 128Mbit Flash | For Embedded Prototyping & MicroBlaze Soft Processors
Description
SPIDER Automation Digilent Arty S7 is a versatile and compact development platform designed around the advanced Xilinx Spartan-7 FPGA family. Tailored to provide exceptional performance-per-watt in space-constrained applications, the Arty S7 bridges modern hardware engineering with user-friendly accessibility. Whether implementing high-speed custom digital pipelines or deploying soft-core processors like MicroBlaze, this board delivers robust capability for hobbyists, engineers, and educators alike.
Equipped with 256MB of high-bandwidth DDR3L memory and 128Mbits of non-volatile Quad-SPI flash storage, the board handles demanding applications with ease. Its integrated USB-JTAG programming circuitry and USB-UART bridge allow seamless connection to a PC using a single micro-USB cable. Complete with industry-standard Arduino headers and Digilent Pmod slots, the Arty S7 offers unmatched hardware expansion flexibility.
Key Features
- Xilinx Spartan-7 FPGA Core: Built on advanced architecture delivering superior size, performance, and cost efficiency.
- High-Speed Internal Clocks: Capable of internal clock speeds exceeding 450 MHz for high-frequency digital signal processing.
- 256MB DDR3L SDRAM: High-capacity system memory operating across a 16-bit bus at 650 MT/s.
- 128Mbits Quad-SPI Flash: Non-volatile memory for reliable configuration bitstream storage and standalone boot loading.
- On-Chip XADC: Built-in dual-channel 1 MSPS analog-to-digital converter for precise internal and external analog measurements.
- USB-JTAG & UART Circuitry: Direct programming and serial communication over a standard micro-USB interface.
- Flexible Power Options: Powered conveniently via USB bus power or an external 7V–15V coaxial power supply.
- Arduino/chipKIT Shield Compatibility: Standard headers for stacking commercial shields and sensor modules.
- Pmod Expansion Ports: Four dedicated 12-pin Pmod connectors for quick attachment of peripheral modules.
- Interactive Peripherals: Includes on-board slide switches, push buttons, standard green LEDs, and high-intensity RGB LEDs.
Benefits
- MicroBlaze Soft Processor Ready: Easily configure full 32-bit RISC soft processor systems using AMD Xilinx Vivado and Vitis toolchains.
- Exceptional Power Efficiency: Spartan-7 architecture minimizes power draw while maximizing logic density for portable or embedded deployments.
- Plug-and-Play Prototyping: Combine standard sensors and displays seamlessly using pre-existing Arduino and Pmod hardware ecosystems.
- Developer-Friendly Workflows: Fully supported by the free WebPACK edition of the Xilinx Vivado Design Suite.
Applications
- Embedded System Design: Developing custom microcontroller alternatives using soft-core processors and local memory peripherals.
- Real-Time Sensor Interfacing: Acquiring analog data streams utilizing the built-in XADC alongside external sensor shields.
- Digital Logic & HDL Education: Ideal university learning platform for teaching Verilog, VHDL, and FPGA architecture.
- Automated Control Systems: Rapid prototyping of industrial controllers, motor drivers, and custom communication protocol bridges.
Package Includes
- 1 x Digilent Arty S7 Spartan-7 FPGA Development Board
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand / Series | SPIDER Automation / Digilent Arty Series |
| Item Type | Spartan-7 FPGA Development Board |
| Model Order Code / SKU | Arty S7 / SKU-SPIDER-ARTY-S7 |
| FPGA Family & Core | Xilinx Spartan-7 FPGA (Available in S7-25 or S7-50 variants) |
| System Memory (RAM) | 256 MB DDR3L SDRAM (16-bit bus @ 650 MT/s) |
| Flash Storage | 128 Mbits (16 MB) Quad-SPI Flash Memory |
| Clock Sources | 100 MHz External Clock Oscillator (Internal speeds > 450 MHz) |
| Analog-to-Digital (XADC) | On-chip Dual-Channel 1 MSPS ADC |
| Programming & Comms | USB-JTAG Programming Circuitry & USB-UART Bridge |
| Expansion Interfaces | 4 × Pmod Ports, 1 × Arduino/chipKIT Shield Connector |
| Input Power Source | USB Bus Powered or External 7V–15V DC Supply |
| Software Toolchain | Xilinx Vivado Design Suite (WebPACK Edition Supported) |
| Package Shipping Weight | 0.084 kg (84 g) |
| Package Shipping Dimensions | 11 cm × 9 cm × 3 cm |
