Pink Pitaya, a pacesetter in software-defined instrumentation, right now launched its next-generation {hardware} which is akin to the “Raspberry Pi of measurement” gear.
Launched in 2013 by Slovenia’s Instrumentation Applied sciences, Pink Pitaya is an open-source, inexpensive and measurement instrument platform. Pink Pitaya has gained vital traction in analysis labs, together with NASA and MIT, and within the trade for its compact dimension and open {hardware}. The corporate refers back to the platform as a “Swiss Army Knife for engineers.”
The corporate introduced STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2, a next-generation improve to its extensively adopted check and measurement platform. Designed for engineers, researchers, and industrial builders, the brand new launch enhances efficiency, connectivity, and modularity, reinforcing Pink Pitaya’s position in advancing versatile, software-defined instrumentation.
The product makes use of a Xilinx FPGA and ADCs/DACs by Analog Units, providing 125 MSPS with 14-bit decision. Pink Pitaya’s open-source nature has been a key to its success, enabling fast innovation and attracting a group of 45,000 customers, mentioned Mateja Lampe Rupnik, CEO at Pink Pitaya, in an interview with GamesBeat.
The corporate has doubled its income in 4 years and is getting ready to launch a second-generation product now.
STEMlab125-14 Gen 2 can be utilized for industrial and scientific measurement functions.
Pink Pitaya’s expertise is trusted by innovators like NASA, Apple, Meta, Neuralink, Toyota, Volvo, and Nokia, and is utilized by over 400 universities and colleges worldwide. With 40,000 clients, Pink Pitaya has established itself as a go-to platform for precision engineering. The corporate builds high-performance computing options designed to be versatile, scalable, and straightforward to make use of, making them helpful for each superior industrial functions and academic environments.
This next-generation collection enhances efficiency and reliability whereas sustaining full backward compatibility, guaranteeing a easy transition for current customers. With improved options comparable to enhanced RF enter efficiency, USB-C connectivity, and a compact design, the Gen 2 collection is designed to facilitate sign acquisition, technology, and processing throughout varied functions.
Whether or not utilized in instructional settings for hands-on studying or in skilled industrial or scientific environments for complicated testing and measurement duties, the Gen 2 collection empowers customers with the instruments they should innovate and excel of their respective fields.
“Engineers need adaptable, modular platforms that evolve with technology,” mentioned Lampe Rupnik. “With STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2, we are delivering a more powerful system that meets industrial-grade performance requirements while staying true to our vision of flexible, software-defined instrumentation.”
Comparability of Pink Pitaya merchandise.
The Gen 2 collection includes three distinct fashions: the STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2, the STEMlab 125-14 Professional Gen 2, and the STEMlab 125-14 Professional Z7020 Gen 2. All supply enhanced RF enter efficiency with diminished noise, cross-talk, and distortions, an improved output voltage vary of ±1 V at 50 Ω and ±2 V at excessive impedance, and trendy USB-C connectivity.
STEMlab 125-14 Professional Gen 2 is tailor-made for demanding functions in industrial environments. It options an E3 connector that gives extra dependable booting choices (QSPI, eMMC), an onboard exterior clock selector for exact timing management, and multi-channel synchronization via USB C connectors.
Lastly, the STEMlab 125-14 Professional Z7020 Gen 2 is engineered for essentially the most intensive industrial and scientific duties; it boasts double the DDR reminiscence (1 GB) for longer seize instances, a considerably bigger FPGA (Z7020) for enhanced processing capabilities, extra GPIOs on E1 for expanded performance, E3 connector that gives extra dependable booting choices (QSPI, eMMC) and eight extra high-speed differential pairs.
This mannequin is especially suited to cutting-edge functions comparable to quantum computing experiments, photonic applied sciences, medical imaging developments, area functions, and complex OEM options.
Pink Pitaya can be working with Texas Devices to develop a low-latency board optimized for real-time management programs, radar, and LiDAR functions. Extra particulars on this partnership will likely be introduced later this 12 months.
“With the Gen 2 lineup, we are transforming the landscape of modular, software-defined instrumentation,” added Črt Valentinčič, CTO of Pink Pitaya, in an announcement. “By working closely with industry leaders and proactive engagement with our growing user community, we are providing innovative solutions specifically designed for industrial needs. Our offerings boast superior performance, enhanced reliability, and alignment with the latest technological advancements.”
Pink Pitaya’s modular strategy permits builders to customise, scale, and combine STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2 throughout numerous industries, from analysis labs to industrial automation. As demand for versatile, software-defined instrumentation grows, Pink Pitaya continues to push the boundaries of efficiency and accessibility in precision engineering.
The STEMlab 125-14 Gen 2 collection will likely be showcased at Embedded World 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, the place Pink Pitaya will exhibit its capabilities in stay engineering use instances. Lampe Rupnik likes to think about Arduino and Raspberry Pi as kindred applied sciences as all have been developed in Europe.
Origins
Pink Pitaya’s second gen open supply product.
Lampe Rupnik mentioned the story began in 2013 with a Slovenian firm known as Instrumentation Applied sciences, which made measurement devices for particle accelerators. The proprietor on the time determined that development was flat and the market was an excessive amount of of a distinct segment. So he gathered some engineers and so they got here up with the concept of Pink Pitaya.
Valentinčič, the CTO, got here up with the identify, Pink Pitaya, which is a tropical fruit and form of a twist on the fruity identify Raspberry Pi.
“It’s like a dragon fruit, and it’s an exotic kind of name,” Valentinčič mentioned.
They designed a credit-card sized, inexpensive open supply port that permits engineers to get measurement devices from oscilloscopes, sign mills, physique analyzers and so forth. This board enabled the specialised devices to turn into software-defined {hardware}. Should you join it to a smartphone or laptop computer, you need to use a browser to achieve quite a lot of apps for it.
Since it’s open supply, and it may be programmed to no matter is required, it’s additionally a really highly effective instrument for analysis, Lampe Rupnik mentioned. Lampe Rupnik has been with Pink Pitaya for about 15 years, beginning as a provide chain supervisor at Instrumentation Applied sciences. Throughout the lockdowns of 2020, she took over as CEO.
“It was during COVID, so it was really challenging to start managing a team in a remote way,” Lampe Rupnik mentioned.
The corporate grew from two individuals to 12 now. The logistics staff is outsourced so there are about 30 individuals concerned now. The discussion board has about 15,000 members.
“Today we are present on all major research labs, from NASA to MIT to Cal Tech,” mentioned Lampe Rupnik. “Professors love this product. During COVID, they were able to run all the labs remotely or from students homes. The board fits in a pocket. We become a component in a bigger system.”
And the product is now accessible throughout the globe. NASA constructed a prototype of an instrument that measures the standard of air with Pink Pitaya. Oklahoma College’s physics division constructed a radiation detector and despatched it to area on a House X rocket.
“We are very agile organization. It’s a very nice group of engineers serving the big physics lab for 25 years. That’s a lot of knowledge,” Lampe Rupnik mentioned.
The way it works
The board has two inputs and two outputs. The mind of the of the board relies on AMD Xilinx field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
It may possibly deal with 125 mega samples per second, and it has a 14-bit decision for the fundamental model. The fundamental model prices about $400, and for that you simply get a really highly effective instrument, Lampe Rupnik mentioned. There’s additionally a model with 4 inputs.
“This is something that was demanded by our customers, especially by the research labs, so we issued that version,” she mentioned. “And then we have more compact one for industry, which can do 250 mega samples per second, for industrial applications.”
Now the brand new machine is debuting at Embedded World in Nuremburg, Germany. The second-generation product is a 14-bit model of Pink Pitaya construct on newer chips. It has the identical primary structure, however the options are getting higher.
“This second generation was really built in cooperation with our industry partners,” Lampe Rupnik mentioned.
The units might be focused to quite a lot of applied sciences, quantum photonics, nuclear medical units, and different rising applied sciences like a laser-based system for steady gasoline leakage detection.
“I think open source has a great future as people are fed up with proprietary architectures,” Lampe Rupnik mentioned.
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