How to Use SparkFun BlackBoard Artemis Nano: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

The SparkFun BlackBoard Artemis Nano is a compact, high-performance development board designed around the powerful Ambiq Apollo3 microcontroller. It is part of SparkFun's Artemis family of products, which are aimed at providing a suite of advanced features for a variety of applications, including wearables, gesture recognition, and edge computing. The Artemis Nano is particularly well-suited for projects requiring a small form factor, low power consumption, and wireless connectivity.

• Wearable devices
• Fitness and health monitoring systems
• Gesture-controlled gadgets
• Portable instrumentation
• IoT and edge computing devices
• Educational platforms for learning embedded systems and programming

• Microcontroller: Ambiq Apollo3 ARM Cortex-M4F
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V
• Input Voltage: 5V (via USB-C) or 3.3V to 6V (via Battery)
• Max Current Supply: 1A
• Digital I/O Pins: 11
• Analog Input Pins: 4
• PWM Output: 10
• UARTs: 1
• I2C Buses: 1
• SPI Buses: 1
• Qwiic Connector: Yes
• Flash Memory: 1MB
• SRAM: 384KB
• Clock Speed: 48MHz
• Bluetooth: BLE 5.0

1. Powering the Board:

   • Connect the USB-C cable to the board and your computer to power the board.
   • Alternatively, supply power through the VIN pin (3.3V to 6V).

2. Connecting Peripherals:

   • Use the I2C pins (SCL, SDA) to connect I2C compatible sensors or devices.
   • SPI devices can be connected using the SPI pins (SCK, MISO, MOSI).
   • PWM outputs can be used to control motors or LEDs.
   • Analog inputs can be used to read sensors like potentiometers or temperature sensors.

3. Programming the Board:

   • The board is programmable using the Arduino IDE or other preferred development environments that support the Ambiq Apollo3 microcontroller.
   • Select the appropriate board and port in your IDE before uploading your code.

• Always ensure that the power supply is within the specified range to prevent damage.
• When connecting peripherals, make sure they are compatible with the board's logic level (3.3V).
• Disconnect the board from power sources before making or altering connections.
• Use the onboard Qwiic connector for easy daisy-chaining of I2C devices without soldering.

// Example Blink Code for SparkFun BlackBoard Artemis Nano

void setup() {
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); // Set the built-in LED pin to be an output
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // Turn the LED on
  delay(1000);                     // Wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);  // Turn the LED off
  delay(1000);                     // Wait for a second
}

• Board not recognized by the computer:

  • Ensure the USB cable is properly connected and the computer's USB port is functioning.
  • Try a different USB cable or port to rule out hardware issues.

• Unable to upload code:

  • Check that the correct board and port are selected in the IDE.
  • Ensure the board's drivers are installed correctly.

• Peripherals not working:

  • Verify that all connections are secure and correct.
  • Ensure that the peripheral is compatible with the board's logic level.

• If the board is not recognized, press and hold the reset button for a few seconds to reset the board.
• When encountering issues with uploading code, check the IDE's console for error messages that can provide clues.
• For peripheral issues, consult the datasheet of the peripheral to ensure proper usage and compatibility.

Q: Can the Artemis Nano be used with a battery? A: Yes, it can be powered with a battery connected to the VIN pin.

Q: Is the Artemis Nano compatible with all Arduino libraries? A: While many libraries will work, some may need modifications due to differences in hardware.

Q: How do I use Bluetooth functionality? A: Bluetooth functionality can be accessed through the Ambiq Apollo3 SDK or libraries specifically designed for the Artemis module.

Q: What is the maximum voltage that can be applied to the analog inputs? A: The maximum voltage for the analog inputs is 3.3V. Applying more can damage the board.