Gravity: IO Expansion Shield for LattePanda V1.0

When playing around with LattePanda Boards and the near-endless functionality that they offer, it’s easy to see why they are often chosen as the ideal development platform for anyone who loves to move between Windows, Linux and Arduino development. However, as a LattePanda power-user, you may have noticed that the Arduino Leonardo that is integrated into LattePanda boards is not always easy to utilise, and this is especially so if you are using the full capabilities of the Panda.

Fortunately, DFRobot, the legendary robotics and electronics suppliers from the East, understand this plight, and have a specialised Gravity: IO Expansion Shield, which is designed for older LattePanda V1.0 boards, and breaks out all of the pins from the Leonardo, without hindering any of the power or functionality of the Panda. This allows you to fully utilise the power of both the Panda and the onboard Leonardo, letting you get way more done than ever before, and enjoy your LattePanda in a whole new way!

The IO Expansion Shield is quite unique in the way that it features multiple different power options, with some even capable of powering the Panda below the shield too. It also breaks out the standard Leonardo pins into sets of three pins, with separated black, red and green rows designed specifically for Ground, 5V Positive and Data – made to perfectly accommodate Gravity-3Pin Sensor Cables without any adapters or modifications. This of course is the same for both the digital as well as the analog pins, ensuring that you never have to limit yourself to just one or the other.

Additional features of this board, which are always welcome, include a nice 8x8 pad Prototyping area, broken out I2C and ICSO interfaces, a broken out 2-Pin 5V and 2-Pin GND section, as well as a high-power terminal for connecting between 7V and 12V Power In. Just remember that you must only plug in one power input for both the LattePanda and the IO Shield, so as to avoid any unnecessary damage or electrical mishaps.

Please Note: As the name suggest, this shield is designed specifically for LattePanda V1.0 boards, and as such may not be entirely compatible with the layouts of the recent range of LattePanda Boards.

As self-proclaimed “Robo-holics”, DFRobot is a company comprised of over 100 staff members, of which 30% are engineers who love to build robots. It was started in 2008 with the goal of embracing and promoting open-source hardware, with a core focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and their very own LattePanda development boards. Since then, DFRobot have manufactured over 1300 unique modules, sensors and components that all work together and complement each other, allowing users like us to enjoy a full spectrum of cutting edge robotics and electronics without having to pay premium prices.

With the primary goal of developing and manufacturing great quality products, while making them accessible to as many people as possible, DFRobot are rapidly becoming one of the most common-place brands in the world of open-source robotics and electronics. With more than 1300 products developed in-house, and an impressive range of different categories and specialisations, there are few brands in the world who can compete in terms of quality, accessibility and genuine innovation.