Beetle is a compact yet powerful Arduino-compatible development board, featuring an ATmega32U4 core and the same compatibility as the Arduino Leonardo. As small as a coin, this board is ideal for wearables, embedded systems, and space-constrained DIY projects.
Thanks to its wide-spacing soldering pads, Beetle is especially suitable for e-textile and conductive fabric projects, providing a reliable solution where traditional microcontrollers may be too large or difficult to integrate.
Key Features
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Tiny but versatile: Fits into even the smallest projects without sacrificing power
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Fully compatible with Arduino Leonardo and IDE
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V-shaped soldering pads make direct sewing and wiring easy
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USB-enabled with Micro USB support for seamless uploading and testing
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Reliable performance thanks to the ATmega32U4 chip
Wide-Space Pads & Versatile Interfaces
Despite its tiny size, Beetle features:
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3 digital ports
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3 analog ports (can double as digital)
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1 UART interface
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1 I2C interface
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4 PWM-capable ports
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2 power outputs
Its V-shaped large gold-plated pads allow for stable wire binding — perfect for sewing into clothing or wrapping in tight projects.
Low-Cost but Powerful
Beetle was designed to solve the need for affordable and accessible microcontrollers, especially for education, workshops, and DIY gift projects. Though low in cost, it maintains robust functionality, making it suitable even in production-level prototyping.
User-Friendly
The board is preloaded with a bootloader, and with Micro USB support, there's no need for additional upload tools. It's the go-to solution for students, creators, and developers working on:
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Disposable or one-time projects
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Wearables & e-textiles
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Budget-conscious prototyping
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Compact interactive art & lighting
Real-World Highlight
NASA-supported CubeSat Launch (USU): A Pi-powered satellite launched into orbit included a DFRobot Beetle board for cost-effective onboard control tasks.
Technical Specifications
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MCU: ATmega32u4
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Clock Speed: 16 MHz
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Operating Voltage: 5V
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I/O Pins: 10 digital, 5 analog
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PWM Channels: 4
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UART: 1
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I2C: 1
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Micro USB: 1
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Power Ports: 2
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Flash: 32KB (4KB for bootloader)
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SRAM: 2.5KB
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EEPROM: 1KB
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Size: 20mm x 22mm x 3.8mm
Creative Projects Using Beetle
Project 1: How to Make Music IO LED Lights
Project 2: Fiber Optic Fairy Wings
Project 3: DIY Deer Clock
Project 4: Running Heart Alarm T-shirt
What’s in the Box
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Beetle Board ×1
Reference
Adafruit's Trinket vs DFRobot's Beetle - Review and Comparision (Video)