Qualcomm To Buy Open-Source Hardware Firm Arduino To Boost Edge Business

The chip designer says the acquisition of the open-source hardware and software firm will allow it to provide a ‘full-stack platform for modern development.’ This will start with the new Arduino Uno Q ‘dual-brain’ board that is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform

Qualcomm said Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to acquire open-source hardware and software firm Arduino in a move to boost its edge business.

The San Diego-based chip designer said the move will build upon the recent integrations of its Edge Impulse and Foundries.io acquisitions, accelerating its strategy to “empower developers by facilitating access to its unmatched portfolio of edge technologies and products.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Qualcomm said the closing of the transaction, for which it did not provide a timeline, is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Vowing to preserve Arduino’s “open approach and community spirit,” Qualcomm said the channel-friendly hardware and software firm will “retain its independent brand, tools and mission” and continue support for a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers.

“Our passion for simplicity, affordability, and community gave rise to a movement that changed technology,” said Massimo Banzi, co-founder of Arduino, in a statement. “By joining Qualcomm Technologies, we’ll bring cutting-edge AI tools to our community while staying true to what has always mattered most to us.”

While Qualcomm did not address in its announcement what will happen to Arduino’s partner program that includes distributors and systems integrators, the company said that Arduino will be supported by its “extensive partner ecosystem.” It also said that Arduino’s base of more than 33 million active users will gain access to its “powerful technology stack and global reach.”

Qualcomm did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

The chip designer said the acquisition will allow it to provide a “full-stack platform for modern development.” This will start with the newly revealed Arduino Uno Q “dual-brain” board that is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform, which the company said will bridge high-performance computing with real-time control to enable “AI in a blink.”

Qualcomm also introduced a new, integrated development environment called Arduino App Lab that will support Uno Q and future Arduino boards “across real-time OS, Linux, Python and AI flows to make development faster and easier.”

“With our acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and now Arduino, we are accelerating our vision to democratize access to our leading-edge AI and computing products for the global developer community,” said Nakul Duggal, group general manager of automotive, industrial and embedded IoT at Qualcomm, in a statement.