Onion Omega2 Eval Boards
Two boards designed for developing and prototyping with the Omega2 module ecosystem
Back this project to help bring it into existence.
Funding ends on Jan 23, 2025 at 03:59 PM PST.
Back this project to help bring it into existence.
Funding ends on Jan 23, 2025 at 03:59 PM PST.
Our Omega2 Eval Boards offer a streamlined starting point for working with Onion Omega2 modules. Built to reduce setup friction, they are essential tools for evaluation, prototyping, and development. These boards can function as templates for custom designs and even as standalone SBCs for your applications.
With nearly all of the Omega’s capabilities and I/O accessible—including USB Type-C for power and serial access, on-board WiFi, Ethernet, USB Type-A host, a MicroSD slot, and I/O pins—the Eval Boards offer a ready-to-use platform for developing and prototyping your Omega2 projects and products. The upcoming firmware based on OpenWRT 23.05 and Linux kernel 5.15 is designed to be lighter, faster, and more customizable.
Omega2 Eval Boards simplify your entry into the Omega ecosystem by providing a compact, plug-and-play platform with full access to essential features—supporting you from initial prototyping to deployment
hello world in 5 minutes with our quickstart guide.
The use-cases for the Omega ecosystem are expansive, thanks to our suite of compatible add-on boards. Some use-cases include:
The Omega2/2S Eval Boards come preloaded with our latest firmware based on OpenWRT 23.05 and Linux kernel 5.15. This update makes firmware customization easier and faster, with builds that take minutes instead of hours. The firmware is designed for:
Choose the best Omega2 option for your project:
| Omega2 Eval Board | Omega2S Eval Board | Omega2+ on Expansion Dock w/ Ethernet Expansion | Omega2S Dev Kit | Omega2 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available I/O Pins | 26 | 43 | 22 | 46 | 22 |
| Power & USB Serial Access | USB-C | USB-C | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| USB Type-A Host | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet Port | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SD Card Slot | Yes | Yes | Yes | SD/eMMC variant | No |
| Size | 8.5 x 6 x 1 cm | 8.5 x 6 x 1 cm | 7 x 4.5 x 3 cm | 11.5 x 10 x 1.5 cm | 7 x 4.5 x 1 cm |
| Price | $35 | $35 | $55 | $249 | $49 |
Omega2 Eval Boards bridge WiFi-enabled microcontrollers and Linux SBCs like Raspberry Pi, making them ideal for IoT. They offer more capability than microcontrollers thanks to the Linux OS but are optimized for IoT with lower power requirements, compact size, and reliable storage that resists field data corruption.
Advantages Over Microcontrollers:
Advantages Over Higher-Powered SBCs:
| Omega2 Eval Board | Adafruit HUZZAH32 (ESP32) | Raspberry Pi 5 | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 580 MHz MIPS | 240 MHz dual-core Xtensa | 2.4 GHz quad-core Cortex A76 | 1 GHz quad-core Cortex A53 |
| Memory | 128 MB | 520 kB | 4 GB | 512 MB |
| Storage | 32 MB | 4 MB | SD card | SD card |
| WiFi | 2.4 GHz b/g/n AP & client | 2.4 GHz b/g/n AP & client | 2.4/5 GHz b/g/n/ac client | 2.4 GHz b/g/n client |
| Ethernet Port | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| USB Serial Access | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| USB Host Port | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (with OTG adapter) |
| Display Interface | SPI (small screens only) | SPI (small screens only) | Micro HDMI | Mini HDMI |
| Power Requirements | 5V 0.5 A | 5V 0.5 A | 5V 5 A | 5V 2.5 A |
| OS | OpenWRT Linux | N/A | Raspbian Linux | Raspbian Linux |
| Size | 8.5 x 6 x 1 cm | 5 x 2.3 x 1 cm | 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 cm | 6.5 x 3 x 0.5 cm |
| Price | $35 | $20 | $60 (without SD card) | $15 (without SD card) |
| A. 30-pin I/O Header | H. Ethernet Port |
| B. MicroSD Slot (underneath) | I. Mounting Hole |
| C. External Power Connector | J. User Programmable LED |
| D. Reset Button | K. Status LED |
| E. Power Switch | L. WiFi Antenna |
| F. USB-C Port (Power & Serial Command Line) | M. Omega2+ Module |
| G. USB Type-A Host Port | N. 8-pin I/O Header |
| A. 30-pin I/O Header | H. Ethernet Port |
| B. MicroSD Slot (underneath) | I. Mounting Hole |
| C. External Power Connector | J. LEDs (Boot status and user programmable) |
| D. Reset Button | K. Omega2S+ Module |
| E. Power Switch | L. WiFi Antenna |
| F. USB-C Port (Power & Serial Command Line) | M. 24-pin I/O Header |
| G. USB Type-A Host Port |
To complement the new firmware, we’ve launched a brand-new documentation site. Explore our new quickstart guides, tutorials, and reference materials. But that’s not all—join our vibrant Onion Community Forum, where you can connect with fellow Omega2 users, share your experiences, collaborate on projects, and get help from a supportive community. Don’t forget to check out the Onion Blog for the latest news and updates. Schematics and layouts of the Omega2 Eval Boards will be released on GitHub when the design is finalized.
The Omega2 and Omega2S Eval Board designs are open-source. Firmware and software are available on GitHub, with detailed documentation for building firmware from source.
Manufacturing is managed by a trusted partner in Shenzhen, China, who has supported our previous Crowd Supply campaigns and helped us fulfill hundreds of thousands of boards. All orders will be shipped in bulk to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, for global distribution to our backers. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.
With all manufacturing processes, there are some risks during the process. We’ve mitigated risks by using tested Omega2 and Omega2S modules and completing prototype runs with our chosen contract manufacturer. While component availability remains a consideration, our manufacturing team has coordinated with suppliers to ensure component access when production begins.
Produced by Onion in Boston, MA.
Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.
Evaluation board for the Onion Omega2 IoT computer module. Omega2+ module included.
Evaluation board for the Onion Omega2S IoT computer module. Omega2S+ module included.
From the Onion Omega2 Pro project.
Bring contact-less RFID and NFC communication to your Omega2. It supports reading and writing with several NFC and RFID protocols at 13.56 MHz. Comes bundled with two programmable Mifare Ultralight tags.
From the Onion Omega2 Pro project.
The Proto Expansion for the Onion Omega allows you to create your very own expansion that interfaces with your Omega. It provides a small soldering area and 30-pin header that plugs into the Expansion Dock. With it you will have full control over what kind of project you design for your Omega.
From the Onion Omega2 Pro project.
The OLED Expansion adds a low-power 0.96″ monochrome display to your Omega. With a resolution of 128×64, you can use it to display text, images, and even animations. Very useful for displaying status information, web data, and small logos.
From the Onion Omega2 Pro project.
The Servo Expansion adds 16 PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) outputs to your Omega. Connect standard servos directly to the Expansion since each channel has its own 3-pin connectors, making it that much easier to get started with your project! This Expansion is great in any application that requires servos, like a robotics project or anything with moving parts. Given that PWM is so useful, you can also use this Expansion to precisely control LEDs or drive a DC motor using an H-bridge. The Servo Expansion is often also called the PWM Expansion.
From the Onion Omega2 Pro project.
Omega2 can now read all types of analog voltages and sensors with the help of this ADC Expansion. Read and interpret up to 4 analog voltage or sensor inputs, each with 16 bits of precision.
· onion.io · OnionIoT · OnionIoT
Onion is a team of technology enthusiasts, creators, and strivers, looking to make amazing products and even better user experiences. Onion has been in business since 2014, graduating from the TechStars Startup Accelerator in Boston that year. In 2015, we introduced the world to the Onion Omega IoT computer.
