Bitmerse Released New Raspberry Pi-Based Romu Board
The compact Romu board integrates a dual-architecture microcontroller to facilitate open-source embedded development.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Semiconductors
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Bitmerse has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Romu development board, a compact device built around the Raspberry Pi RP2354A microcontroller. The board, currently in the production stage with Elecrow, is designed for embedded applications supporting MicroPython.
Why it matters
By leveraging a hybrid microcontroller architecture, the Romu board provides developers with an alternative testing platform for multi-core RISC-V and Arm-based embedded projects. The project aims to improve hardware transparency by documenting all schematics and design files.
The Romu board features an RP2354A chip operating at up to 150 MHz, supported by 520 KB of on-chip SRAM and 2 MB of flash memory. The 15.5 x 12 mm module integrates a USB Type-A connector for both 5V power input and serial communication.
The players
Bitmerse
An embedded hardware developer focused on miniaturized development platforms.
Elecrow
A manufacturing and engineering service provider specializing in electronics production.
The details
The RP2354A microcontroller includes a heterogeneous core architecture, featuring dual Arm Cortex-M33 cores and dual Hazard3 RISC-V cores. The board utilizes an integrated USB Type-A connector to plug directly into host ports, while an optional debugging jig uses pogo pins—spring-loaded pins used for temporary electrical connection—to access board test points for firmware development.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: The Romu board was officially listed on Crowd Supply.
The Tech Race
The Romu board utilizes the Raspberry Pi RP2354A silicon to compete in the miniaturized development board market. It follows a growing trend of open-hardware projects that emphasize high-performance, hybrid-core architectures over legacy single-core designs.
The board is available for purchase via a crowdfunding campaign with tiered pricing for single units or three-packs. Developers will need to access forthcoming design files on GitHub to begin building custom hardware implementations.
The takeaway
The Romu board offers a compact platform for exploring the RP2354A's heterogeneous processing capabilities. Interested developers should monitor the project's GitHub repository for the pending release of open-source schematics and design files.
Further reading
For more on the latest in silicon design and embedded hardware, visit our Semiconductors section.
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