The Cluster A+6 is a side step from the original Cluster HAT and switches Raspberry Pi Zeros out for the more powerful quad-core Raspberry Pi 3A+ (which can also be used with the older A+ model).
This is an updated version where the Tantalum capacitors have been switched for Aluminium and the vertical USB connectors have been switched for more robust versions.
Features
Controller Pi A+/3A+ and 5 A+/3A+ nodes
USB Gadget Mode: Ethernet and Serial Console
Two onboard 4 port USB 2.0 hubs (USB port to the controller is available for use with USB Ethernet/Mass storage/etc)
New! ClusterCTRL (I2C) USB interface allows individual control of Pi power, fans, LED etc
Programmable power-on states for LED, Individual Pi Power etc
Unpopulated pads for ClusterCTRL UART status (for debug) and fans on the bottom of the PCB
Controller Pi can be rebooted without interrupting power to the nodes (network recovers on boot)
Works with the standard Cluster HAT software or you can roll your own
Power for the Raspberry Pi is provided in two banks (powering 3 Pi each)
The ClusterCTRL controller uses our open-source software (building on i2c_tiny_usb which uses V-USB) running on a Microchip ATMEGA328P to provide a standard I2C interface for controlling the cluster from the controller Pi.
1-6 SD cards. It's possible to boot recent 3A+ over USB so an SD card (or Flash) is only required for the Controller but can be easier and quicker using individual SD cards.
(optional) USB Network Adapter (may be useful for configuration) or you can use the CNAT image and WiFi on the controller.
(optional) M2.5 5mm spacers/standoffs to separate the Raspberry Pi A+/3A+.
Skip to content
