My Brain-In-A-Jar Project

• A daughtercard with a real 8bit microprocessor, plugged into Arduino Mega.
• Arduino Mega emulates system hardware such as ROM, RAM, I/O devices.
• Real microprocessor executes code.
• 200KB ROM space available in Arduino.
• 6K RAM available in Arduino.
• Any existing Arduino shields (LCD, SDCard, etc.) can be used to add new features.
• Compatible w/ my Teensy Adapter for RetroShield for faster clock (>1 Mhz) and more memory (256 KB RAM).

What can you do with it?

You can run the following:

• Bill Beech's Monitor code (based on Motorola MiniBug)

Or design your own hw platform in Arduino.

What do you get?

Three options:

• Assembled and tested board w/ microprocessor*
• Kit for you to build: PCB w/ surface mount parts soldered + microprocessor* + socket/header/LED
• Bare PCB w/ surface mount parts soldered. (You supply rest of the parts)

Why did you make it?

First, I have been building SBC's with old microprocessors since high school. For every SBC, I had to spend time wire-wrapping the ROM, RAM, peripheral chips over and over again. Then it was more hassle to expand the SBC. I am now lazy; Arduino Mega is capable enough so I now do my wire-wrapping in software :)

Second, I wanted to give back to the retro community. So all hardware and software design files are open source.

What makes it special?

You can "breadboard in software" meaning you can design, change, update your hardware platform as easy as compiling and downloading a new Arduino code.