The Arduino Wifi Shield is finally here!

We’ve been working for a while on this new wifi shield for Arduino that is quite different from what you can find already on the market.

Instead of just getting the usual pre-made module we decided to build a product that would encourage hacking and modifications so we decided to use an AVR32 processor running an open source version of TCP/IP and the WIFI software stack. The Arduino communicates over SPI with the AVR32 and this in turn controls the WIFI module, an HDG104 from H&D Wireless. Following the Arduino tradition the full software stack running on the AVR32 is released as open source as well as the Arduino library that controls the shield.

Having the full source for the software stack allows adding more complex protocols directly on the AVR32 without using the limited code space of the atmega328 on the Arduino. On top of this, skilled C developers can re-program the shield to operate as a standalone device without the need of an Arduino connected to it.  Since we expect that there will be amazing new features created by the community we made updating its firmware very easy, just connect a usb cable to the shield. We believe this opens up to a lot of hacking potential.

Here are some of its features:

• Connection via: 802.11b/g networks
• Encryption types: WEP and WPA2 Persoanl
• Connection with Arduino on SPI port
• on-board micro SD slot
• ICSP headers
• FTDI connection for serial debugging of WiFi shield
• Mini-USB for updating WiFi shield firmware
• HDG104 Wireless LAN 802.11b/g System in-Package
• Atmega 32UC3 32bit microcontroller
• open source firmware.

For more details see the product page and on the wifi-shield on the Arduino Store.

We hope you will enjoy creating with the new member of the Arduino family.