Arduino releases stable Zephyr-based core and VENTUNO Q board

Arduino has released version 1.0.0 of its Zephyr-based core, marking the first stable version of its core built on the Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS). This update, based on Zephyr 4.4.1, introduces preemptive threads, timers, and a structured device-driver model while maintaining the familiar Arduino programming model. The release supports eleven boards, including the Portenta H7, GIGA R1 WiFi, and the newly supported VENTUNO Q.

The VENTUNO Q is a high-performance board designed for edge AI, robotics, and industrial applications. It features a dual-brain architecture utilizing a Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-8275 with an octa-core CPU and a Hexagon NPU capable of up to 40 TOPS for on-device AI tasks. The board runs Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and supports the Zephyr Project, providing deterministic real-time control via an STM32 microcontroller. Pre-orders for the VENTUNO Q have already sold out through the Arduino Store.