The Propeller chip makes it easy to rapidly develop embedded applications. Its eight processors (cogs) can operate simultaneously, either independently or cooperatively, sharing common resources through a central hub. The developer has full control over how and when each cog is employed; there is no compiler-driven or operating system-driven splitting of tasks among multiple cogs. A shared system clock keeps each cog on the same time reference, allowing for true deterministic timing and synchronization. Two programming languages are available: the easy-to-learn high-level Spin, and Propeller Assembly which can execute at up to 160 MIPS (20 MIPS per cog).

New Parallax Design Required Years of R&D
What can you do with eight 32-bit processors (COGs) in one chip? Real simultaneous multi-processing! The new Propeller chip is the result of our internal design team working for eight years.

The Propeller Chip was designed at the transistor level by schematic using our own Altera Stratix tools to prototype the product. The Propeller chip is programmed in both a high-level language, called Spin™, and low-level (assembly) language. With the set of pre-built Parallax “objects” for video, mice, keyboards, RF, LCDs, stepper motors and sensors, your Propeller application is a matter of high-level integration. The Propeller product line is recommended for those with previous microcontroller experience. Propeller Chips represent the first custom all-silicon product designed by Parallax.

• Read "Why the Propeller Works" written by Propeller creator Chip Gracey
• Download the Propeller Chip Data Sheet v 1.0
• More information about the Propeller Chip
• Propeller Education