Waypoints
September 9, 2026 ยท View on GitHub
ARDEP - Automotive Rapid Development Platform #############################################
.. image:: boards/mercedes/ardep/doc/3d_view_v2.png :align: center :width: 50%
ARDEP (A\ utomotive R\ apid DE\ velopment P\ latform) is an open-source hardware and software platform that simplifies automotive development. It combines a feature-rich development board with a robust Zephyr-based software framework, enabling you to build and deploy automotive applications quickly.
Whether you're prototyping a new automotive device or experimenting with diagnostics, ARDEP provides the tools and infrastructure you need.
Waypoints
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Documentation
Documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/>_Getting Started Guide <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/getting_started/index.html>_
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Hardware
Hardware documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/boards/mercedes/ardep/doc/index.html>_PowerIO Shield documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/boards/shields/power_io_shield/doc/index.html>_Hardware files <hardware/>_Get the hardware (Crowd Supply) <https://www.crowdsupply.com/frickly-systems/ardep>_
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Software
UDS Library documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/lib/uds/README.html>_Sample documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/samples/>_Sample sources <samples/>_
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Project
Contributing guidelines <CONTRIBUTING.md>_License <LICENSE>_
At a Glance
- Complete hardware solution - Ready-to-use development board with CAN, LIN and other common communication interfaces
- PowerIO Shield - Extended Power capabilities for 6 Outputs and 6 Inputs up to 48V and 3A per channel
- Automotive-ready software - Built-in UDS diagnostics (ISO 14229) and DFU firmware update support
- Proven foundation - Based on the reliable Zephyr RTOS with a large ecosystem
- Fast prototyping - Develop and iterate quickly without worrying about hardware integration
Key Features
Hardware
- Integrated development board - Open-source design with everything you need built-in
- Automotive communication - Onboard CAN and LIN transceivers (no external components needed)
- Debugger & programmer onboard - Integrated debugger and programmer with UART connection
- PowerIO Shield - Extended power capabilities with six 3A high-side switches at up to 48V
- Arduino headers - Compatible with a wide range of Arduino shields and accessories
Software & Framework
- Zephyr RTOS based - Built on the reliable, widely-adopted open-source Zephyr RTOS
- Automotive diagnostics - Built-in UDS support (ISO 14229) for professional diagnostics
- Firmware updates - Integrated DFU (Device Firmware Update) over UDS
- Modular architecture - Clean separation of concerns, designed for long-term maintainability
- Rich connectivity - CAN, LIN, SPI, I2C, UART and more with unified and easy-to-use APIs
Hardware availability
Frickly Systems has started a Crowd Supply campaign to make the hardware available for purchase. Subscribe to notified when it launches at:
.. image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/CROWD%20SUPPLY-ARDEP-008E8E?style=for-the-badge&labelColor=1F1F1F :target: https://www.crowdsupply.com/frickly-systems/ardep :alt: Crowd Supply campaign :align: center
Getting Started
Ready to dive in? Start with the Getting Started Guide <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/getting_started/index.html>_
for a comprehensive step-by-step introduction. You'll find sample projects and examples to help you get up and running quickly.
For detailed information on using ARDEP, API references, and troubleshooting, refer to the
complete documentation <https://mercedes-benz.github.io/ardep/>_.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome and appreciated.
Please see CONTRIBUTING.md <CONTRIBUTING.md>_ for guidelines and further
information.
License
Copyright Mercedes-Benz AG
This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License <LICENSE>_.