Industrial Computer Hardware


RS South Africa is Master Distributor for Arduino platform

May 2026 Industrial Computer Hardware

RS South Africa has been named Master Distributor for the Arduino UNO Q, reinforcing its position as a leading technology partner for engineers and developers across South Africa and the broader African region.

This appointment follows RS’s recognition at the Arduino Partner Conference in Milan where it received two prestigious awards: the Industrial Trailblazer Award for driving adoption of Arduino Pro products in industrial markets, and the Global Gravity Award, Arduino’s highest honour, recognising RS as its top global distributor based on sales performance and market share.

The Arduino UNO Q represents a strategic addition to RS South Africa’s growing ecosystem of smart solutions, which includes technical enablement and engineering support for local developers. This next-generation single-board computer features a ‘dual brain’ architecture by combining a Linux Debian-capable microprocessor with a real-time microcontroller, enabling seamless integration of high-performance computing with real-time control.

Powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor running a full Linux environment, the UNO Q is designed to support AI-powered vision and sound applications that can respond dynamically to their environment. These capabilities make it well-suited to a wide range of use cases, from advanced smart home systems to industrial automation and edge computing applications relevant to South Africa’s evolving digital infrastructure. The board offers a complete platform for prototyping and development, combining AI and real-time control in a single solution.

It features built-in AI capabilities for vision and sound applications, alongside a dual-brain architecture integrating a Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 microprocessor with an STM32U585 microcontroller. The UNO Q is hardware-ready, supporting UNO shields and new carrier solutions, while giving developers access to Arduino’s extensive libraries and global community.

It comes pre-installed with Arduino App Lab, enabling development across real-time OS, Linux, Python and AI workflows, and supports flexible coding through seamless integration of Arduino Sketches and Python scripts. Developers can accelerate projects further using ready-to-use Arduino Apps and modular Bricks for plug-and-play functionality.

Senior vice president at RS, Richard Curtin said: “Arduino UNO Q is a powerful, all-in-one board in a compact and affordable form factor, delivering serious computing performance. It is not just a board, it is a launchpad for the next generation of intelligent devices that will redefine possibilities for engineers, developers and innovators around the world. We’re incredibly proud to be named Master Distributor, which recognises the strong relationship we’ve built with Arduino and is a testament to RS’s role as a trusted technology provider.”

Arduino senior vice president and general manager, Guneet Bedi added: “RS has been instrumental in accelerating Arduino’s impact across various markets. As we enter a new era with the launch of UNO Q, powered by Qualcomm, RS’s global reach and deep engineering expertise make them the perfect partner to scale this innovation. Together, we’re not just delivering our most advanced board yet, we are redefining how intelligence, performance and accessibility come together at the edge.”

Arduino UNO Q is available from RS South Africa, providing local engineers, system integrators and innovators with access to cutting-edge development tools backed by regional support and global expertise.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Maximising uptime in data centres through smarter MRO strategies
RS South Africa Industrial Computer Hardware
RS South Africa is supporting data centre operators with access to more than 875 000 MRO products, digital procurement tools and inventory management solutions, as Africa’s data centre market continues to grow and operational resilience becomes a strategic priority.

Read more...
Designing the modern AI cooling stack
Schneider Electric South Africa Industrial Computer Hardware
As average rack densities in data centres climb from 16 to 27 kW in a single year, Schneider Electric’s Canninah Dladla outlines the six liquid cooling architectures available to operators, seven design factors, and three operational practices that determine energy and water efficiency.

Read more...
Rugged, IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof embedded computers
Vepac Electronics Industrial Computer Hardware
The QBiX-WP embedded system range from Vepac Electronics is built inside a sealed aluminium chassis with M12 connectors, operating in extreme temperatures and withstanding heavy dust or liquid immersion for harsh factory floors and outdoor installations.

Read more...
How modular edge data centres are powering Africa’s digital leap
Industrial Computer Hardware
As Africa’s digital economy stretches far beyond its metros, compact, fast-to-deploy modular edge data centres are emerging as the practical way to bring compute power close to remote and underserved regions where demand is rising fastest.

Read more...
Powerful industrial motherboard
Vepac Electronics Industrial Computer Hardware
AAEON’s MIX-PTLWV1 Mini-ITX motherboard introduces Intel Core Ultra series 3 processing, offering greater memory capacity, faster networking and a wide power input range for high-performance industrial AI at the edge.

Read more...
IP69K-rated stainless steel computers
Industrial Computer Hardware
Vepac Electronics’ Trident series of IP69K-rated stainless steel computers withstands total dust and water ingress, with two touchscreen models differing mainly in how they seal their I/O.

Read more...
RS South Africa announces 2026 Student Project Fund winners
RS South Africa News
RS South Africa has awarded 13 engineering students with R10?000 worth of products each through its 2026 Student Project Fund, supporting projects spanning renewable energy, robotics, warehouse automation and STEM education.

Read more...
ESG as a growth lever
RS South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Leading organisations are treating ESG not as a compliance obligation but as a practical tool for operational efficiency, supply chain resilience and business performance, with data and collaboration central to unlocking its value.

Read more...
Intel Core processor platform combines efficiency and AI performance
Vepac Electronics Industrial Computer Hardware
The new Intel Core processors platform with UP from Vepac Electronics is a unique blend of compute efficiency and AI performance.

Read more...
Best practices for managing the MRO supply chain in Africa
RS South Africa System Integration & Control Systems Design
RS South Africa outlines how strong data governance and digital tools can turn maintenance, repair and operations procurement into a strategic advantage across Africa.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved