The Arduino has been around for a while now, and the 8-bit ATMega is a limitation to many projects requiring more processing power. The NavSpark aims to harness the power of a 32-bit micro-controller and a GPS system, and package them up in a board similar in size and price to a single 8-bit board.
SkyTraq say the NavSpark is Arduino compatible, and comes with the library needed to communicate with the GPS module. The board uses a 100MHz 32bit LEON3 Sparc-V8 chip with SkyTraq's own GPS module.
The NavSpark has 17 digital I/O pins that are shared with the communication pins, and a 24-bit PWM pin. It features the communication channels you expect from these boards; 1 x I2C, 2 x SPI, 1 x async UART and a mini USB connector.
The NavSpark is aimed at for embedded projects that will use the GPS chip. It can be used as a data logger to track location and speed of anything you want... your cycle route, your remote control plane, or even a pet!
It also features a clock that syncs to atomic clock, and locks into UTC and GMT to within +/-10nsec. That's a pretty good lock and can be used where accurate timing precision is needed.
There have been a few micro-sized Arduino-compatibles released recently, there's the MicroDuino, and the GPS Cookie, but the NavSpark is the first to up the ante and add a 32-bit micro-controller.
The NavSpark is looking for $27,000 from the Indiegogo campaign that SkyTraq is running. For only a few dollars, you can get your own NavSpark by pledging to the campaign.