A typical Arduino microcontroller board is pretty small, about the size of a credit card. This makes it suitable for embedding into all sorts of electronic devices.

But it's possible to go even smaller, as the makers of a new Arduino-compatible product called "Microduino" show. At 1" × 1.1", it's nearly as small as a quarter. Microduino is generating a lot of interest, having more than tripled its $20,000 Kickstarter goal just a few days into the campaign.

The Microduino essentially divides the capabilities of an Arduino Uno into two boards, with one acting as the microcontroller core and a second used to communicate with a PC. Once an Arduino-compatible program is uploaded onto the core board, the secondary module for communication with the PC isn't needed. The core board can simply be placed into whatever project the user is creating.

The core board can also be paired with extension modules providing capabilities like Wi-Fi, microSD storage, Ethernet, GPS, a motor/stepper driver, sensors, OLED, Bluetooth, an amplifier, and more. Potential projects include remote control of household objects or a bicycle computer with a GPS data logger and display.

The core and extension boards can be stacked one on top of another to keep the slim profile:

Shipments are expected to be made in November 2013. Packages start at $20 for the core board and PC communication module, and they get progressively higher depending on how many extension boards you want. $330 will get you all of them.

Microduino actually isn't the smallest Arduino clone on the market. The Femtoduino, boasting the "same power and pin count of an Arduino Uno," measures just 0.81" × 0.6".