ARM1 was the first ARM microarchitecture implemented by ARM Holdings (then Acorn Computers) as a research and development project for the BBC Computer Literacy Project. ARM1 was introduced in 1985 and was extended to be used as a coprocessor in the Acorn's BBC Micro microcomputers. ARM1 was distributed as an evaluation system and was never commercialized.

Overview

In 1980 BBC started the Computer Literacy Project. At the time BBC wanted the project to center around a microcomputer. BBC entered talks with a number of computer companies, among them was Acorn Computers. Early in 1980 Acorn released the Acorn Atom and by that time they were already working on their next project, Proton. Acorn got an early prototype working to demo BBC. The Proton met BBC's specification resulting in a contract signed in February of 1981. In December of 1981 Acorn Computers introduced the BBC Micro, becoming a great success.