Development boards, kits, and programmers are fundamental tools for designing, testing, and prototyping electronic systems. These hardware platforms provide developers with accessible interfaces to experiment with microcontrollers, FPGAs, SoCs, and other processing units. Their importance in modern technology lies in accelerating innovation cycles for IoT devices, embedded systems, AI accelerators, and industrial automation solutions.
| Type | Functional Characteristics | Application Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Microcontroller Dev Boards | Integrated MCU with GPIO, ADC, PWM, and communication interfaces | Arduino Uno for sensor networks |
| FPGA Development Kits | Reconfigurable logic fabric with high parallel processing capability | Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC for 5G prototyping |
| SoC Development Kits | System-on-Chip with ARM/RISC-V processors and multimedia interfaces | NVIDIA Jetson Xavier for edge AI development |
| Programmers/Debuggers | In-circuit debugging and firmware flashing tools | ST-LINK/V2 for STM32 microcontroller programming |
Typical development platforms consist of: - Processing unit (MCU/FPGA/SoC) - Memory (SRAM, Flash, DDR) - Power management module - Communication interfaces (USB, Ethernet, CAN) - Expansion headers (GPIO, SPI, I2C) - Debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD) - Onboard peripherals (LEDs, buttons, sensors) - PCB with multi-layer routing
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor Architecture | Determines instruction set and performance (e.g., ARM Cortex-M7, RISC-V) |
| Clock Frequency | Operating speed (16MHz-2GHz range) |
| Memory Capacity | SRAM (256KB-32MB), Flash (512KB-1GB) |
| I/O Interfaces | Number and types (UART, SPI, USB 3.0) |
| Power Consumption | Typical range: 0.1W-25W |
| Development Tools | Supported IDEs and compilers |
| Manufacturer | Representative Product |
|---|---|
| Arduino SA | Arduino MKR Zero (32-bit SAMD21) |
| Raspberry Pi Foundation | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (Quad-core Cortex-A72) |
| Xilinx (AMD) | Alveo U55C Data Center Accelerator |
| STMicroelectronics | STM32H743IIT6 Discovery Kit |
| NXP Semiconductors | i.MX 8M Mini EVK |
Key selection criteria:
Current trends shaping the development board market: