Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MIMXRT1020-EVK NXP Semiconductors	I.MX RT1020 EVAL BRD	163
TMDXEVM6678LXE Texas Instruments	TMS320C6678 EVAL BRD	1
DM320004-2 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32 ETHERNET STARTER KIT II	48
MSP-EXP430FR5969 Texas Instruments	LAUNCHPAD MSP430FR5969 EVAL BRD	78
OM11084,598 NXP Semiconductors	LPC1769 EVAL BRD	0
SPC58XXADPT100S STMicroelectronics	SPC58XB/C EVAL BRD	6
RDK-N9H30 Nuvoton Technology Corporation America	THE EMWIN HMI REFERENCE DESIGN E	5
S5U1C17F57T2100 Epson	S1C17F57 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-2503 MikroElektronika	CLICKER MSP432 EVAL BRD	0
ADZS-SC573-EZLITE Analog Devices, Inc.	EZ-KIT LITE ADSP-SC573 EVAL BRD	12
STM32439I-EVAL2 STMicroelectronics	STM32F439 EVAL BRD	3
TOOLSTICKUNIDC Silicon Labs	TOOLSTICK C8051F020 EVAL BRD	0
MPC57XXXMB NXP Semiconductors	MPC57XXX EVAL BRD	19
KIT_XMC14_BOOT_001 IR (Infineon Technologies)	BOOT KIT XMC1400 EVAL BRD	99
YR0K77210S011BE Renesas Electronics America	RZ/A1H EVAL BRD	4
102110288	BEAGLEBOARD-X15 AM5729 EVAL BRD	1001
MAX32620-EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	MAX32620/MAX32621 EVAL BRD	18
STM32G0316-DISCO STMicroelectronics	DISCOVERY KIT WITH STM32G031J6 M	81
EV35L43A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AVR128DB48 CURIOSITY NANO EVALUA	25
SPC563M64AVB176 STMicroelectronics	SPC563M EVAL BRD	0

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

1. Overview

Evaluation Boards (Dev Boards) for Embedded MCUs (Microcontroller Units) and DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) are specialized hardware platforms designed to facilitate the development, testing, and prototyping of embedded systems. These boards provide a physical environment to validate processor capabilities, peripheral integration, and software algorithms before final product deployment. They play a critical role in accelerating development cycles for applications ranging from IoT devices to industrial automation systems.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
MCU Evaluation Boards	ARM Cortex-M series, integrated peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C), low-power modes	Smart sensors, wearables, home automation
DSP Development Kits	High-speed floating-point processing, SIMD instructions, real-time signal analysis	Audio processing, radar systems, motor control
SoC Embedded Boards	Integrated CPU+GPU+FPGA, multimedia acceleration, OS support	Edge computing, robotics, automotive infotainment
FPGA-based Prototyping Boards	Reconfigurable logic, hardware-software co-design, high-speed I/O	5G communication, AI inference accelerators

3. Structure and Components

Typical evaluation boards consist of:

PCB base with processor/microcontroller soldered onboard
Memory modules (SRAM, Flash, DDR)
Debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD, UART)
Power management unit (voltage regulators, PMICs)
Peripheral connectors (GPIO, ADC/DAC, Ethernet)
Expansion headers for add-on modules (shields, PMODs)
Onboard sensors/actuators (depending on application focus)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Processor Architecture	Determines computational capabilities and software ecosystem compatibility
Maximum Clock Frequency	Impacts processing speed and real-time performance
Memory Bandwidth	Affects data throughput for signal processing applications
Peripheral Integration	Reduces external component requirements and system complexity
Power Consumption	Critical for battery-powered and thermal-constrained applications
Debugging Capabilities	Enables efficient firmware development and hardware verification

5. Application Fields

Key industries utilizing evaluation boards:

Industrial Automation: PLCs, motor drives, predictive maintenance systems
Consumer Electronics: Smart home devices, AR/VR headsets
Automotive: ADAS prototyping, ECU development
Medical: Portable diagnostic equipment, wearable health monitors
Communications: 5G baseband processing, software-defined radios
Energy: Smart grid controllers, solar inverters

6. Leading Manufacturers and Representative Products

Manufacturer	Product Series	Key Features
STMicroelectronics	STM32 Nucleo Series	ARM Cortex-M cores, Arduino compatibility, mbed OS support
Texas Instruments	TMDX Series	C2000 DSPs for power electronics, Code Composer Studio integration
NXP Semiconductors	i.MX RT Series	ARM Cortex-M7 based crossover processors, LCD interface support
Xilinx	Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC	ARM Cortex-A53 + FPGA fabric, AI acceleration with DPU

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations when choosing evaluation boards:

Match processor architecture to target application requirements (e.g., ARM for general-purpose, DSP for signal processing)
Verify peripheral compatibility with system design (number of timers, communication interfaces)
Assess expansion capabilities for future upgrades
Evaluate software toolchain maturity (IDE, compilers, RTOS support)
Consider power consumption specifications for end-application scenarios
Check available community resources and technical documentation

8. Industry Trend Analysis

Emerging trends shaping evaluation board development:

Increased integration of AI acceleration cores (e.g., Google Edge TPU integration)
Rise of RISC-V based evaluation platforms for customizable computing
Enhanced security features (trusted execution environments, hardware encryption)
Development of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) enabled boards for IoT
Adoption of heterogeneous computing architectures (CPU+GPU+DSP+FPGA)
Cloud-connected evaluation platforms for remote testing and collaboration