Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
STM32H750B-DK STMicroelectronics	DISCOVERY KIT WITH STM32H750XB M	220
EVAL-ADUCM410QSPZ Analog Devices, Inc.	BGA EVALUATION BOARD	1
TMDXDOCK28027 Texas Instruments	EXPERIMENTER TMX320F28027 EVAL	4
SCC-FTHR-B GHI Electronics, LLC	SITCORE FEZ FEATHER SBC	83
RB-D620Q504TB48 ROHM Semiconductor	ML620Q503H/ML620Q504H EVAL BRD	5
MAX32520FTHR# Maxim Integrated	MAX32520 FEATHER BRD	8258
DEV-16401 SparkFun	MICROMOD ARTEMIS PROCESSOR	96
DM330027 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPIC33EDV64MC205 DEVELOPMENT BO	3
YSDKS3A7E20 Renesas Electronics America	SYNERGY S3A7 EVAL BRD	5
STM32469I-EVAL STMicroelectronics	STM32F469 EVAL BRD	7
53309-767 Custom Computer Services	PIC24H EVAL BRD	0
YRPBRL78G11 Renesas Electronics America	RL78/G11 EVAL BRD	1
ATSAMA5D27-SOM1-EK1 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMA5D27 EVAL BRD	35
ATSAM4CP16B-EK Atmel (Microchip Technology)	ATSAM4CP16B EVAL BRD	0
SPC563MKIT144S STMicroelectronics	SPC563M EVAL BRD	0
OLIMEXINO-85BC Olimex	ATTINY85 EVAL BRD	0
KITXMC2GOXTRXMC1400TOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	XMC2GO XTREME XMC1400	4
MIKROE-3866 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD FOR STM32 STM32F745ZG	1
FRDM-KL03Z NXP Semiconductors	FREEDOM KL03 EVAL BRD	10
TWR-S08DC-AC60 NXP Semiconductors	TOWER SYSTEM MC9S08AC60 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