Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
ATTINY817-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	XPLAINED PRO ATTINY817 EVAL BRD	10
KIT_TC1791_SK IR (Infineon Technologies)	AUDO TC1791 EVAL BRD	1
MIKROE-1622 MikroElektronika	EASYMX PRO V7 TM4C123GH6PMI	0
RB-D62Q1722GA64 ROHM Semiconductor	ML62Q1722 REFERENCE BOARD	2
80-000347 Critical Link	TMS320C6455 EVAL BRD	0
CAPTIVATE-FR2633 Texas Instruments	CAPTIVATE MSP430FR2633 EVAL BRD	12
MIKROE-649 MikroElektronika	UNI-DS6 LPC2148 EVAL BRD	2
MIKROE-647 MikroElektronika	STARTUSB FOR PIC18F2550 EVAL BRD	2
MIKROE-4373 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD FOR PIC32 PIC32MX795F51	3
MIKROE-3491 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD FOR TIVA TM4C129XNCZAD	4
DEVKIT-S12VRP NXP Semiconductors	S12VRP EVAL BRD	28
TWR-KL82Z72M NXP Semiconductors	TOWER SYSTEM KL8X EVAL BRD	0
TOOLSTICK342DC Silicon Labs	TOOLSTICK C8051F34X EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-2010 MikroElektronika	MIKROLAB FOR DSPIC XL DSPIC30/33	0
MIKROE-1205 MikroElektronika	EASYPIC FUSION V7 DSPIC33/PIC24/	4
MIKROE-1003 MikroElektronika	EASYPIC PRO V7 EVAL BRD	0
IMXRT1050-EVKB NXP Semiconductors	ARDUINO I.MX RT1050 EVAL BRD	350
MIKROE-551 MikroElektronika	AVRPLC16 V6 ATMEGA32 EVAL BRD	0
DEV-15799 SparkFun	RED-V SIFIVE RISC-V THING PLUS	62
NUCLEO-F746ZG STMicroelectronics	NUCLEO-144 STM32F746ZG EVAL BRD	169

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