Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
STM3210B-SK/HIT STMicroelectronics	HITEX STM32F103B EVAL BRD	0
3939 Adafruit	ADAFRUIT PYBADGE LC (LOW COST)	24
53308-764 Custom Computer Services	PIC24F EVAL BRD	0
DM164144 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC16F18446 CURIOSITY NANO BRD	0
KITXMC2GOXMC1100V1TOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	XMC 2GO XMC1100 EVAL BRD	84
ATSAM4L8-XSTK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM4L8 XPLAINED PRO ATSAM4LC8	2
102110420	BEAGLEBONE BLK REV C AM3358BZCZ	0
TMDSCNCDH52C1 Texas Instruments	CONTROLCARD H52C1 EVAL BRD	24
MIKROE-3518 MikroElektronika	FUSION FOR ARM V8 MSP432	3
STM8L-DISCOVERY STMicroelectronics	DISCOVERY STM8L15X EVAL BRD	13
8MPLUSLPD4-EVK NXP Semiconductors	I.MX 8M PLUS EVAL KIT	0
ATSAM4L8-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM4L8 XPLAINED PRO ATSAM4LC8	24
MIKROE-4313 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA 3 FOR STM32F2 CAP	3
DEMO850W12VDC230VACTOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	DEV KIT	3
LUCID MC B4 Limits	LUCID MAIN CONTROLLER	10
TWR-VF65GS10-PRO NXP Semiconductors	TOWER SYSTEM VF6XX EVAL BRD	0
SIP-KITSLF001 Samsung Semiconductor	ARTIK 020 BLUETOOTH SMART KIT	302
FRDM-KL28Z NXP Semiconductors	FREEDOM KL28 EVAL BRD	26
MIKROE-650 MikroElektronika	UNI-DS6 LPC2214 EVAL BRD	0
TMDX570LC43HDK Texas Instruments	HERCULES DEV KIT TMS570LC4357	29

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