Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	ATSAM3N-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATSAM3N EVAL BRD	0
	AT91SAM9260-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM9260 EVAL BRD	0
	DM163022 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICDEM 2 PLUS PIC16/18 EVAL BRD	0
	DM163035 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICDEM LAB PIC10F206/16F690/819	0
	AT91SAM9X35-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM9G35 EVAL BRD	0
	AT91SAM7A3-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM7A3 EVAL BRD	0
	AT91SAM7X-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM7X EVAL BRD	0
	AT91SAM7SE-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM7SE EVAL BRD	0
	TDGL010 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	CEREBOT MX7CK PIC32MX795F512	0
	DM163045 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICDEM LAB PIC12F615/PIC16F616	0
	DM320004 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32 ETHERNET STARTER KIT	0
	DM180021 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	MPLAB PIC18FXXXX EVAL BRD	0
	ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM4S16C EVAL BRD	0
	DM183034 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	QWIK&LOW PIC18LF4321/PIC18LF6390	0
	DM164130-9 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICKIT 3 LOW PIN CNT PIC 16F/18F	0
	DV164037 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	MPLAB PIC24F/PIC24H/DSPIC33	0
	DM164124 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC18F4XK20 EVAL BRD	0
	DM300024 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPICDEM 1.1 PLUS 30F/IC33F/24H	0
	AT91SAM9261-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM9261 EVAL BRD	0
	AC812001 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICSEEKIT-81A MTA81010 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