Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
ATSAMC21N-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM C21N XPLAINED ATSAMC21N18A	20
ATSAMDA1-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM DA1 XPLAINED PRO ATSAMDA1	9
EV26C77A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMA5D2 INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATION	3
ATSAM4C-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM4C16C EVAL BRD	8
DM240004 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC24F CURIOSITY EVAL BRD	17
ATSAMV71-XULT Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM V71 XPLAINED ULTRA EVAL BRD	24
AC103011 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC10F322 EVAL BRD	15
DM320008 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32MZ GRAPHICS EVAL BRD	15
DM320007-C Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32 STARTER KIT W/ FPU PIC32MZ	88
AT32UC3A3-XPLD Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	UC3-A3 XPLAINED AT32UC3A3 EVAL	105
DM182028 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC18F47K42 CURIOSITY NANO EBRD	25
DM320003-3 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32 USB STARTER KIT III	16
ATSAM4L-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATSAM4LC4C EVAL BRD	0
ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMHA1E16A XPLAINED PRO ATSAMHA1	13
AT91SAM9G35-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM9G35 EVAL BRD	0
ATSAML22-XPRO-B Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM L22 XPLAINED PRO ATSAML22	6
ATTINY817-XMINI Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	XPLAINED MINI ATTINY817 EVAL BRD	37
ATSTK500 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT90S8515 EVAL BRD	6
ATSAME54-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM E54 XPLAINED PRO ATSAME54	83
DM164120-4 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PICKIT 18-PIN PIC16F1827 EVAL BD	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