Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DM164140 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	MPLAB XPRESS PIC16F18855 EVAL BD	35
DM320103 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32MX470 CURIOSITY EVAL BRD	28
ATSAMD21E16LMOTOR Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATSAMD21E16L EVAL BRD	11
DM182027 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	MPLAB XPRESS PIC18F47K40 EVAL BD	3
DM320105 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32MX XLP STARTER KIT EVAL BRD	2
DM240001-2 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	EXPLORER 16/32 DSPIC/PIC24/PIC32	17
DM320204 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM L10 XPLAIND PRO ATSAML10E16A	25
DM330013-2 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	MICROSTICK II DSPIC33/24FJ/H/32	93
DM320210 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAME54 CURIOSITY ULTRA EVALUATIO	46
DT100126 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM9X60 EVAULATION KIT	7
DM240012 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC24E USB STARTER KIT P512GU810	3
DM240016 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC24FJ256GA7 CURIOSITY EVAL BRD	40
AT91SAM9G20-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	AT91SAM9G20 EVAL BRD	0
DM320001 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32 STARTER KIT PIC32 EVAL BRD	14
EV09Z19A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC16F15244 CURIOSITY NANO EVALU	27
ATSAMA5D3-XPLD Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	BRD XPLAINED SAMA5D36 EVAL BRD	5
DM182030 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC18F57Q84-CNANO	0
DM300019 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPICDEM 80PIN 30F/33F/24H/24FJ	2
DM330030 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPIC33CK CURIOSITY DEVELOPMENT	6
ATSAMD10-XMINI Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM D10 XPLAINED MINI ATSAMD10	42

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