Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DM300018 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPICDEM 2 DSPIC30F EVAL BRD	7
ATMEGA328PB-XMINI Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATMEGA328PB XPLAINED MINI BRD	274
DM320115 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATMEGA4809 CURIOSITY NANO BRD	108
ATTINY3217-XPRO Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATTINY3217 XPLAINED PRO EVAL BRD	48
TCHIP005 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	CHIPKIT LENNY PIC32MX270F256D	5
ATSAM4C32-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATSAM4C8C/C16C/C32C EVAL BRD	1
ATSAMA5D31-EK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMA5D31 EVAL BRD	15
DM320119 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMD21 CURIOSITY NANO BRD	5
DM990013 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	CEC1702 EVAL BRD	1
DM320108-BNDL Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	BUNDLE SAMA5D2-PTC-EK QT1-XPRO	1
ATSAM4S-XSTK Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAM4S XPLAINED PRO ATSAM4SD32C	5
AC320208 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATSAME54 MOTOR CONTROL MCU CARD	0
ATXMEGAC3-XPLD Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	XMEGA-C3 XPLAINED ATXMEGA384	7
EV95N98A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC24FJ64GU205 EXP16/32 PIM	4
ATSAMA5D2C-XULT Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SAMA5D2 XPLAINED ULTRA	8
EV31E34A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	PIC32MK MCM CURIOSITY PRO DEV BO	0
EV45Y33A Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ML-BOSCH WITH IMU-2	12
DM080103 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	ATTINY1607 CURIOSITY NANO EVALUA	12
MA330049 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	DSPIC33CH512MP506 PIM MOD	3
ATXMEGAA3BU-XPLD Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	KIT EVAL XPLAINED ATXMEGA256A3BU	45

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