Evaluation Boards - Embedded

Evaluation Boards - Embedded - MCU, DSP

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MIKROE-1107 MikroElektronika	EASYMX PRO V7 STM32 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-2013 MikroElektronika	MIKROLAB FOR AVR AVR EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-2438 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA STM32F746 EVAL BRD	1
MIKROE-3512 MikroElektronika	FUSION FOR ARM V8	19
MIKROE-2330 MikroElektronika	CLICKER K22 EVAL BRD	4
MIKROE-606 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA DSPIC33 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-1101 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA STM32F207 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-1103 MikroElektronika	EASYMX PRO V7 STM32F107 EVAL BRD	3
MIKROE-1487 MikroElektronika	MIKROBUS CLICK PIC18F47J53 EVAL	3
MIKROE-211 MikroElektronika	DSPICPRO4 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-2647 MikroElektronika	MIKROLAB FOR PIC24EP EVAL BD	0
MIKROE-3924 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA 3 FOR KINETIS CAP FPI	3
MIKROE-3536 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD 29 FOR STM32 STM32F423R	5
MIKROE-3617 MikroElektronika	MIKROMEDIA 3 FOR STM32 CAPACITIV	2
MIKROE-3614 MikroElektronika	EASYPIC V8 DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM	3
MIKROE-3533 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD 29 FOR STM32 STM32F411R	4
MIKROE-3552 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD 3 FOR TIVA TM4C1294KCPD	5
MIKROE-1136 MikroElektronika	PIC24HJ256GP610 EVAL BRD	0
MIKROE-3474 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD FOR STM32 STM32F429ZI	0
MIKROE-3484 MikroElektronika	MCU CARD FOR KINETIS MK64FN1M0VD	4

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