Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
DFR0536 DFRobot	MICRO GAMEPAD	45
DFR0518 DFRobot	MICRO:MATE - A MINI EXPANSION BO	5
SEN0291 DFRobot	GRAVITY: I2C DIGITAL WATTMETER	52
TEL0126 DFRobot	GRAVITY: WIFI IOT MODULE	25
DFR0061 DFRobot	GRAVITY: JOYSTICK MODULE V2	4
DFR0062 DFRobot	WIICHUCK ADAPTER (ARDUINO COMPAT	0
DFR0469 DFRobot	GRAVITY: I2C SD2405 RTC MODULE	5
SEN0133 DFRobot	ANALOG HYDROGEN GAS SENSOR (MQ8)	0
DFR0008 DFRobot	INPUT SHIELD FOR ARDUINO	2
DFR0171 DFRobot	SCREW SHIELD V2 FOR ARDUINO	19
SEN0228 DFRobot	GRAVITY: I2C VEML7700 AMBIENT LI	0
DFR0508 DFRobot	FIREBEETLE COVER MOTOR CTRL	28
SEN0189 DFRobot	GRAVITY: ANALOG TURBIDITY SENSOR	3
DFR0592 DFRobot	DC MOTOR DRIVER HAT(V1.0)	23
SEN0197 DFRobot	GRAVITY: VOICE RECORDER MODULE	8
SEN0203 DFRobot	HEART RATE SENSOR	22
DFR0260 DFRobot	DMX SHIELD FOR ARDUINO	19
DFR0027 DFRobot	GRAVITY: DIGITAL VIBRATION SENSO	0
DFR0154 DFRobot	I2C 20X4 ARDUINO LCD DISPLAY MOD	0
DFR0357 DFRobot	EXPANSION SHIELD X200 FOR RASPBE	0

Evaluation Boards - Expansion Boards, Daughter Cards

1. Overview

Evaluation Boards (EVBs), Expansion Boards, and Daughter Cards are essential hardware tools for embedded system development, prototyping, and testing. These platforms enable engineers to assess processor capabilities, interface peripherals, and validate designs before mass production. Their modular architecture supports rapid innovation in IoT, automotive, industrial automation, and consumer electronics sectors.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Microcontroller EVBs	ARM/FPGA SoC integration, onboard sensors, debug interfaces	IoT edge devices, smart sensors
Expansion Boards	Standard interfaces (PCIe, USB-C), protocol converters	Industrial gateways, communication modules
Daughter Cards	Specialized functionality modules (ADC/DAC, RF transceivers)	Medical imaging equipment, test instruments
Programmer Kits	Flash programming, JTAG/SWD debugging, voltage monitoring	Automotive ECUs, aerospace controllers

3. Structure and Components

Typical architecture includes:

Multi-layer PCB with high-speed traces
Processor sockets or soldered-down SoCs
Standardized connectors (2.54mm headers, M.2)
Onboard memory (RAM, Flash storage)
Power management ICs and voltage regulators
Debug interfaces (SWD, JTAG, UART)

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description
Clock Speed	Determines processing capability (1MHz-2GHz range)
Bus Width	Memory bandwidth (8/16/32-bit configurations)
Interface Support	USB 3.0, Ethernet, CAN, SPI/I2C compatibility
Power Consumption	Typical range: 0.5W-25W (varies with workload)
Operating Temperature	Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) or commercial grade

5. Application Areas

Major industries include:

Telecommunications (5G base stations, optical transceivers)
Medical equipment (MRI scanners, patient monitors)
Industrial automation (PLC controllers, robotics)
Consumer electronics (smart home devices, wearables)
Automotive (ADAS systems, V2X communication)

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Vendor	Product Series
Xilinx	Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Evaluation Kit
Intel	Stratix 10 GX FPGA Development Board
STMicroelectronics	STM32 Nucleo Expansion Boards
Texas Instruments	Processor DKx Daughter Cards

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match SoC architecture to target application requirements
Verify interface compatibility with existing systems
Evaluate available ecosystem (IDE support, middleware)
Consider power budget and thermal management needs
Assess long-term availability and RoHS compliance

8. Industry Trends

Future developments include:

Integration of AI accelerators (NPU modules)
Adoption of 5nm/3nm process technologies
Expansion of RISC-V based evaluation platforms
Increased focus on functional safety (ISO 26262 compliance)
Growing adoption of modular "Lego-style" prototyping systems