Evaluation Boards

Evaluation Boards - Sensors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
4103 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-03RC REF ARRAY 3CHNL	105
4145 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-05RC REF ARRAY 5CHNL	63
4413 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-13A REF ARRAY 13CHNL	65
4211 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-11A REF ARRAY 11CHNL	33
4042 Pololu Corporation	ACS724 CURRENT SENSOR 0-10A	0
4431 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-31A REF ARRAY 31CHNL	19
2454 Pololu Corporation	QTR-L-1A REFLECTANCE SENSOR 2PK	201
1132 Pololu Corporation	SHARP GP2Y0D805Z0F CARRIER 5CM	283
4141 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-01RC REF SENSOR 1CHNL	249
4446 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-06A REF ARRAY 6CHNL	50
4144 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-04RC REF ARRAY 4CHNL	71
3577 Pololu Corporation	BALBOA REFLECTANCE SENSOR ARRAY	47
4344 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-04RC REF ARRAY 4CHNL	62
4049 Pololu Corporation	ACS724 Current Sensor +/-50A	131
4303 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-03RC REF ARRAY 3CHNL	140
4201 Pololu Corporation	QTR-HD-01A REF SENSOR 1CHNL	349
4142 Pololu Corporation	QTR-MD-02RC REF ARRAY 2CHNL	102
4501 Pololu Corporation	QTRXL-HD-01RC REF SENSOR 1CHNL	265
4356 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-MD-16RC REF ARRAY 16CHNL	66
4409 Pololu Corporation	QTRX-HD-09A REF ARRAY 9CHNL	38

Evaluation Boards - Sensors

1. Overview

Evaluation boards for sensors are specialized hardware platforms designed to test, validate, and develop sensor-based applications. These boards integrate sensor elements with processing units, communication interfaces, and power management modules. They play a critical role in accelerating product development cycles in industries such as IoT, industrial automation, healthcare, and consumer electronics by enabling rapid prototyping and performance characterization.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Temperature Sensor Boards	High-precision thermal sensing with digital/analog outputs	Climate control systems, medical devices
Accelerometer Boards	3-axis motion detection with programmable sensitivity	Vibration monitoring, fitness trackers
Pressure Sensor Boards	Atmospheric/differential pressure measurement	Weather stations, automotive systems
Environmental Sensor Boards	Multi-parameter detection (humidity, gas, light)	Smart agriculture, air quality monitors
Image Sensor Boards	High-resolution optical sensing with ISP integration	Surveillance cameras, machine vision

3. Structure and Components

Typical evaluation boards consist of: - Sensor element (MEMS, CMOS, or discrete transducers) - Microcontroller/SoC with ADC/DAC interfaces - Communication modules (I2C, SPI, UART, BLE/Wi-Fi) - Power management ICs and voltage regulators - Debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD) - Auxiliary components (LED indicators, potentiometers) The PCB layout optimizes signal integrity while minimizing electromagnetic interference.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Measurement Range	Minimum/maximum detectable values	Determines application suitability
Accuracy	Error margin vs. reference values	Impacts system reliability
Sampling Rate	Data acquisition frequency	Defines dynamic response capability
Power Consumption	Operating current/voltage requirements	Affects battery life and thermal design
Interface Type	Communication protocol compatibility	Dictates system integration complexity

5. Application Areas

Industrial Automation: Predictive maintenance systems, process control
Healthcare: Wearable vital sign monitors, diagnostic equipment
Consumer Electronics: Smart home devices, mobile accessories
Automotive: Tire pressure monitoring, ADAS sensors
Aerospace: Structural health monitoring, navigation systems

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
STMicroelectronics	STEVAL-MKI187V1	6-axis IMU with advanced calibration
Texas Instruments	BOOSTXL-ULTRASONIC	Ultrasonic sensing for distance measurement
Analog Devices	EVAL-ADICUP3029	Low-power Cortex-M4F based platform
NXP Semiconductors	FRDM-FXS-MULTI-B	Multi-sensor fusion for IoT applications

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations include: - Match sensor specifications to target application requirements - Verify compatibility with existing development ecosystems - Evaluate power budget and form factor constraints - Consider available software support (drivers, SDKs) - Assess calibration and certification requirements Example: For a wearable health monitor, prioritize low-power accelerometers with medical-grade accuracy.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging trends include: - Integration of AI accelerators for edge computing - Development of wireless sensor nodes with energy harvesting - Advancements in MEMS fabrication for higher sensitivity - Standardization of sensor fusion algorithms - Growth of open-source hardware ecosystems Market projections indicate a 12% CAGR through 2027 driven by IoT and Industry 4.0 adoption.