Evaluation Boards

Evaluation boards play an important role in the realm of industrial communication, serving as essential tools for the development, testing, and validation of communication protocols, interfaces, and components within industrial automation and control systems. These boards are instrumental in evaluating a component's capability or applicability to or within a larger system, with common applications spanning across various domains. In the domain of industrial protocols, evaluation boards are indispensable for testing and validating the effectiveness of these protocols in real-world scenarios. The journey of evaluation boards spans from the early days of prototyping in the 1960s and 1970s to the present advancements in real-time communication technologies. 

Today, evaluation boards continue to evolve with advancements in real-time communication technologies, including time-sensitive networking (TSN), deterministic Ethernet, and high-speed fieldbus protocols. Modern evaluation boards support advanced features such as synchronized communication, time-critical control loops, and seamless integration with industrial automation platforms and controllers. Additionally, these boards come with comprehensive software development kits (SDKs), debugging tools, and diagnostic utilities, empowering developers to build robust and high-performance communication systems for industrial automation and control applications. 

Evaluation boards are pivotal tools in the realm of electronics development, offering engineers and developers a robust platform for prototyping, testing, and validating various electronic systems, components, and communication protocols. These boards are intricately designed to facilitate various objectives in development, thereby streamlining the process of bringing new electronic products and systems to life. 

Hardware integration

At the core of an evaluation board's functionality is its ability to seamlessly integrate with a wide array of hardware components. These boards typically come pre-assembled with essential elements such as microcontrollers or processors, alongside various communication interfaces, power supply circuitry, and peripheral interfaces. This design allows users to connect external devices, sensors, actuators, and other components via physical connectors, terminal blocks, headers, or expansion slots. The embedded hardware on these boards provides the necessary interfaces and circuitry to enable effective communication between the connected devices and the board's microcontroller or processor. With built-in support for various communication protocols and interfaces such as USB, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, and wireless communications, these boards can easily integrate into larger electronic systems or networked environments. 

Software development

Complementing their hardware capabilities, evaluation boards are accompanied by a suite of software development tools. These tools include Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), compilers, debuggers, and software libraries, which are essential for writing application code or firmware. Engineers utilize programming languages such as C, C++, or assembly language, tailored to the specific architecture of the microcontroller or processor on the board. The software developed is responsible for implementing the desired functionality, encompassing data processing, communication protocol handling, sensor interfacing, and control algorithms. 

Prototyping and development

Creating effective communication interfaces, protocols, and algorithms that meet the unique requirements of industrial applications. Evaluation boards offer engineers the flexibility to experiment with various hardware configurations and software implementations. This experimentation is vital for determining the most suitable solutions that can withstand the challenges of industrial environments. 

Testing and validation

Many evaluation boards come equipped with pre-loaded demonstration firmware or software which enable engineers to conduct thorough testing of communication solutions under real-world conditions, simulating the operational environments of industrial settings. This ensures that the communication interfaces and protocols perform reliably and are compatible with the standards and requirements of industrial devices and systems. 

Evaluation boards for industrial communication are equipped with hardware interfaces and software libraries supporting popular fieldbus protocols like PROFIBUS, Modbus, and CANopen, facilitating efficient data exchange between devices without direct connections to a controller. These boards feature integrated transceivers and connectors compatible with specific protocols, along with software stacks and drivers for implementation, enabling engineers to configure the board and develop firmware for seamless integration into industrial networks. Additionally, evaluation boards incorporate hardware interfaces and software support for industrial Ethernet protocols such as Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and EtherCAT, leveraging Ethernet for determinism and real-time control in various network topologies. Hardware includes Ethernet ports, PHY chips, and compliant connectors, while software provides protocol stacks, drivers, and configuration tools for implementation, enabling engineers to establish communication and facilitate real-time monitoring and control of industrial devices and systems. Some evaluation boards also support wireless standards like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, featuring modules, antennas, drivers, protocols, and configuration tools for wireless communication. Engineers can configure the board for wireless connections, enabling remote monitoring, control, and data acquisition, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of industrial operations. 

The development and evaluation boards for Hilscher's multiprotocol netX SoCs are the simplest and most effective way of evaluating the connection of prototypes and applications to various communication networks. This allows companies to start developing the individual application even before the hardware design has been defined and significantly shortens the time-to-market. The universal Hardware is equipped with an integrated debug interface from the outset. The netX Studio CDT software also gives users access to an integrated development environment with numerous software examples. The circuit diagrams for the boards are included in the scope of delivery. Together with the option of connecting the application processor to the board, companies are able to try out initial connections as quickly as possible. Furthermore, a range of 3rd party debugging and programming tools, offered by various vendors in the market, support netX. 

Hilscher also supports its customers with an additional support contingent or further development services - e.g. the development of a hardware design or a circuit diagram review.