The journey to a new product

Over the next several months I will documenting the development of a new tool for embedded system software debugging. The tool will be launched in 2018 on the Crowd Supply web site. The design, when completed will be Open Source Hardware and Software.

The first couple of stages have already been completed; earlier in 2017 a bench prototype was constructed to enable some basic research to be done. It comprised of a ST Microelectronics Nucleo evaluation board, a Texas Instruments wireless evaluation board and a breadboard to hook it all together.

As is typical of such breadboard prototypes some of the higher speed signals (for example the SPI interface) were a little unreliable; once the basic concept was proven the design of a printed circuit board was begun. The initial design is once again a prototype to provide a stable platform for the completion of the controlling software.

The first PCB is currently being assembled and I will write about the initial testing when it arrives.

Sid