FARNELL INSIGHTS
/ PROTOTYPING WITH OFF-THE-SHELF BOARDS
Survey shows the general-purpose single-board computer can offer a low-cost, high-performance platform for rapid prototyping.
The single-board computer is a flexible format. The term describes anything from embedded PCs to simple maker modules. This flexibility can also come with a lot of performance, giving developers a great starting point for new product development. According to a recent survey carried out by Farnell, both makers and professional engineers favor the single-board computer (SBC) but for different reasons. Not surprisingly, makers like the low-cost, high-performance, and standard format that an SBC can provide. A strong community also ranks highly, as does software support. Professional engineers also value the SBC format. Like makers, they consider cost and ease of use when selecting a board. Professional users rank prototyping as their main reason for using SBCs, with proof of concept second. Despite their obvious benefits, using SBCs in high-volume production is in the minority. Using SBCs for test rigs is more popular than using them in small production runs.
of engineers use SBCs for Industrial Automation & Control
SBCs in the IoT
Pre-configured connectivity is one of the obvious strengths of low-cost SBCs and is possibly a key driver for the maker community. Professionals also value this feature, with IoT ranked as the second largest application for SBCs, with industrial automation and control the clear leader. Other end applications where SBCs are used include audio and video, radio and broadcasting, scientific instrumentation and research, and education.
of engineers asked said they favor the Raspberry Pi SBC
Perhaps not surprisingly, the Raspberry Pi is a firm favorite for both makers and professional users. When combined with the Pi compute module, it was prioritized by over 50% of both the maker and professional users surveyed. It should be noted that over 70 other SBCs were cited in the “other” section by professional users.
The reasons given for choosing a specific board varied, with ecosystem and available “add-ons” being least important. The importance of price balanced against performance, with more expensive boards being chosen because they offer higher performance.
Other reasons given by professional users for choosing a specific SBC varied, but included:
Software
IDE
Quality
Community
Linux
Connectivity
Compatibility
The professional engineer's wish list
The SBC format is constantly evolving. As new processors become available, manufacturers are using the SBC to get their products into the hands of engineers. Professionals appreciate this but, as engineers, also have a list of features they would like integrated into future boards.
These features include higher performance to support on-board AI. Many of the newest processors and even some microcontrollers now feature AI accelerators to put the intelligence at the very edge. Examples include the Ultra96-V2 from Avnet. Built around an AMD Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC it is based on the Linaro 96Boards Consumer Edition (CE) specification. Target applications include artificial intelligence and machine learning. There is an online support community for the board, hosted by element14, which provides a place for engineers to ask questions, learn answers and contribute to the community.