The Embedded System, at the core, is centered around a Hardware Platform and there is no one solution or platform which can solve all problems or hit all the performance objectives. The good news is, the industry has a solution for every challenge and the bad news, the number of solutions available is overwhelming. Our philosophy is to keep the final solution as simple of possible for a given requirement, while also insuring a highly reliable solution which can be resourced well into the future. This typically translates into a strategy we have dubbed as “Design by Mouser“! They are one of three or four major lower volume suppliers of electronic components, cables and enclosures and a great resource of tried and true technologies which will be available for the long-haul. The other important aspect for embedded hardware are the tools available and how easy are they are to use. It is very important the software tools are industry standard based, easy to load up and have a decent set of debug features. Overhead is always a concern here, so balancing the software environment with the task to be accomplished is a must.
The Hardware Platform Space we play in mostly is as follows:
Development Environment / Proof of Concepts: All of our favorite suppliers have development environments which allow us to experiment with ideas in both the hardware and software space. Shown below is just one example, which is of the powerful Microchip PICC32 micro-controller family. Follow this link for their Amazon page, which is a great place to start. Microchip embedded hardware is an attractive option because we know they will be around for a very long time, they offer great support and we have a lot of experience working with their solutions.
Industry Standard Platforms: Many times, especially in proof of concept or training environments such as STEM, you can both start with a Standard Platform and end with it. Of course, there are many to choose from in this space. However, following our “will be around for a long time” strategy, we recommend one of these three embedded hardware platforms.
Arduino: You can’t finish typing the word robotics in a google search bar before the word Arduino pops up. This platform is extremely easy to use and get started and there are many tutorials and educational materials available. It is a great solution for teaching and within the STEM world. It is not a solution recommend for the Industrial Markets or Consumer Markets as they are not designed to meet compliance requirements across the large spectrum. However, if you want to dip your toe into the world of embedded hardware and learn, this is a great first step! Shown below is just one example of an Arduino embedded hardware platform. Follow this link for their Amazon page, which is a great place to start.
Raspberry PI: If working with media and video is something you want to experiment with quickly, the Raspberry PI is the way to go. These embedded hardware solutions are packed with digital video options and have become a staple in the space. Plenty of standards based tools and hardware interfaces to work with to keep you challenged for a very long time. Shown below is just one example of an Raspberry PI embedded hardware platform. Follow this link for their Amazon page, which is a great place to start.
Beaglebone: if you are looking to get a quick start on an embedded hardware design for the Industrial Space, this gem is the place to start. The Beaglebone series offers a fantastic array of quick start solutions for the Internet of Things space, Sensor development and Communications of all sorts. Its is also the quickest solution to setup for any of the three major programming languages used today; C, Python and Javascript. There is not a need to install a separate real time operating system, if needed, as everything runs on a Linux kernel. Shown below is just one example of an Beaglebone embedded hardware platform, the Beaglebone Black. Follow this link for their Amazon page, which is a great place to start.
Custom Design: In the end, after the prototype phase is complete, a custom design is often required. No worries, we work with industry standard tools to design the final solution along with working with local manufactures and mechanical designers to complete those aspects outside of specialty.
