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How Would You RoadTest a Powerful Microcontroller Designed for EV Charging, e-Bikes and Robotics?

rscasny

imageHi All.

I have been in conversation with a roadtest sponsor who is excited to have the community test in the coming year a powerful microcontroller that's designed for industrial applications including VFDs, electrical vehicle (EV) charging, two-wheel electrical vehicles (e-bikes) and robotics. I want to tell you a little about it and give you some resources to review. I'm seeking some ideas of how community members would roadtest the kit. This is important because, in my initial conversation with them, they were wondering what else would be needed to be provided with the kit. Ex. Motor? Sensors? Other?

The kit is based on the Infineon XMC7200 microcontroller and part of the family of XMC7000 microcontrollers, which offer single and dual core options of 350-MHz 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M7 and a 100-MHz 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M0+, up to 8 MB of embedded flash and 1 MB of on-chip SRAM. The products operate from 2.7 to 5.5 V and achieve full specification from -40°C to 125°C.

For More Information About The Kit

You would get the following in the kit:

  • XMC7200 evaluation board
  • USB Type-A to Mirco-B cable
  • 12V/3A DC power adapter with additional blades
  • Six jumper wires (five inches each)
  • Quick start guide
  • Other--what else would you need?

Here are some documents for further study:

Feel free to offer your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

  • As others, I'm impressed with what the microcontroller is offering, even more so by the evaluation kit board. I mean it has gigabit ethernet, an M.2 slot, numerous connectors, even some compatible with Arduino.

    To be able to test it, I would certainly need some guidance as to what it can do and what the seller is expecting from us. Especially considering that I don't have an EV at hand, nor any robot arm or the like. I do have 5V motors and a few low level ideas, but I don't think this would do any justice to the kit.

    In the end, I feel that this is not targeted to my audience (advanced hobbyist) but I'll be sure to read the reviews from more experienced users.

  • in reply to obones

    Not sure this controller needs to be applied to an EV, robot, or an eBike to be an effective and interesting road test.

    The 350Mhz 32 bit maybe could be used as a retrogame console, a really smart LED lamp or other helpful appliance. 

  • Very interesting product! I suppose the question is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string.

    Personally, the only aspect of the product I am interested in experimenting with is how to keep the linux penguins goofing off in the cortex-M7’s from touching the ADC’s being used by a real-time motor control loop running on the cortex-M0.

    Regardless, I’m excited to see some of these over moon road-test plans!

  • rscasny said:
    they were wondering what else would be needed

    How would Infineon feel about funding specific projects rather than general parts?

    These could maybe be extended projects instead of quick road tests.

    I would be interested in seeing @robogary’s RC power wheels tank as well as @dougw ‘s electric bicycle project, for example.

  • in reply to ntewinkel

    Kind of what I mean is: can a road test application include a BOM request, or request to cover other specific expenses?

  • This is great product.

    One thing that I came across before is this HomePlug Green PHY 1.1 specification, which relates to using the powerline as the communication medium.

    Some/many/all? EV chargers use it. So I am not sure if applicable here to incorporate with testing.

    I would still be curious to know whether this is something Infineon provide or could be incorporated within this board or would have to use an external module etc.

    www.edmi-meters.com/.../HPGP-Brochure-English.pdf

  • Going to ask a less than knowledgeable question: is this kit a breakout board primarily used to explore the capabilities of the XMC7200 in power applications? The board itself would not be incorporated into a project yes/no?

  • in reply to colporteur

    Yes. There's no power electronics / charging circuit in this kit. It has the right parts to build the brains for such a system. Not the muscles.

    In the real world, the XMC7200, and some of the peripherals, would be inside your smart charger design. The Debugger, the pcb, and some other supporting parts that make evaluation easier, would not have a place in the final design.

  • in reply to Jan Cumps

    Cool, a ready made breakout board. Outside my RoadTest Review capabilities. Be neat to work on a project that explores the chip deliverables. Thanks for the response.

  • There is a tremendous capability here, you could easily spend a year checking out all of the pieces and still not cover all of the potential here.

    Way beyond my current capabilities.

    I would suggest having the vendor identify a couple of key elements they want tested and then divvy those out to the road testers so they can concentrate testing the key elements.