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POLL - Which Of These Products Would You Be Interested in Roadtesting?

rscasny

I have been busy lining up products to be considered for roadtests this year. As in most years, this is a kind of back and forth process between what the sponsor would like roadtested and what element14's choices. I try to involve community members in this process. And that's what this poll/discussion is about.

I have a number of products I'd like to get your input on. It's very clear to me that roadtests take time, not only to complete the application entry form, but just to do it. The decision to roadtest has a lot of factors: need & desirability of the product, time & availability, work/school schedules, and more.

So, I have list a number of products below. I provided some basic information, link to more information. I'll follow up with more information for those polled as popular products.

If you have the time, I'd appreciate your input. I tried to make each poll short.

Thanks

Randall Scasny
RoadTest Program Manager

synchronous buck converter dual phase

Synchronous buck converter dual phase evaluation kit
datasheet

real time click

Real Time Clock Shield Eval Kit
Datasheet

accelerometer eval kit

Accelerometer Eval Board
Datasheet


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energy harvesting multisource demo board

Energy Harvesting (EH) multisource demonstration board
datasheet

energy measurement shield

Energy measurement shield (Arduino-compatible)
datasheet

charge pump with LDO negative eval board

Inverting charge pump with a negative LDO regulator evaluation board
datasheet

  • Interesting set of products. For some I would be interested in doing a road test, for some I would be interested in seeing road tests by others even though I wouldn't be applying to do the road test.

  • For me the power supply related items would be difficult to test. Am in two minds about "evaluation" kits, they can be a bit restrictive in their options.

  • Great product list.

    Unfortunately, the list highlights the need for test equipment like a power supply, meter and oscilloscope to participate in RoadTests. Simple projects limit extensive testing of these products so test equipment is important.

    The RTC gives me some hope.

  • in reply to Workshopshed

    I think you just clarified what it was about these items that didn't fit for me...

    Workshopshed said:
    An in two minds about "evaluation" kits

    Evaluation kits like that tend to only be good for evaluation... I prefer items I can directly use again for some oddball project in the future.

    I'm sure those who design hardware for a living will get better use from them than I could. That's why I didn't vote on any of them - it's not really something that's applicable to me as a hobbyist.

  • I was SO excited about the Energy Measurement Shield.  5A.  Is life capricious, or what?!  Still... the datasheet says it does power quality stuff - so I'll hang around.

    I'm glad to see the RTC shield in the mix.  Sometime the initially perceived as simple shows itself to be brilliant.  I'll be watching that one from the sidelines.

    Accelerometer.  I could give it a field test.

    I'm out on the buck converter.  36VDC isn't a normal supply voltage in my life.
    Energy Harvesting.  Cool but above my skill set.
    Charge pump.  No idea what to do with it.  

  • I'm extremely interested in the energy harvesting board as I have apps for it

  • in reply to colporteur

    Yes, these roadtests would need test equipment. Multimeter, o'scope, variable dc power supply, electronic load that you can vary or some other kind of load. What test equipment are you lacking?

  • in reply to ntewinkel

    I think you got it right. I think most of these products are eval boards for specific components that would be used in a circuit design. A smart meter design. a power supply for X, Y, Z circuit. Unless one would need these components, the eval board may not have a purpose after the roadtest. So, these boards would be for the hardware engineer,. However, it's early in the year and I am gathering ideas for roadtests of single board computers or products for the maker/hobbyist. Thanks for your comment.

  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Thanks for your comments. Great, honest, frank feedback. The best kind!

  • in reply to Workshopshed

    I can understand your feelings about eval kits being restrictive. I have noticed over the last several years not as much interest in power-oriented eval/dev boards than, say, an SBC, sensor board, even an FPGA board. Like I said to colporteur, one needs some test equipment. When I am in meetings with sponsors and we discuss power products, they talk about programmability, safety features, other features etc. Sometimes testing these  things don't seem like an exciting roadtest, especially if one is not designing power supplies. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.