Seeking Feedback on The Historically Low Number of Applications for Power-Focused Roadtests

I think it's not easy to evaluate a smps, you need instruments, time, experience, so it's a difficult roadtest

Depending on what kind of power we're talking, I could do Roadtests on power related stuff. I answered about them closing before I could apply (don't have time to check frequently balancing 2 jobs to my free time I've been using to experiment on Operating Systems lately). As winter is coming along for my area, one job will slow down allowing more free time, which in turn would also allow for me to personally play with power related items (12/24V items would be up my ally). Now that I'm getting more free time I did see the MPS and ROHM items were a thing, sadly I did miss them. I have done one of the PAN item tests and most of it was somewhat out of my league, I have a VERY basic understanding of programming when it comes to things. I'm more for plug it in/solder it up/power it up/function test things. The ROHM 8 channel DC/DC converter had me interested for a few ideas and a couple for the MPS 4 channel OPM.

I guess I'll have to check more often and shy away from the PAN items this time lol.

The products I design are mostly low power and battery operated. I stick to certain procedure while designing the power management. I haven't had any need for other power management product. Maybe if need arises, I'll look up the reviews to decide what I want rather than taking a piece with me without knowing how to use it.

It's almost always the instruments. To do proper power supply analysis you need a Venable or a oscilloscope with a bode plotter Low end scopes do not have this functionality,

Also function generator and loads as well as current /voltage meter plus cables.

I would think designing a simple buck or chopper requires more know how than simply copy pasting a reference design for an MCU or even an FPGA.

Not many digital designers are aware of subharmonic oscillations or loop compensation.

It is a matter of statistics, objects such as power supplies are very interesting to test and can be useful, unfortunately, the statistics speak for themselves, for 3 power supplies like TTi, and many participants the probability of winning is very low.

How many buy a scratch card ticket by spending money and knowing that 95% of you would be part of the excluded users?

I tried to test Infineon's gate driver (Infineon 3-phase Motor Drive with FOC), but it was a disaster, poor documentation, and out of date. The product must be tested and evaluated without the support of the company that offers it for free, in many cases when the kit does not work you have to contact the company through Element14, otherwise, you are not even taken into consideration, as happened with me with the kit by Infineon. Customer support is also an evaluation topic, which in all tests is the product and not the assistance.

I don't have the  expertise to evaluate power ... I also do not have the proper equipment available to me at this time. I am a retired software engineer, and I've been evaluating embedded software development on various MCU evaluation kits.

My apprehension for applying on Power-Focused RoadTest is the availability of test equipment.

Measuring power output parameters requires test equipment. I recall one applicant using the device to build a vehicle power supply for a Raspberry Pi. Now I thought that was a novel project and enjoyed the review but didn't see the great value to the suppliers.

As makers we have the ability to take RoadTest products and turn them into project. The output generated has to provide some value back to the supplier in my opinion.

I have read LG Gough Lui power related reviews and feel the test capabilities make the review.

In my experience performing a Road Test takes a significant amount of time.  From developing a winning proposal, to conducting and documenting tests, to writing up and posting blogs and reviews I estimate I spend somewhere between 50 to 100 hours on most Road Tests.

I do Road Tests because I enjoy the work and the rewards are awesome, but still, I have choose the tests I apply for carefully because, even in retirement, I have limited time to devote to hobbies.  I know test equipment fairly well.  I am interested in other types of Road Tests including power related evaluation kits, but I also know that I may have to devote additional time to learn a new technology or vendor ecosystem in order to generate a worthy Road Test for the community.  To make this additional commitment I would need to be pretty sure the effort will also pay off for me in terms of new skills I can use in my hobby projects.

So far, that has not been the case.

In 2020 you have run a poll What Products Do You Want To See Roadtested?  I don't know how much of what respondents proposed then were included in roadtests following the poll. New interesting products are launched every week and not many get in the roadtest list.

I understand that part of the proposed roadtests are the result of companies wish to see the product tested in this community. Others I guess are selected by Randall and his colleagues based on other reasons. I think that this kind of poll could be run periodically as a method to collect good ideas of products to be roadtested.

I have also chosen roadtests based on my interest in the product (because it incorporates a new technology I would like to test and learn or because I cannot afford to buy my self that product in order to test it), based on the knowledge I already had,  a guarantee that I can deliver the roadtest on time,  and also based on available time to do the roadtest (I skipped many roadtests I was interested in just because they were launched at a time when I was very busy). 

Fred,

You've supported and participated in the Roadtest program in a big way. I really do appreciate it. Thanks for mentioning your motivators.  This feedback is really useful.

For me, I am trying to get a better handle on products that the members want to roadtest and the products that suppliers want roadtested.  I sometimes am given an option or can ask for a different product to roadtest. When I am not given an option, I need to communicate realistic expectations of number of applicants, etc.

I have always got the sense that our members are busy people and sometimes are not available. So the question arises how many roadtests should I be launching a month. But that's a question for perhaps another discussion.

Thanks!

Randall