Documentation:Development kits
From AVRFreaks Wiki
Development Kits for the Atmel 8-Bit AVR.
Development Kits are multi-function platforms for device exploration, programming and firmware development. Separate sections discuss prototype boards, board-level products, programming interfaces and debugging interfaces.
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[edit] Atmel
[edit] STK500
The STK500 (USD 79) is the entry-level workhorse for AVR development. While it is a bit dated, its LEDs and switches help to get started rapidly. It has sockets for most AVR devices in DIP packages from 8 to 40 pins and facilities for programming them using the ISP and high-voltage methods. ISP can be used for off-board hardware. I/O Ports are brought to 10-pin headers at the front of the board and can be cabled to the on-board push-button switches or LEDs and/or to off-board hardware. Expansion connectors allow a much smaller board to be stacked above the STK500 for additional functionality and on-board support for AVR devices in different packages.
The STK500 has no breadboarding space, but an STK500 Expansion Board is available from ECROS Technology that plugs into the expansion connectors.
The STK500 has no built-in debugging interface. Some available expansion boards, such as the STK501 and the above-mentioned ECROS Technology expansion board, include a JTAG connector to which an external JTAG interface can be connected.
[edit] STK600
The STK600 (199 USD, excluding socket and adapter boards) "... is a complete starter kit and development system for the AVR and AVR32 flash microcontrollers from ATMEL Corporation. It is designed to give designers a quick start to develop code on the AVR, combined with advanced features for using the starter kit to prototype and test new designs. STK600 is shipped with a ATmega2560 device board. Socket and adapter boards are available for the whole range of AVR's, from 8- to 144-pins devices."
[edit] AVR Butterfly
The AVR Butterfly (USD 20) is a compact demonstration and evaluation platform for the ATmega169. It shows off this device's ability to drive an LCD display and adds a joystick, temperature sensor, speaker, analog input and (on older versions) a light sensor. It comes loaded with demonstration software exercising all these capabilities and a "bootloader" so that you can replace this with your own firmware without the need for a programming interface device.
By soldering on 10-pin headers (not supplied), you can connect external hardware to the AVR Butterfly, program it with an ISP interface and perform on-chip debug of your firmware with a JTAG interface. The Butterfly Carrier from ECROS Technology (also available from Smiley Micros) provides a robust base for expanding the AVR Butterfly and includes a large protyping area.
[edit] AVR RZ Raven
The AVR RZ Raven (USD 100) is a compact demonstration and evaluation platform for wireless communication with Atmel chips. On a small board, similar to the Butterfly, it features a 2.4Ghz radio transceiver (AT86RF230) and two AVR's (ATmega1284P and ATmega3280P). On the board you find an antenna, LCD, joystick, speaker, microphone and temp-sensor as well.
[edit] Third-Party
[edit] Dragon Rider 500
The Dragon Rider 500 (USD 12 and up) from ECROS Technology turns the Atmel AVR Dragon into a Development and Prototyping System comparable to the STK500. The Dragon Rider attaches to the top of the AVR Dragon and has four sockets for a variety of target microcontrollers. At the front edge are Atmel-style 10-pin headers for the general-purpose I/O ports. There is a power switch and reset button. Several options and the Dragon programming interfaces are configured by headers and shunts (not by wire jumpers). Advanced features include a socketted crystal with load capacitors and a precision voltage reference. Add-on features are a bank of six buffered LEDs, five push-button switches arranged in an up/down/left/right diamond plus enter, a serial interface with on-board DB9 connector, a flexible auxiliary power supply and a 2 line by 16 character LCD.
[edit] See Also
- avrfreaks.net tools section (more hardware and software tools for the 8-Bit AVR)
- Atmel Tools Overview (a nice writeup of the different official AVR development tools in the AVRfreaks tutorials forum)
