Open Platform for Digital Design Learning on FPGA-based Systems

Abstract

In embedded systems a wide variety of applications can be solved or approached using different technologies, such as microcontrollers, FPGA, Systems on Chip (SoC), among others. Even though the volume of information and solutions available that focus on low cost based microcontrollers is quite vast, FPGA and SoC do not have as many resources readily available despite being essential for critical applications and also those in which higher speeds for data processing are required. Not only that, but the high cost of development boards, discontinuity between contents taught in higher education and knowledge required in practical fields, and overall lack of learning resources all add difficulty to any professional looking to specialize themselves in this field of knowledge. It is for this reason that this work proposes an Open Platform for Digital Design Learning on FPGA-based Systems, which looks to facilitate the learning process for any student or professional that wants to get started in this field. For this purpose this work proposes the following: a low-cost development board alongside a set of learning tools and examples which can fit both self-taught students and lecture-based learning environments, and the creation of a national collaboration network to give support to students and teachers who want to join and participate in the project.