Compulab RoboDesigner is a new web-based tool and service that allows you to design and or a custom SBC using one of Compulab’s system-on-module within about one hour instead of going through the more lengthy process of designing a carrier board by yourself.
I’ve given it a try, and it’s really easy to use even if you don’t have any engineering skills. It’s very similar to Gumstix Geppetoo introduced in 2013 for Overo SoMs, and now called Upverter with support for a wider range of modules including Raspberry Pi Compute Modules.
The first step is to go to https://robo-designer.com/ and click on Select Functions. Right now, the selection of SoMs is rather limited because there’s only one: CMiMX8M C-Lab CORE with an NXP i.MX 8M Mini processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 16GB eMMC flash.
You can then select the I/O modules you want from the list with the remaining resources available shown on the left along with the configuration price.
RoboDesigner will let you know if you select impossible combinations such as asking for a mini PCIe socket and an Intel AX210 WiFi module since there’s only one PCIe interface on the NXP i.MX 8M Mini SoC. Open you’re done you can click on Open Layout Designer.
You can double-click on the modules to have them placed automatically on the board, or drag and drop them where you want them to be. It’s also possible to add mounting holes and resize the board, something I have done… Again the price is updated as I/O modules are placed on the board. The next step is to click on Review DXF & 3D to check 2D or 3D views of the board and download the DXF and STEP files.
After that, I click on Build routing. It will automatically route the signal on the board and that’s the lengthier part of the process that requires multiple routing and optimization passes. It took around 15 minutes in my case.
We can now click on Save Routing to make sure we don’t need to go through it again before ordering. Nothing happened when I clicked on “Export Gerber“, so there are still a few bugs here and there.
The final step is to click on Ask to Manufacture which will also run the Routing process if not already done. You can order the first few prototypes for testing (2 recommended), and my design would have cost me $732 for two boards. The unit price for mass production would be quite lower at around $153, and I haven’t resized the board which would save a few extra dollars. The wizard will ask to confirm details like your name and address before completing payment though PayPal with a credit card or your balance.
After checks and approval by Compulab’s engineering department, the PCB manufacturing process starts, the board is assembled, and the SoM is programmed with the operating system before shipment to the customer.
While RoboDesigner only supports Compulab NXP iMX8 and (soon) iMX9 SoMs, the company plans to expand the library with COM Express, Nvidia Jetson, and Arm SoMs from other manufacturers. I assume Raspberry Pi Compute Modules will eventually be supported, so it will offer a more direct alternative to the Upverter service.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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