Define the product
Confirm users, mechanism, loads, sensors, connectivity, power, environment, and target markets.
- Product requirement brief
- I/O, load, and power table
- Risk and compliance targets
From product behavior to board design
Smart pet devices.PCBA development.
Explore 10 reference designs for feeders, litter boxes, trackers, and connected pet products. Compare the electronics, firmware, and tests your project needs before committing to a design.
Start with your product brief or existing design files.
ArchitecturePower trees, interfaces, control states, protection.
FirmwareState machines, diagnostics, calibration, recovery.
ValidationFunctional, fault, lifecycle, environment, EMC.
ProductionDFM/DFT, programming, FCT, revision traceability.
A1 · Open hardware controllerOpen hardware development project · A1
Smart litter-box controller.
A board design you can inspect.
Explore the STM32G0 + ESP32-C3 architecture, DRV8876 motor drive, ADS1232 weighing front end and hardware-interlock design. Editable KiCad source, connector definitions and engineering audits are shared under CERN-OHL-P-2.0.
KiCad source ZIPCERN-OHL-P-2.0Motor · weighing · interlocks
Pet tracker PCBA · PET-TRACKER-V05
A compact pet tracker.
45 × 35 mm to build around.
Explore the SIM7080G cellular/GNSS architecture, STM32 control, motion sensing and single-cell battery design. View the double-sided layout, antenna connections and compact 45 × 35 mm board.
45 × 35 mm · four layersCellular · GNSS · motionSingle-cell battery power
Find a starting point for your product.
Find your application, compare the main design risk, and open the engineering notes for architecture and validation details.
Application architecture matrix
Different products. Different design priorities.
Compare the loads, sensors, connections, and failure conditions that shape each design.
Swipe horizontally to compare sensing, connectivity, and risk columns.
| Application family | Typical control load | Key sensing | Connectivity | Risk to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feeding & water | Geared motor, pump, heater | Level, temperature, blockage | Optional Wi-Fi / BLE | Dry-run, liquid separation, repeatable portions |
| Litter automation | Drum or rake motor | Presence, weight, position, current | Wi-Fi / BLE reporting | Pet detection, pinch or jam, fault recovery |
| Tracking & health | Battery-powered radio and sensors | GNSS, motion, battery, antenna state | Cellular / GNSS / BLE | Battery life, body-adjacent RF, ingress, privacy |
| Vision & care | Video SoC, IR, audio, pan-tilt | Image, audio, storage, temperature | Wi-Fi / Ethernet | Thermals, cybersecurity, storage endurance |
| Access & safety | Lock, door actuator, loop transmitter | Identity, position, obstruction, loop current | RFID / BLE / low frequency | Anti-pinch, power-fail state, outdoor exposure |
From a reference board to your product
A useful reference shortens discovery, but the product still needs defined requirements, controlled interfaces, engineering evidence, and release files for its real enclosure and mechanism.
Build the architecture
Lock power trees, interfaces, protection, control states, diagnostics, and service strategy.
- System block diagram
- Interface and protection matrix
- Firmware state and fault model
Prototype and validate
Use engineering samples, fixtures, fault injection, lifecycle cycles, and environmental checks.
- EVT / DVT engineering samples
- Functional and fault test reports
- Thermal, EMC, and lifecycle evidence
Release for production
Complete DFM/DFT, approved BOM, programming, test limits, work instructions, and revision control.
- Gerber, BOM, firmware release
- Programming and FCT package
- Revision-controlled handoff
Engineering support behind the examples
Define the hardware, firmware, and production deliverables for your project. Scope and acceptance criteria are agreed during review.
Electronics and power
- MCU, sensors, motor and pump drive
- Battery, adapter, and protection design
- RF, antenna, display, audio, and camera interfaces
- Thermal, ESD, and liquid-environment planning
Firmware and connectivity
- State machines and fault recovery
- Low-power, schedule, and calibration logic
- Wi-Fi, BLE, cellular, GNSS, and OTA planning
- Device identity, privacy, and update controls
Verification and release
- Functional and single-fault test plans
- Mechanism, lifecycle, and environmental validation
- DFM/DFT, fixtures, programming, and FCT
- BOM, firmware, label, and revision traceability
About these references
Representative boards and design considerations. Functions and performance require verification against your schematic, firmware, and samples.
Using the reference library
What the library demonstrates
Application understanding, architecture decomposition, risk identification, verification planning, and the engineering handoff needed for a custom PCBA program.
What it does not claim
Reference images and visible brands are used for technical analysis. They do not imply endorsement, affiliation, an existing customer project, verified certification, or measured performance. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Let’s scope your next product
Your concept.
A clear next step.
Tell us what the device should do, your project stage, and expected quantity. Include existing schematics, an enclosure drawing, or a reference ID if you have one.
Start with a short brief. Add files when available.
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