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Monday, August 4, 2025
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup B Match 14: Intel NUC vs Banana Pi
Sunday, August 3, 2025
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup A Match 4Arduino Mega 2560 vs Jetson Nano
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup B Match 13: Odroid XU4 vs Tinker Board
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup A Match 3Raspberry Pi 4 vs Orange Pi Zero 2
Saturday, August 2, 2025
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup B ,Match 12: LattePanda vs Banana Pi
Friday, August 1, 2025
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Grup A Match 2Jetson Nano vs BeagleBone Black
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup –Grup B Match 11: Tinker Board vs Intel NUC 11
🏆 Mini Computer World Cup – Match 11: Tinker Board vs Intel NUC 11
Final Score: Intel NUC 11 – 3 | Tinker Board – 1
The 11th match of the Mini Computer World Cup brought two vastly different machines face to face: the powerful Intel NUC 11, a compact desktop-class mini PC, and the agile ASUS Tinker Board, known for its embedded system capabilities. Despite the underdog spirit of the Tinker Board, the NUC 11's superior hardware made a strong impact from start to finish.
⚙️ Pre-Match Comparison
Tinker Board, equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A17 processor and 2GB RAM, is optimized for makers and enthusiasts who prioritize GPIO accessibility and hardware interfacing. It has gained popularity in the DIY community for its decent GPU (Mali-T764) and multimedia support.
On the other hand, Intel NUC 11, powered by 11th-gen Core i5/i7 processors, offers a desktop-grade experience in a small form factor. With up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, it's often used in applications that require high processing power such as media servers, mini workstations, or virtualization platforms.
🕹️ Match Summary
From the opening whistle, Intel NUC 11 dominated in raw performance. It completed multitasking and emulation benchmarks with ease, scoring early "goals" in the processing and graphical power categories. The Tinker Board responded with agility in boot times and GPIO latency tests, where its lean system architecture gave it a slight edge.
However, the NUC 11 regained control with superior thermal management and expandability, effectively "scoring" in the modularity and versatility sections. Its ability to handle high-resolution video editing and complex AI inference tasks added crucial points to its scoreboard.
The Tinker Board, despite putting up a valiant fight in energy efficiency and cost-to-performance ratio, couldn’t bridge the performance gap. Its lightweight Debian-based OS enabled it to handle IoT-focused workloads well, but the NUC’s desktop-caliber power proved too strong.
⚖️ Key Stats:
CPU Benchmarks: Intel NUC leads by over 70% performance margin.
GPU Performance: NUC Iris Xe GPU rendered 4K video at 60fps with ease.
GPIO & Boot Time: Tinker Board was 20% faster on average boot and GPIO reaction.
Thermal Efficiency: NUC remained stable under load thanks to active cooling.
🏁 Final Verdict
Intel NUC 11 wins 3-1 against the Tinker Board in a compelling clash of philosophies: brute-force performance versus embedded efficiency. While the Tinker Board shines in education, automation, and embedded systems, the NUC 11's overwhelming power and versatility make it the undisputed winner of this match.
With this victory, Intel NUC 11 strengthens its position in Group B and appears as a strong favorite for the knockout stages.
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Title: Mini Computer World Cup – Grup A Match 1: Raspberry Pi 4 vs Arduino Mega 2560
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
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Sunday, July 27, 2025
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Friday, July 25, 2025
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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
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Monday, July 21, 2025
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Saturday, July 19, 2025
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ESP32 ile Kablosuz LED Kontrolü (WiFi Üzerinden)
Friday, July 18, 2025
Arduino ile LED Yak-Söndür Projesi (Başlangıç Seviyesi)
Title: Developing a Fault-Tolerant HW4 Alternative: Electric Vehicle Control Hardware from Inonu University
1. Introduction: The Race Toward Resilient Automotive Hardware
As electric vehicles (EVs) grow increasingly complex, the central control systems responsible for managing propulsion, safety, autonomy, and communication demand higher reliability and adaptability. Tesla’s HW4 hardware marks a leap forward in this evolution—offering advanced compute and interface control—but it is also a closed and proprietary system. In response, engineers at Inonu University have designed a resilient alternative embedded system that targets similar capabilities while focusing on openness, adaptability, and fault tolerance.
This article explores the architecture, protection strategies, and MCU firmware adaptability of this HW4 alternative system—tailored for intelligent electric vehicles.
2. Engineering Vision from Inonu University
Located in eastern Türkiye, Inonu University’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering has become a quiet force in embedded system innovation. The team’s goal was not to clone Tesla’s HW4, but to design a modular, cost-effective, and industrial-grade EV controller that prioritizes safety and developer flexibility.
The project began by addressing critical concerns seen in commercial hardware:
- Unpredictable behavior during short-circuits
- Slow recovery from transient faults
- Difficulty adapting firmware to new MCUs during semiconductor shortages
3. Hardware Stack and System Architecture
The alternative hardware system features:
- A dual-core automotive-grade microcontroller (e.g., STM32H7 or NXP S32K series)
- High-speed CAN-FD, UART, LIN, and SPI interfaces
- Real-time clock and memory fault detection
- 12V DC input protected by active MOSFET switching
- Embedded RTOS kernel (FreeRTOS or Zephyr RTOS)
- Layered PCB with thermal zones for high-current circuits
One key design choice was separating the power regulation and logic control domains to avoid cascading failures during overloads. The PCB supports external TVS diodes at all IO ports and dual-path ground planes.
4. Short-Circuit Immunity and Power Integrity
Transient electrical faults can cripple EV systems. The Inonu system integrates:
- TVS diodes rated for <5ns clamping response
- N-channel MOSFETs with sub-microsecond turn-off time (
tr ≈ (Qg × Rg) / Vgs
) - Overcurrent detection via current-sense amplifier
- Fast recovery fuse modules (polymer-based)
During bench testing, a 10A/2µs simulated short was mitigated within 0.8µs. This is well below the threshold where critical MCU functions would lock or brown out.
5. MCU Firmware Portability and Migration Design
Unlike rigid systems, the Inonu EV controller supports MCU migration through a modular HAL (hardware abstraction layer). During chip shortages, engineers can:
- Switch from STM32 to NXP MCUs
- Re-map GPIO and interrupts
- Adjust CAN/SPI/ADC configurations
- Rebuild with RTOS modules in less than 1 week
Firmware compatibility was demonstrated with real-world code ported between STM32H750 and S32K344 platforms.
6. Real-Time OS Integration
The firmware stack runs on FreeRTOS (optional Zephyr). Services include:
- Task prioritization for motor control, diagnostics, and communication
- Watchdog timers with hardware reset fallback
- OTA (Over-the-Air) bootloader for updates
The real-time behavior was verified using logic analyzers and cycle-count tracing. ISR response times averaged below 50 µs, even under full system load.
7. Testing and Environmental Qualification
The system was subjected to:
- Short-circuit surge testing (10A peak)
- Voltage droop (down to 6V)
- Temperature extremes (-40°C to +85°C)
- Vibration and thermal cycling (automotive AEC-Q100 spec)
All tests were passed within industry-accepted margins, indicating robustness for Tier-2 EV use.
8. Benchmark vs. HW4 and Commercial Platforms
Feature | Inonu Alt. System | Tesla HW4 | STM32 EV Kits |
---|---|---|---|
Open Firmware | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Short-Circuit Immunity | ✅ (<1µs) | ✅ (<1µs) | ❌ (>5µs) |
Modular MCU Porting | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
RTOS Support | ✅ (FreeRTOS) | Partial | ✅ |
OTA Updates | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
9. Potential Applications and Future Development
Beyond EVs, this fault-tolerant embedded controller is applicable in:
- Aerospace subsystems (drone and cube satellite control)
- Autonomous ground vehicles
- Industrial robotic arms
- Smart agricultural machinery
The next phase of development includes:
- ISO 26262 functional safety certification
- CANOpen and Ethernet integration
- Custom silicon co-design (ASIC/FPGA hybrid)
10. Conclusion: Local Innovation with Global Reach
Inonu University’s HW4-inspired system isn’t just a regional academic project—it’s a viable path forward for developers seeking high-reliability embedded control with open access and modularity. It reflects a broader shift in embedded systems: from closed and rigid to flexible, resilient, and globally scalable.
As Tesla and others push the boundaries of automotive autonomy, alternatives like this one—born from the labs of Malatya—will play an important role in keeping innovation accessible.