Accelerate the development of the STM32G4 microcontroller with support for new exploration kits and firmware

     STMicroelectronics has increased support for the development of the STM32G4 microcontroller with the release of the Discovery Suite for Digital Power and Motor Control, and the addition of new firmware examples in the latest STM32CubeG4 package (v 1.1.0). Help developers explore digital power and motor control issues for applications such as competitive drones, professional drones, and small electric vehicles.

     The B-G474E-DPOW1 Discovery Suite is a full-featured digital power development platform that includes the STM32G474RE microcontroller, buck-boost converter with on-board resistive load, high-brightness RGB LED controller, user LED indicators and buttons, flexible power and data interfaces, and debug programming ports. Users can explore the microcontroller's filter math Accelerator (FMAC), which handles features such as 3p/3z compensation to ensure high energy efficiency over the load range, as well as the digital slope compensation feature to free up CPU clock cycles in applications such as lighting.

     The B-G431B-ESC1 Discovery Kit is a fully functional electronic Motor Speed control (ESC) reference design for three-phase brushless DC motors (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) up to 40A. The assembly consists of an STM32G431CB microcontroller and a three-phase motor drive stage with STripFET F7 power MOSFET tube that can handle senserless vector control algorithm (FOC) or six-step reversing control. On-board features include electrical protection, thermal protection, interlocking high-low side drivers, support for motor sensors and three-shunt resistance current detection. For example, the compact size allows hobbyists to remove the STLINK subboard and use the controller directly in the application. The kit supports the X-CUBE-MCSDK v5.4.1 motor Control SDK and is targeted at drones, small electric vehicles and radio-controlled vehicles powered by battery packs up to 6S LiPo.

     The STM32G4 series now brings a new package option to the STM32 product family: The 128-pin 14x14 LQFP package, the first pin-over 100 package in the STM32 G4 series, has the same package area as the existing LQFP100 package, and more pin ports give users more flexibility to handle I/ O-intensive tasks. The STM32G4 microcontroller is powerful and integrates rich analog capabilities, high-resolution timers, secure real-time firmware upgrade dual-zone flash memory, low dynamic power (160μA/ MHz) mode and 125°C maximum (ambient) temperature options for motor control, digital power and instrumentation applications in consumer electronics and industry.

     This powerful family of microcontrollers is based on the 170MHz Arm® Cortex®-M4F processor core, The integration of proprietary innovations such as ST's adaptive real-time ART Accelerator™ accelerator, CCM-SRAM Routine Booster accelerator, and new FMAC and Triangular CORDIC hardware accelerators enables superior overall application and real-time control performance with high energy efficiency.