UVigo Motorsport’s First Modular PCB

UVigo Motorsport is a Formula Student team from the University of Vigo. Each season, we design and build a new single-seater prototype, with the electronics department responsible for the low-voltage architecture, vehicle communication, data acquisition and control electronics.

For the 2025-2026 season, one of our main goals is to improve how we design and reuse our electronic systems. This led to our first modular PCB platform, formed by three main boards: the Processing Module, the Carrier Board and the ETC Expansion Module.

The idea behind this project is to separate the reusable processing hardware from the vehicle-specific circuitry. This approach helps us reduce repeated redesign work by using validated building blocks, while also making the system easier to maintain inside the team as members change over the years. In the long term, it also gives us more flexibility and helps reduce development cost.

1. Processing Module

The Processing Module is the reusable core of the system. It is based on an STM32H7A3RGT6 microcontroller and includes USB-C, microSD storage, SWD programming access and local power support. Its interfaces are exposed through mezzanine connectors, allowing it to be reused with different carrier boards.

This board was one of the most challenging parts of the platform, as it is a compact 30 mm x 30 mm PCB assembled on both sides. It also required careful routing for interfaces such as USB and microSD, where controlled impedance and stack-up definition are important. For this reason, Eurocircuits’ support was especially valuable, both for the controlled impedance manufacturing service and for the possibility of double-sided PCB assembly.

2. Carrier Board

The Carrier Board connects the Processing Module to the electrical environment of the car. It provides protected power input, voltage regulation, two CAN physical interfaces, analog acquisition, GPIO expansion, protected outputs and the interface for expansion modules.

This board was one of the most challenging parts of the platform, as it is a compact 30 mm x 30 mm PCB assembled on both sides. It also required careful routing for interfaces such as USB and microSD, where controlled impedance and stack-up definition are important. For this reason, Eurocircuits’ support was especially valuable, both for the controlled impedance manufacturing service and for the possibility of double-sided PCB assembly.

In practice, it acts as the link between the reusable core and the vehicle system.

3. ETC Expansion Module

The ETC Expansion Module is the first application-specific module developed for this platform. It is used for the electronic throttle control system and contains the regulated actuator power supply stage and protected actuator control.

UVigo Motorsport would like to thank Eurocircuits for supporting our project and for providing tools and manufacturing services that make this type of student project possible. For this PCB platform, the Eurocircuits Visualizer was especially useful, as it allowed us to check the PCB data before production and perform early DFM/DFA checks (Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly), reviewing manufacturability, assembly constraints, layer alignment, drills, footprints and component placement.

For more information please visit the Uvigo Motorsport website.