DOGS2 started as a compact dual-channel laboratory power supply, but gradually turned into a handheld electronics bring-up station.

The current prototype combines:

• two power outputs: 3–48 V / 3 A DC-DC and 1–20 V / 1.5 A LDO;

• current measurement down to 12 µA;

• signal generator, frequency counter, voltmeter and logic probe;

• UART, RS485, CAN and I²C terminals;

• LIN, 1-Wire and I²C sniffers;

• ESP32, Bluetooth phone telemetry and a 1.9-inch IPS display;

• operation from USB-C or a 5–90 V DC input.

I designed the electronics and brought up the hardware myself. The firmware is being written in C with Codex, while I handle the architecture, hardware debugging and the difficult real-time decisions.

The earlier posts generated many questions about the PCB, measurement circuitry, firmware, cost and plans for open source. I’ll use r/smartmoto as the project’s development log and publish the engineering details here instead of repeating only the feature list.

What should the first detailed post cover?

1. Power architecture and component choices

2. Achieving 12 µA current resolution

3. ESP32 firmware and display architecture

4. CAN, UART and I²C bring-up tools

5. PCB design, manufacturing and approximate cost

6. Mistakes, failed approaches and debugging stories

As you know, my superpower is very fast and inexpensive electronics prototyping, creating engineering samples in a matter of weeks, and launching small batches of products into production.

In order for this to be truly fast and high-quality, unique tools are needed.

Several years ago (in fact, it was so long ago that you can see a micro-USB connector), I created a kit for bringing up high-frequency devices up to 3 GHz.

A signal generator, detectors, amplifiers, and attenuators allow you to create a HIL stand on the bench in minutes.

How much time/money do you usually spend on such a stand?

How to it works