COMP6420's 'Hackster' Hardware Platform

The Hackster is a bespoke hardware platform designed for the COMP6420 Hardware Security course. It features an ICE40 FPGA, an RP2040 “application” microcontroller running MicroPython, a high-speed ADC to measure the power consumption of the FPGA, EEPROM and an RTC peripheral, and a second RP2040 “programmer” microcontroller to manage the FPGA and power measurements.

The system block diagram below provides an overview of the major components on the Hackster board and how they are connected together. The FPGA is the main target of labs and assessments, with the programmer RP2040 managing the download of designs to the FPGA and the collection of power measurements from the ADC. The second “Application Microprocessor” (AppMicro) provides an optional interface for students to interact with their FPGA designs, alongside a port for optionally connecting a full Raspberry Pi. The EEPROM and RTC peripherals provide additional functionality for students to explore in their assignments and labs.

This platform is released open-source under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

You can find the design files and production files on the hackster GitHub repository.

For convenience, this is the direct link to the schematic PDF

If you’re interested in building your own Hackster board, you can use these files to do so. Alternatively, you can order a pre-assembled Hackster board for convenience. Please contact the course convenor for more details on how to obtain a Hackster board.