Design and Development of ZEDX: A Low-Cost Hybrid FPGA–ARM Evaluation Platform for Embedded SoC Applications

This research presents a low-cost hybrid FPGA–ARM evaluation platform, called ZEDX, based on the Xilinx ZYNQ-7000 SoC, that allows complete access to its processing and programmable logic sections. It thus allows full hardware–software co-design for embedded applications. ZEDX also implements UART, RS-485, Ethernet, LCD, and SD card interfaces, satisfying the needs of rapid prototyping and academic learning. Experimental validation shows 95% efficiency and approximately 75% cost reduction compared to commercial FPGA–ARM boards, positioning ZEDX as a cost-effective and scalable solution for research and educational environments.