Introducing WeAct STM32G4: Tiny Development Board with Versatile Microcontroller Options

The WeAct STM32G4 is a compact development board that utilizes the STMicro STM32G4 Arm Cortex-M4F mixed-signal microcontroller. This microcontroller operates at a clock speed of 170 MHz and comes equipped with DSP (Digital Signal Processing) instructions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Key features of the WeAct STM32G4 board include:

• Microcontroller: It is based on the STM32G4 microcontroller, which is known for its mixed-signal capabilities, making it ideal for applications such as motor control, building automation, lighting control, digital power meters, and more.
• Compact Size: The board is designed to be tiny, making it convenient for prototyping and integration into space-constrained projects.
• High Performance: With a clock speed of 170 MHz, the STM32G4 microcontroller delivers high processing power and efficiency for real-time applications.
• Mixed-Signal Capabilities: The microcontroller’s mixed-signal architecture enables it to handle analog and digital signals simultaneously, making it versatile for a wide range of tasks.

The WeAct STM32G4 development board is available in two versions, each powered by a different STM32 microcontroller. The first version features an STM32G474CEU6 “Hi-resolution line” microcontroller with 128KB RAM and 512KB flash memory, making it suitable for applications requiring higher processing power and memory capacity. On the other hand, the second version is equipped with an STM32G431CBU6 “Access Line” MCU, offering 32KB RAM and 128KB flash memory, which is more suitable for basic applications with lower memory and processing requirements. Both versions of the board come with a USB-C port for power supply and programming, three buttons for user interaction or control, and two 24-pin headers for connecting peripherals and expansion modules. These features make the WeAct STM32G4 board versatile and adaptable to a wide range of projects, from simple applications to those demanding higher performance and memory capabilities.

The WeAct STM32G4 development board is available with two microcontroller options:

• STMicro STM32G431CBU6: Arm Cortex-M4F MCU @ 170 MHz with DSP instructions, 32KB RAM, and 128KB flash.
• STMicro STM32G474CEU6: Arm Cortex-M4F MCU @ 170 MHz with DSP instructions, 128KB RAM, and 512KB flash; includes a high-resolution timer and complex waveform builder plus event handler (HRTIM) for digital power conversion applications.

Additional features include:

• 1x USB Type-C port for power and programming.
• 2x 24-pin headers with GPIOs, ADC, DAC, I2C, USART, LPUART, OAmp, CAN Bus, timer outputs, etc.
• 4-pin SWD header for debugging.
• Compact size: 36.28 x 28.14 mm.
• Power supply support from 3.3V to 20V DC via USB-C port.
• MicrOne ME6216A33XG voltage regulator providing 3.3V output.

WeAct Studio does provide the PDF schematics, the STM32G4 datasheet, and TRM, some code samples (Blink, ADC, RTC, MSC, SPI flash), and the WeAct Studio Download Tool (Windows only) to flash the firmware via USB or UART. You’ll find those resources on GitHub for both the value line board and the hi-resolution line board, but most people will need to check the tools and documentation on the STMicro website as well.

The other benefit of those boards is their price, the board goes for $2.92 and $5.79 for the STM32G431CBU6 and STM32G474CEU6 models respectively, including GPIO and SWD headers, but not shipping which adds about $1 in my case. For reference, the official STMicro NUCLEO-G491RE board is sold for $15.

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