A Different Kind of Test and Measurement Platform

Test and measurement equipment tends to accumulate on a workbench. An oscilloscope here, a signal generator there, maybe a spectrum analyzer if you are lucky. Red Pitaya took a different approach some years ago: put everything in one box and let software decide what it is.

With the arrival of the STEMlab Gen 2 hardware, that idea has matured further. The new book Experimenting with Red Pitaya STEMlab Gen 2 shows what you can actually do with it.

Hands-On Learning with Real Hardware

The book does not try to impress with specifications. Instead, it takes the practical route: connect the board, run code, look at signals, change things, and see what happens. Along the way, you move from simple measurements to more involved topics like FPGA-based processing and custom instrument design. Python and Vivado both make an appearance, but always in service of something tangible.

Zynq, FPGA, and Software-Defined Instruments

At its core, the Red Pitaya is a Zynq-based system, combining an ARM processor with FPGA fabric. That combination is what makes it interesting. You are not limited to using predefined instruments; you can build your own. The book leans into this by treating the platform as something to explore rather than something to operate.
 
Red Pitaya STEMlab 125-14 PRO Gen 2 Starter Kit (incl. Book)

Red Pitaya STEMlab Gen 2 Starter Kit for Immediate Use

If you prefer not to start from a bare board, there is also a bundle with the STEMlab 125-14 PRO Gen 2 and the necessary accessories. With 14-bit converters at 125 MS/s, it covers a large part of what you would normally need on the bench — but with the added option to reconfigure it when needed.

Compatible with Earlier Red Pitaya Platforms

Existing Red Pitaya users are not left out. The concepts carry over well, and the new material can be seen as a continuation of earlier work, including the Red Pitaya for Test and Measurement book. The hardware may have improved, but the idea remains the same.

In the end, this is less about learning how to use an instrument, and more about understanding how such an instrument can be built and modified.