Tiny USB 3.0 Hub

Open source, tiny (~penny-sized) USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 hub for distributed sensing applications.

Documentation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4f5b7Dc3Jj556MIkbM53eZpJiqbKlDK-BqDew--iZo/edit?usp=sharing

Description

• A tiny (penny-sized) 4-port USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 hub designed for distributed sensing networks.

• Supports USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, with 5 Gbps SuperSpeed bandwidth using the TI TUSB8041.

• Features individual port power control, ESD protection, and can operate as bus-powered or with external power.

• Built on a 4-layer PCB (27.5 × 36.5 mm) optimized for signal integrity, heat dissipation, and high-speed differential pair routing.

• Designed for integration into size- and weight-constrained systems such as whole-body sensing networks on free-space vine robots.

• Fully open-source, with schematics, PCB, and test scripts available.

Learning Outcomes

1. Technical Skills & Knowledge

• High-speed PCB design: USB 3.0 impedance matching, intra-/inter-pair skew, signal integrity

• Development using TI TUSB8041 and debugging using the official TUSB8041EVM dev board

• Power distribution, current handling, and protection circuitry (OC, ESD)

• Thermal analysis, voltage rail diagnostics, and bring-up troubleshooting

• Prototyping and testing with multiple USB cameras and scripted tools (e.g., OpenCV)

2. General Project/Practical Skills

• Systems Engineering: High-frequency electronics design, testing, and iteration under tight space constraints

• Failure analysis and debugging: Hardware bring-up with thermal and electrical diagnostics

• Documentation and collaboration: Detailed technical documentation, lab notes, and presentation of results

• Open-source hardware development: BOM optimization, manufacturability for small-scale assembly (e.g., JLCPCB)