The PROBoter platform, developed as part of a master's thesis at SCHUTZWERK in cooperation with Hochschule Kempten, automates tedious manual tasks in embedded system security analysis. This open-source hardware and software platform addresses the time-consuming nature of PCB security testing by providing automated probing capabilities with up to four independent probes and integrated camera systems for high-resolution PCB imaging.

Traditional PCB security analysis requires manual visual inspection, component identification, and electrical probing - tasks that become exponentially more difficult when examining multiple hardware revisions. The PROBoter tackles these challenges through automated calibration, visual PCB analysis using Neural Networks for component localization, and click-and-probe software that handles image generation and analysis. The platform's simple construction using standard parts and 3D-printed components makes it easily replicable and cost-efficient.

By automating the workflow from initial PCB imaging through component identification and electrical signal analysis, PROBoter allows security analysts to focus on actual security testing rather than tedious manual processes. The platform can identify communication buses, reconstruct hidden connections in multi-layer PCBs, and even assist with pin functionality identification when documentation is lacking. All hardware designs and software are available in the PROBoter Github repository, making this powerful automation tool accessible to the security research community.