ARM and Partners to Support mbed Free OS for Cortex-M Designs

ARM has just announced the ARM mbed IoT DEvice Platform to 'simplify and speed up the creation and deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) products,' (see Oct. 1 press release).  The platform includes the mbed OS, mbed Device Server and the mbed.org website.  The open-source OS is currently available but under development to create a modern full-stack OS for ARM Cortex-M based MCUs.  The existing v2.0 is the starting point for the full platform release, v3.0, scheduled for ARM TechCon 2015.  For more details see the ARM mbed Blog post Announcing our plans for mbed v3.0 on the ARM mbed Developer Site. Many development boards are available to support mbed software development, most using processors fro NXP, STMicroelectronics and Freescale.  See the platforms page at the developer site for a complete list.  The images below show the $12.95 FRDM-KL25Z board, one of five Freescale Development Platforms with ARM mbed Enablement.

A partial list of ARM partners supporting mbed include Atmel, element14, Freescale, Marvell, NXP, Nordic semiconductor, Renesas, STMicroelectronics,  Semtech, Silicon Labs, u-blox and wot.io.

BeScope Dual Channel Analog Oscilloscope

The BeScope developed by Arrow is a two-channel analog oscilloscope system available for only $50 (USD) while supplies last.  The BeScope system supports real-time waveform analysis using an Altera Cyclone V FPGA. The BeScope Bundle includes a BeMirco CV Eval Kit (FPGA board), the BeScope daughter card, a 100MHz scope probe with 1x and 10x, a windows GUI written in python with source code, and an SDP interposer board for compatibility with Analog Devices evaluation boards.

BeagleBone Black Remote Debug With Eclipse

Here is my setup for BeagleBone Black remote debugging with eclipse on a Debian Wheezy host for a C/C++ application.

Updated on 5/18/2015: See this new post that has been updated for a Debian Jessie host, the latest BeagleBone Black sources and the latest stable eclipse packages.

I'm using Robert Nelson's debian wiki and Linaro and help from a few other sites (links are in the pdf).

Here is a google drive link to the shared pdf:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5EnqQWuojyCb0J3bDFLNzhMc2M/edit?usp=sharing

Update from Charles Hamilton's comment:

"on page 25 of the pdf, you have the BBB address as 192.168.2.7, and it should be 192.168.7.2."

Here is the end result showing the bbb_hellow_world.c debug session.

Getting Started with Audio Cape Revision B

UPDATE: CircuitCo has created a new page, BBB Audio Cape RevB Getting Started, that works out of the box with the Beaglebone Black RevC (I just tested on a new board).  It uses the debian flashed on the eMMC at the factory.  The directions below are for building your own debian Linux system and setting it up on the microSD.

I just started working with the new Audio Cape RevB from CircuitCo, I have revision B1.  I have tested it with a BeagleBone Black with PCB RevB5.  I know a few other people who might want to use this so I have summarized the steps to get audio output.  I haven't tested audio input yet, I might post that if it looks complicated.

To build u-boot, the Linux kernel and debian root filesystem, and set up on the BeagleBone Black, I used instructions from eewiki.net by Robert Nelson.  

http://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/BeagleBone+Black

A few notes on the process of building and setting up debian on a mini SD card from that page.

1. If you need to rebuild Linux, use the ./linux-dev/tools/rebuild.sh script.
2. Don't forget to unmount the SD before you remove it to boot the board.
   # sync
   # sudo umount /media/boot
   # sudo umount /media/rootfs
3. If you want to boot from SD only, delete the MLO file from the eMMC /boot/uboot directory.

Post installation steps.  

I can't access the serial port with the cape installed with my USB to serial cable, so I'm using ssh. Luckily I know what the IP address is so I don't need to remove the cape and reconnect serial.

$ ssh 192.168.0.113 -l root

# apt-get update

# apt-get install alsa-base alsa-utils

# aplay -L

null

Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)

default:CARD=Black http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/sound/sound_troubleshooting.htm

TI BeagleBone Black,

Default Audio Device

sysdefault:CARD=Black

TI BeagleBone Black,

Default Audio Device

Enable the audio cape at boot.

# sensible-editor /boot/uboot/uEnv.txt

Add this line or, if you have multiple optargs settings, combine them all onto one line.

## Enable Audio Rev B1 cape

optargs=capemgr.enable_partno=BB-BONE-AUDI-02

Next, reboot the board.   When it comes up you can see that HDMI is using the overlay without audio, BB-BONELT-HDMIN, instead of the normal HDMI with audio because of a conflict with the audio cape.

# dmesg | grep bone-capemgr | grep conflict -A 3
[    1.804057] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #5: BB-BONELT-HDMI conflict P9.25 (#7:BB-BONE-AUDI-02)
[    1.813631] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: slot #5: Failed verification
[    1.820367] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: loader: failed to load slot-5 BB-BONELT-HDMI:00A0 (prio 1)
[    1.829837] bone-capemgr bone_capemgr.9: loader: check slot-6 BB-BONELT-HDMIN:00A0 (prio 2)

# cat /sys/devices/bone_capemgr.*/slots

0: 54:PF---

1: 55:PF---

2: 56:PF---

3: 57:PF---

4: ff:P-O-L Bone-LT-eMMC-2G,00A0,Texas Instrument,BB-BONE-EMMC-2G

6: ff:P-O-L Bone-Black-HDMIN,00A0,Texas Instrument,BB-BONELT-HDMIN

7: ff:P-O-L Override Board Name,00A0,Override Manuf,BB-BONE-AUDI-02

# aplay -L

null

Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)

default:CARD=EVM

DA830 EVM,

Default Audio Device

sysdefault:CARD=EVM

DA830 EVM,

Default Audio Device

Test that audio output is working.

# speaker-test

speaker-test 1.0.25

Playback device is default

Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels

WAV file(s)

Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)

Buffer size range from 128 to 32768

Period size range from 8 to 2048

Using max buffer size 32768

Periods = 4

was set period_size = 2048

was set buffer_size = 32768

 0 - Front Left

 ...

This should output noise, there are other settings that you can use with speaker-test to check which is right and left.

# speaker-test -c2 -t wav

CADSTAR Express 15

Express is a set of free PCB design tools limited to 300pins and 50 components.  It has the same functionality of CADSTAR, a PCB design suite from Zuken optimized for small and mid-size design teams.

An interesting new feature of CADSTAR is the CADSTAR Touch App for Android and iOS devices.  It links to the CADSTAR IDE to turn your tablet or smartphone into an input device.  For example, you can pan, view all, and run Macros you have defined in CADSTAR.  The Android version also supports voice commands.  See the video below for a demo.

I have been a user of CADSTAR Schematic since version 13, I find it is a professional quality, low-cost solution.  The yearly maintenance cost is very affordable and entitles you to download the newer versions which are released about once a year.  I receive great support from my distributor, Algozen, who helped organize a local CADSTAR User's Day I attended last week.

Win Free Passes to Freescale Technology Forum

Freescale Semiconductor is asking what great inventors would do today if they had Freescale MCUs.  Answer to enter a drawing for passes to the Freescale Technology Forum Americas 2014, you also receive hotel accommodations and development tools.

Development tool description from http://www.freescale.com/GreatInventor
"Includes the Tower System development kit and Freescale Freedom development platform for Kinetis MCUs, sensor shields, Tower System shield adapter, i.MX 6Solo community board, and a coupon for three Tower System peripheral modules of your choice."

Post to social media using the hashtags #FTF2014 and #GreatInventor to increase your chances. Contest ends Feb. 28, 2014.