Digital Lab Projects Design

The goal for this project is to integrate Amazon FreeRTOS into the ECE 443 lab and provide working code and documentation demonstrating the updated features. Discussed deliverables were TCP/IP, Ethernet/WiFi, and Bluetooth demos. Additions will be considered based on progression.

=Problem Definition=

Background
The ECE 443 lab uses the FreeRTOS software to teach concepts surrounding real-time computing, distributed processing, and control networks. Currently the lab uses version 8 of FreeRTOS. The most up to date release of FreeRTOS, which is now managed by Amazon, is version 10. Since version 8, new features have been added and it is possible dependencies have changed. Updating to Amazon FreeRTOS will require determining what changes are needed and acquiring the appropriate software and/or hardware.

Minimum
1.Integrate Amazon FreeRTOS into the ECE 443 lab.

2.Provide supporting documentation detailing how to update current projects to incorporate Amazon FreeRTOS.

Preferred
1.Produce working code demonstrating new Amazon FreeRTOS feature.

2.Provide supporting documentation for code..

Hardware
=Design Considerations=

Constraints
The primary concerns for this project are budget and time.

This project may require updating to or investing in new hardware. New products and/or components should be carefully considered before purchase, especially from the standpoint of outfitting an entire lab space. Software changes will be subjected to the same considerations. The project team has minimal experience with embedded design and control networking. A large part of this project will be learning to use the Amazon FreeRTOS software and becoming comfortable with programming a microcontroller. This may impact the rate of progression resulting in fewer sample projects.

=Project Learning= 1.Information provided by Amazon Web Services made it unclear whether Amazon FreeRTOS could only be used with listed partner devices, such as the Curiosity board, and if the AWS cloud service was required for operation. Research revealed that Amazon FreeRTOS continues to support the PIC32 MX family of microcontrollers, and the Cerebot board by extension. With financial constraints in mind it was decided that the team would proceed with the Cerebot board until otherwise required. Furthermore, AWS is optional resource and therefore unnecessary for the goals of this project.

2.Amazon FreeRTOS is backwards compatible with previous versions of FreeRTOS and so far, all tested code available from the ECE 443 lab has successfully run on the updated version of the software.

3.Harmony does not offer a support package for the Cerebot board. Testing of the software also revealed that it is a poor choice for code that undergoes regular updates and changes, which is a key characteristic of the ECE 443 lab projects.

=Final Design=

=Validation=

Team Information
=Additional Documentation= Team Contract

Team Contract

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes Folder

Design Review

Design Review