Digital Lab Projects Design

The initial goal for this project was to integrate Amazon FreeRTOS, Harmony, and the Curiosity board 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 depending on progression.

The revised goal for this project is to integrate Amazon FreeRTOS, with the Cerebot board, 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 depending on progression.

=Problem Definition=

Background
We did several experiments and designs that enable us to learn the basics of digital logic and its applications. We want more of these experiments and that could even better illustrate what we can do whit digital devices and equipment. This project is to create new experiments and illustrations, design and bulid the software and hardware that supports these, and make them resilient enough to provide reliable operation. We plan to develop basic program using Amazon FreeRTOS, Research more advanced applications using Amazon FreeRTOS implementing peripheral board components such as Bluetooth and develop webserver frame work to be managed by FreeRTOS software. Ultimately, we hope to gather together enough information, instructions, and examples to enable university ECE labs to integrate the Microchip Curiosity board and Amazon FreeRTOS software into their coursework.

Primary
Integrate Amazon FreeRTOS into the ECE 443 lab.

Secondary
Produce working and well documented code for future lab projects.

Minimum
Documentation detailing how to update current projects to incorporate Amazon FreeRTOS.

Preferred
Sample projects demonstrating new Amazon FreeRTOS features.

Software
Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon FreeRTOS

MPLAB X IDE

MPLAB Harmony

MX C32 C/C++ Compiler

Hardware
Curiosity PIC32MZEF Development Board

Cerebot 32MX7cK Board

=Design Considerations=

Balance Sheet/Budget
Plan: Don’t break anything and choose cost effective (cheapest) alternatives.

Constraints
1.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.

2.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=

Hardware
=Analysis of Alternatives=

Curiosity vs. Cerebot
1.The Curiosity board is guaranteed to work with Amazon FreeRTOS per information provided by Amazon. Harmony offers support for this particular board.

2.Updating the lab with the Curiosity board would be a financial investment. It does not offer CAN support which is highly desired (insert why). Learning to use Harmony introduces complexity for the projects.

3.The ECE 443 lab is already equipped with the Cerebot boards.

4.Harmony does not support the Cerebot board.

5.Finance/Budget management is one of the constraints listed for this project. For these reasons it was decided that the Cerebot board better suited this project's needs.

Harmony
1.As a development framework Harmony helps streamline production and makes it easier to learn a new microcontroller. Unfortunately testing showed that it was not flexible enough for projects with consistently changing functionality. Harmony also does not offer a support package for the Cerebot and would likely make code generation a more complicated process. As a result there is currently no plan to implement this software.

=Final Design=

=Validation=

Team Information
=Additional Documentation= Team Contract

Team Contract: 

Project Schedule

Tentative Project Schedule 

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes folder: 

Design Review

Design Review Files:

Portfolio

Portfolio Links: