Just reccently we were invited to participate in Rochester Institute of Technology's ARM Developer's Day. The event, a success, featured 2 sessions of a hands-on-workshop and answering of questions at the booth. Details to ARM DEVELOPER's DAY can be found here: http://armdeveloperday2nd.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/227/
The ARM Day Attendees, with thier give-aways: Notice the Stellaris-Bot held high in the back!
What was entertaining was the reception Eval-Bot recieved from our workshop attendees. For 2 hours we would do an overview of Stellaris M-3 EvalBot + the Micrium OS. Attendees were given the EKB-UCOS3-BNDL with a simple request: Learn Stellaris M3... and do something neat with the kit!
I cannot wait to see what RIT has in store for us :-)
The possibilities... With ethernet mac/phy, USB, quadature encoders, display, motor drivers, SD Card expansion... and so much more this little bot has a lot of potential for some neat projects. If you're in need of a little inspiration yourself one of my favourite websites: Hack-a-day has a few postings on neat Eval-Bot projects- http://hackaday.com/tag/evalbot/Eval-Bot with Nunchuckan off-e2e community site about Eval-bot: http://ti-evalbot.proboards.com/
What did we show at ARM Day? TI-Chronos Watch Controlling the EvalBot over RF connected to the EM connector. Here's a good link to what the demo did : Design Spark http://www.designspark.com/content/ti-chronos-watch-controls-robot
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---------------------------------------------------For those of you that wanted to know how we put it together here's a quick overview:
Chronos2Evalbot
You will need: 1 Eval-Bot http://www.ti.com/tool/ek-evalbot1 Chronos Watch: http://www.ti.com/tool/ez430-chronos&DCMP=Chronos&HQS=Other+OT+chronos (any frequency works, just need it to match the EM Connector (next))1 Matching frequency to the Chronos Watch - EM Access Point- http://www.ti.com/tool/cc1101emk868-915
EK-Evalbot+CC1101EMK915+ EZ430-CHRONOS915
I usually use 915MHZ because I'm in the USA and it's easier to find matching devices. You can re-use both the Chronos and the EMK on other kits. EMK is particularly nice because many MSP430 devices actually come with the EMK-connectors on it.
The 5529 Experimenter's board with Wireless Expansion Port
Next, Download the latest StellarisWare Software Suite:
Location: http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/sw-lm3s.html
You will need to login to my.ti.com to download this- you may also need to fill out an export controls document
Second, Download the LMFlashProgrammer (5.6MB) Stellaris Flash Programmer, GUI and Command Line
http://www.ti.com/tool/lmflashprogrammer
Again, you will need to login to download this and may also need to fill out an export controls document
Once you’ve downloaded and installed the firmware then you can launch the LMFLASHPROGRAMMER and configure as shown below:you will need the binary file to do this, which can be found (if you installed stellarisware in a default location)- C:\StellarisWare\boards\ek-evalbot\chornos_drive\ewarm\Exe\chronos_drive.bin
Configuration Tab>>QuickSet-- Select LM3S9B92 Evaluation BoardInterface should default to ICDI, Port: JTAG and Speed 2000000
Then click the Program Tab>> Select.bin file (use the file that from above) using the BROWSE buttonOptions: Erase Method: Erase Entire Flash- Faster
Check Yes to Verify After Program
Check Yes to Reset MCU After ProgramProgram Address to Offset: 0
Now, connect a USB Cable from your computer using a USB-MINI cable. Connect the mini to the port labled "ICDI" on Evalbot. Hit Program If you run into any problems re-install the FTDI Drivers from C:\Program Files\Texas Instruments\ CCSv4\emulations\drivers\stellaris\ftdiConnect the CC1101EMK RF module to the RF connectors on the Eval-bot.Screw on the accompanying antenna.
Put Evalbot on a flat surface, press it's on/off reset button. There should be scrolling text reading: "Listening"... on the OLED display. Eval-bot is now looking for a Chronos Watch to be paired with.
Take your Chronos watch and put the watch into ACC mode (it will have ACC in the bottom LED). Then press the down arrow (on the right hand side) to start ACC mode (a little ))) should show up). Now the Chronos is talking.
Evalbot should pick up the Chronos watch signal, but if it doesn't it will go into an Auto-Program and move around the table. Stop it, hit reset to put it back into listening mode then restart ACC mode on the watch.
To drive Evalbot with the watch:
Some Notes: When controlling Evalbot, maxiumum speed is achieved when the watchface oriented vertically (90 degrees from normal, "Flat" viewing position). SInce the accelerometer calibration appears to vary from watch to watch, there is a calibration mode. Press Switch 1 on Evalbot to enter calibration then move the watch through the full range of movement you want to use to control the robot. Once you have finished the movement, press "Switch 2" and normal operation will resume with the control inputs scaled.
Let's keep posted to see what people come up with to use Eval-Bot!