DRV8213EVM: Cannot load firmware

Robert Keck

Part Number: DRV8213EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5338, UNIFLASH, DRV8214EVM,

With control GUI 1.1.3, the GUI will connect to the EVM, but as soon as I select Driver Control, it tells me there is new firmware available. When I go and select File | Program Device... it disconnects and then immediately tries to reconnect and them immediately pops up a window saying "Error configuring Debug Server: error=Failed to connect to MSP430F5388 device: Please unplug your MSP430F5338, then plug it back in and try again." However no amount of replugging will get it to connect. It requires restarting the GUI to reconnect and then I'm back where I started. What is the trick to loading the firmware?

7 months ago

0 Robert Keck 7 months ago

Prodigy 75 points

I worked around the issue by downloading UniFlash and using it to load the firmware image supplied with the EVM-GUI software.

0 Jacob Thompson 7 months ago in reply to Robert Keck

TI__Mastermind 22200 points

Hey Robert, glad to hear you found a workaround!

Hmm as long as you're using the correct GUI it should work: https://dev.ti.com/gallery/view/MotorDriversBSM/DRV821x_DRV8234-EVM-GUI/ver/1.1.3/ I tested with a DRV8214EVM just now and it worked (get EVM to connect, File, Program Device, wait ~30 seconds, unplug, replug, EVM Connected successfully). I will try on the DRV8213EVM soon and let you know what I find.

Was this a personal computer or company PC? Could be a firewall/security issue blocking external firmware upload due to company policy.

0 Robert Keck 7 months ago in reply to Jacob Thompson

Prodigy 75 points

This was a personal PC. However, the link you give is for a web version of the EVM GUI. I downloaded the 1.1.1 GUI software from the EVM web page to my machine and installed it on the machine. Then when I started it, it downloaded 1.1.3 and then using that version running on my PC tried to do the firmware install. So maybe it works with the web version, but not the locally installed version. The 1.1.3 version download does not appear to be directly available on the TI web site; you seem to only be able to get it by first installing 1.1.1.

0 Jacob Thompson 7 months ago in reply to Robert Keck

TI__Mastermind 22200 points

Ahh yeah my bad, will update the online firmware in the coming weeks along with a new version of the GUI. Thanks!

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DRV8213EVM: Cannot load firmware