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IWR6843AOPEVM: Capturing data with DCA1000EVM

Christer Frövik
Prodigy 20 points
Part Number: IWR6843AOPEVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DCA1000EVM, IWR6843, IWR6843ISK, MMWAVEICBOOST, IWR6843AOP

I'm struggling a bit to get the IWR6843AOPEVM (Rev G) to work with DCA1000EVM according to this picture in the EVM Users Guide.

The release note on the latest version of MMWave Studio (https://software-dl.ti.com/ra-processors/esd/MMWAVE-STUDIO/latest/index_FDS.html) list the support as"IWR6843 Evaluation Module (IWR6843ISK + MMWAVEICBOOST)":

Should this be interpreted that I must connect BOTH a IWR6843AOPEVM and an MMWAVEBOOST to a DCA1000EVM?

Best regards /CF

Other info:

I have so far been following this "QuickStartGuide": https://www.ti.com/lit/ml/spruik7/spruik7.pdf?ts=1673337978648 and as it does not mention flashing a specific image, I have the "3D People Counting" lab from the industrial toolbox loaded. My current state is that I am using the setup with only the IWR6843AOPEVM (Rev G) and DCA1000EVP which fails to connect over the RS232 port:

Here is the log:

GM: Constructor
GM: Wed Jan 11 15:48:32 2023
RSTD.Transmit("/Settings")
[15:48:32]
[15:48:32] ### Running Startup script: "C:\ti\mmwave_studio_02_01_01_00\mmWaveStudio\Scripts\Startup.lua" ###
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetAndTransmit ("/Settings/Scripter/Display DateTime" , "1")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetAndTransmit ("/Settings/Scripter/DateTime Format" , "HH:mm:ss")
[15:48:32] Scripter ignored: Attempt to UnBuild() again or before Build.
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 0/Dll" , "C:\\ti\\mmwave_studio_02_01_01_00\\mmWaveStudio\\Clients\\\\LabClient.dll")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 0/Use" , "TRUE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 1/Use" , "FALSE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 2/Use" , "FALSE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 3/Use" , "FALSE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 4/Use" , "FALSE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/AL Client/AL Dll" , "C:\\ti\\mmwave_studio_02_01_01_00\\mmWaveStudio\\RunTime\\SAL.dll")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Clients/Client 0/GuiDll" , "")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/AutoUpdate/Enabled" , "TRUE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/AutoUpdate/Interval" , "1")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Monitors/UpdateDisplay" , "TRUE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Monitors/OneClickStart" , "TRUE")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SetVar ("/Settings/Automation/Automation Mode" , "false")
[15:48:32] RSTD.Transmit("/")
[15:48:32] RSTD.SaveSettings(): Settings saved to "C:\Users\cfrovik\AppData\Roaming\RSTD\config.xml"
[15:48:33] RSTD.Build()
[15:48:33] RSTD.SaveSettings(): Settings saved to "C:\Users\cfrovik\AppData\Roaming\RSTD\config.xml"
[15:48:33] RSTD.Transmit("/")
[15:48:33] RSTD.AL_Build()
[15:48:33] RSTD.AL_LoadXml()
[15:48:33] RSTD.Transmit("/")
[15:48:33] RSTD.AL_Init()
[15:48:33] RSTD.Clients_Build()
[15:48:33] GM: Init
[15:48:33] GM: Loaded 'C:\ti\mmwave_studio_02_01_01_00\mmWaveStudio\Clients\\LabClient.dll'
[15:48:33] GM: 1 Guest (s) init
[15:48:33] GM: 1 Module(s) init
[15:48:33] GM: 2 Tab (s) init
[15:48:33] RSTD.Client_LoadXml()
[15:48:33] [RadarAPI]: ar1.selectRadarMode(0)
[15:48:33] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[15:48:33] Matlab Runtime Engine is installed
[15:48:33] [RadarAPI]: Starting Matlab Engine..
[15:48:37] [RadarAPI]: Matlab Engine Started!
[15:48:39] [RadarAPI]: ar1.selectCascadeMode(0)
[15:48:39] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[15:48:39] [RadarAPI]: ar1.LoadSettings('C:\Users\cfrovik\AppData\Roaming\RSTD\ar1gui.ini')
[15:48:39] TESTING = false
[15:48:39] RstdNet: Port 2777: Listening..
[15:48:39]
[15:48:39] ***Script completed successfully.***
[16:01:23] [RadarAPI]: Opening Gpio Control Port()
[16:01:23] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:24] [RadarAPI]: Opening Board Control Port()
[16:01:24] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: ar1.FullReset()
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Closing Board Control Port()
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Closing Gpio Control Port()
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: ar1.SOPControl(2)
[16:01:25] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:01:26] [RadarAPI]: ar1.Connect(16,921600,1000)
[16:01:28] [RadarAPI]: Error: Connection failed: Calling_ConnectTarget returned 3
[16:01:28] [RadarAPI]: ar1.Calling_IsConnected()
[16:01:28] [RadarAPI]: ar1.SaveSettings('C:\Users\cfrovik\AppData\Roaming\RSTD\ar1gui.ini')
[16:01:33] [RadarAPI]: ar1.Connect(14,921600,1000)
[16:01:35] [RadarAPI]: Error: Connection failed: Calling_ConnectTarget returned 3
[16:01:35] [RadarAPI]: ar1.Calling_IsConnected()
[16:01:35] [RadarAPI]: ar1.SaveSettings('C:\Users\cfrovik\AppData\Roaming\RSTD\ar1gui.ini')

I could still connect to the serialport using the  c:\ti\mmwave_industrial_toolbox_4_12_0\tools\Visualizer\mmWave_Industrial_Visualizer.exe application in this state.

Subsequent attempt to perform a "SetUp DCA1000" indicates that communication with the FPGA fails as well:

[16:09:31] [RadarAPI]: ar1.GetCaptureCardDllVersion()
[16:09:31] [RadarAPI]: Sending dll_version command to DCA1000
[16:09:32] [RadarAPI]:
[16:09:32] DLL Version : 1.0
[16:09:32] [RadarAPI]: ar1.SelectCaptureDevice("DCA1000")
[16:09:32] [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]: ar1.CaptureCardConfig_EthInit("192.168.33.30", "192.168.33.180", "12:34:56:78:90:12", 4096, 4098)
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]: ar1.CaptureCardConfig_Mode(1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 30)
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]: ar1.CaptureCardConfig_PacketDelay(25)
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]: Sending fpga command to DCA1000
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]:
[16:09:41] Invalid lvdsMode value (0). [error -4016]
[16:09:41] [RadarAPI]: Sending record command to DCA1000
[16:09:51] [RadarAPI]:
[16:09:51] Configure Record :
[16:09:51] Timeout Error! System disconnected
[16:09:51] [RadarAPI]: ar1.GetCaptureCardFPGAVersion()
[16:09:51] [RadarAPI]: Sending fpga_version command to DCA1000
[16:10:01] [RadarAPI]:
[16:10:01]
[16:10:01] Unable to read FPGA Version. [error -5]

(I flashed the FPGA with the latest version without any change):

  • +1
    TI__Mastermind 23177 points

    Hello,

    Unable to read FPGA Version is unfortunately a very generic error that can be cause by many different possible issues. Since you did not list it, I will refer you to the DCA1000 mmWave Studio User Guide located in our Radar Toolbox for mmWave Sensors on TI Resource Explorer. This is the most updated and recent version of DCA1000 supoort. One thing I noticed is that your top set of pinmux settings seem to differ from what they are shown to be in this guide. Try those pin settings and try again.

    https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?a=1AslXXD__1.00.00.26&node=A__AGTrhNYW8jE6cMxbovlfaA__radar_toolbox__1AslXXD__1.00.00.26

    Best Regards,

    Pedrhom Nafisi

  • 0 in reply to Pedrhom Nafisi
    Prodigy 20 points

    Thank you for pointing me in the correct direction! After a few more issues, and many attempts, I finally managed to capture some data even if it still require quite a lot of patience and retries.

    To be more precise, I am still struggling with stability of the system.  It is very rare that the step "SPI Connect (5)" succeeds.  The troubleshooting guide for SPI suggests this:

    Is there alternate versions\xwr68xx_radarss.bin builds that I can try?
    (I have the IWR6843AOPEVM, (Rev G), I cannot find any marking on the AOP chip, but I guess I could just try the alternate firmwares)

    Do you have any additional tip on how to make the "SPI Connect (5)" step more dependable?   
    (It may be oberver bias, but it is possible that the successrate it higher when I wait 30s+ between downloading the MMS and attempting to connect the SPI.)


    Minor additional question: 
    By the way, are there any sample XML files that I could use for "LoadConfig", or tool that can be useful in designing/choosing SensorConfig?

    Best Regards
    CF

  • 0 in reply to Christer Frövik
    TI__Mastermind 23177 points

    Hello CF,

    I am glad you have at least gotten it to function, raw data capture can sometimes be very unintuitive and finicky. When SPI Connect fails, what exactly is the error you are getting? You should be able to see it in the output tab of mmWaveStudio. The xwr68xx radarss and masterss files are the ones you should be using for IWR6843AOP.

    As for loading preset configs, we use LUA scripts (located at C:\ti\mmwave_studio_02_01_01_00\mmWaveStudio\Scripts) to quick start the capture process and you can open the code to see what commands are sent to mmWaveStudio for this to be done. For designing/choosing Sensor Config, we have a PDF on chirp design as well as a sensing estimator (chirp design and tuning tab) in order to see the Radar's performance across many characteristics such as max range, range resolution, angular resolution, etc.

    PDF: https://www.ti.com/lit/an/swra553a/swra553a.pdf?ts=1673629743019

    Sensing Estimator: https://dev.ti.com/gallery/view/mmwave/mmWaveSensingEstimator/ver/2.1.0/

    Best Regards,

    Pedrhom