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AWR1642: mmwave sensor Evaluation Boards and Design Kits

Alper Fatih
Expert 1040 points
Part Number: AWR1642
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: IWR1642, , MMWAVE-SDK, DCA1000EVM, MMWAVE-STUDIO


Hi, I am student and I am aspiring to work on the Texas Instruments (TI)I mmwave sensors (both industrial sensors and automotive sensors). I spent last a few days and surfed through the training videos, application notes, product literature but I was unable to find replies to some basic questions. It is possible that my below queries might have been addressed in the various data available on TI website and I might not have been able to comprehend. However, I am still putting forth the following queries and request you please provide guidance on them.

I wish to leverage upon all the benefits offered by TI especially in the form of various Evaluation Boards / Modules and I wish to take build my research upon the foundations already provided by TI.
I am basically interested in FMCW research as a broad spectrum. Therefore, I have not decided whether I will use mmwave industrial sensors or automotive sensors for my future research. This decision will be partially based upon the guidance that you will provide me.

1) xWR1443 mmwave sensors have built-in Hard Ware Accelerator (HWA). xWR1642 sensors do not have HWA but they have C674x DSP. I understand that HWA provides FFT and CFAR functions.

If I prefer xWR 1642 over xWR1443, then can I get the required functionality (especially FFT and CFAR) by myself programming the C674x DSP ? If I am able to develop a suitable algorithm for FFT and CFAR for the C674x DSP, then will I still be having DSP resources left for additional algorithms that I may wish to implement?
In summary, can xWR1642 C674x DSP provide all the functions of xWR1443 HWA, and if yes, then in such instance, will xWR1642 C674x DSP be able to provide additional functions also as I may attempt to implement in my own algorithm(s) for various purposes ?

2) What is/are the basic difference(s) between the AWR1642 and IWR1642 mmwve sensors ?

3) My basic aim to is explore the functionalities of the top-of-line TI mmwave sensors, so the most promising candidates will be xWR1642. Next I wish to develop my own algorithms and in that case I will seek guidance from the reference designs and codes already offered by TI. I, then intend to program the selected device with my own code/algorithm and acquire the relevant data (mainly ADC data) for post processing on a Windows PC.

Please note that I am a student so I have budgetary constraints as well.

Well, I will take example of AWR1642 and I find that the following Evaluation Boards/Modules and Design Kits are available:

AWR1642BOOST (AWR1642 Evaluation Board (USD 299)
(uses mmwave-SDK)

MMWAVE-DEVPACK (USD 299)
(uses Radar Studio tool)

DCA1000 EVM Real Time Data Capture Adapter (USD499)
(2 LVDS lanes for xWR1642)

TWS1400EVM Data Capture / Pattern Generator Card (USD999)
(8 LVDS lanes upto 1.5Gbps)


I have also watched the TI training video “mmwave EVMs Deep Dive”. Please advise and comment on the following additional queries:

4) xWR1642 provides raw ADC data on how many lanes of LVDS ? Can DCA1000 EVM fully capture this data? What added functionality can I get from TWS1400EVM in comparison with DCA1000EVM, considering that there the former is double the price of later. I think I do not need the pattern generator function of TWS1400EVM during my research on FMCW mmwave TI sensors. Please comment.

5) xWR1642BOOST provides LVDS raw ADC data over 60-pin HD connector. If I have another third party LVDS data acquisition card that could acquire this LVDS raw ADC data in Windows PC then neither need DCA1000EVM nor TWS1400EVM. Please comment if my understanding is right.

6) What could be the possible usage or purpose of TI Launchpads in my study on TI mmwve sensors. I intend to modify TI example codes or develop my own codes based on TI codes. Then I assume that I can upload those programs (e.g. bin files) through xWR1642BOOST EVM on the xWR1642 chip. I can then see the performance of my algorithms by acquiring and processing the LVDS raw ADC data and post processing it in PC, if needed. In such instance, I will not need TI Launchpads as I do not foresee usage of additional TI microcontrollers. Please comment if my understanding is right.

7) What additional capability MMWave-DevPack offers over xWR1642BOOST EVM ? I am asking this because both these EVMs cost USD 299 individually. I understand that I can use mmwave-SDK on xWR1642BOOST. In addition, I understand that I can run/use mmwave-Studio, mmwave-Demo-Visualizer and mmwve-Sensing-Estimator on xWR1642BOOST EVM.
If my understanding is right, then I only need mmwave-DevPak EVM if I need to further use TWS1400EVM in my study. Please comment if my understanding is right.

8) Can you advise that is mmwave-DevPack a superset of xWR1642BOOST EVM ? Can I opt to buy one of them ? Will I get all functions of xWR1642BOOST EVM plus some additional functions if I only buy mmwave-DevPack ?

9) Thank you for your patient reading so far. I realize that it is a long list of queries but I hope you will spare time to answer them all. I also hope that this will also benefit certain other students like me.

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 24955 points
    Alper,

    Here is the information you need to know. I will address all of the questions in your post.

    The main differences between the xWR1642 and xWR1443 is that the xWR1642 features a TI C674x DSP while the xWR1443 features a hardware accelerator (HWA). The xWR1642 also has more RAM.

    The HWA can only perform a 1D FFT while the DSP can perform 1D, 2D, and even 3D FFTs. The DSP performs all of the functions of the HWA and provides extra bandwidth for performing custom algorithms.

    Since the AWR1642 is a device targeted to automotive applications, it has a larger range for its operating temperature than the IWR1642 which is targeted for industrial applications. The main pages for AWR1642 and IWR1642 provide this information. The AWR1642 also features the CAN-FD peripheral. All other specifications are identical.

    As it relates to a hardware setup, I would recommend going with the AWR1642BOOST and the DCA1000 EVM.

    The AWR1642 uses 2 LVDS lanes and send out data in an interleaved format. The DCA1000 EVM is fully capable of capturing data coming from the AWR1642BOOST EVM.

    The DCA1000 is a newer device designed specifically for mmWave EVMs whereas the TSW1400 is a broader device used for data capture.

    If you were to use an external LVDS data acquisition card, then you would need the DevPack. The DCA1000 integrates the functionality of the DevPack and the TSW1400 into a single board. The DevPack is not a superset device. It does not even have an mmWave device on it. It was developed to enable control from mmWave Studio, TI's RF evaluation tool. The DevPack is required when using the TSW1400, but this requirement is nullified when using the DCA1000EVM.

    Again, my recommendation would be going with the AWR1642BOOST and DCA1000 EVM.

    With the AWR1642BOOST, you can develop applications using the mmWave SDK and then compile the code and generate a .bin file that is flashed to the AWR1642. You can then run standalone applications on the EVM.


    In closing, I would recommend the following:

    - Obtain an AWR1642BOOST here: www.ti.com/.../AWR1642BOOST
    - Obtain a DCA1000EVM here: www.ti.com/.../DCA1000EVM
    - Download the mmWave SDK here: software-dl.ti.com/.../index_FDS.html
    - Run the Out-of-Box Demo and use the Visualizer here: dev.ti.com/.../
    - Look at TI's Resource Explorer: dev.ti.com/.../

    Regards,
    Kyle
  • 0 in reply to Kyle Cousino
    Expert 1040 points

    Dear Kyle,

    Thank you very much for the very prompt and very detailed and elaborate guidance.

    A few last queries in the same context so that I can make a better and informed decision:

    1)  I understand that you are suggesting AWR1642BOOST and DCA1000EVM based on my requirement that I mentioned. 

    Please advise/confirm that can I use/run mmwave Studio mmwave-Studio, mmwave-Demo-Visualizer and mmwave-Sensing-Estimator on xWR1642BOOST EVM (and I do not need DCA1000EVM for this purpose). Only AWR1642BOOST will serve the purpose. Please comment.

    2)  If I am not wrong, I understand that the ADC data from AWR1642BOOST EVM (and from AWR1642 device it self) is only available on 2 LVDS lanes. Am I right or not ? If not, then please advise that ADC data from the AWR1642 device and from AWR1642BOOST EVM is available in which other formats/prorocols for post processing on a Windows PC or some other Data Acquisition Card/Device ? (Suppose that I do not have DCA1000EVM).

    3) A very basic question, but I still ask. I understand that the RF output (both in AWR1642 and in AWR1642BOST EVM), after the mixer, is available to the user, only after being digitized by the bulit-in ADC. The analog RF output signal is NOT directly available to the user. Please confirm.

    4)  What could be the possible usage or purpose of TI Launchpads (as AWR1642BOOST describes this feature) in my study on TI mmwve sensors. I intend to modify TI example codes or develop my own codes based on TI codes. Then I assume that I can upload those programs (e.g. bin files) through xWR1642BOOST EVM on the xWR1642 chip. I can then see the performance of my algorithms by acquiring and processing the LVDS raw ADC data and post processing it in PC, if needed. In such instance, I will not need TI Launchpads as I do not foresee usage of additional TI microcontrollers. Please comment if my understanding is right.

    Thank you very much in advance.

  • 0 in reply to Alper Fatih
    Expert 1040 points

    Hi,

    I also feel that the issue is resolved. I will ask a related question after this.

    Thanks.