TSSFL TECHNOLOGY STACK

Wakuu, I am planning to try this project. Whenever I get time, I ll try to do it.

The idea: In robotics, radar, Tanks, controllers, etc., there is the so called the arm that can rotate left, right, up and down depending on the purpose. Also in various systems we may have simple to complex motors to control something. But ask yourself, what makes these motors do their job? Only power? How about processors to control them? What tells the arm to rotate 36 degree left, right, hold?

So, software (C, C++, Java, Linux, HDL) and hardware (Zynq board, motor, Sensors, Pmod ) can be integrated to come up with a system that can do the job via processors. Thus, this project will involve integration of software and hardware to do the job.

What is required?
-Zynq board( Expensive of course)
-Motor (few voltages for small scale project)
-Vivado HLS software
-Xilinx SDK tool
-Pmod connectors
-Sensors (obstacle detection)

Where to start?
-First, we need to be familiar with Zynq board, its connections, ARM, FPGA and all the interfaces.
-Learn on how to configure the board in PC
I may start with integrating "Hello World" in C into the hardware.
All materials are here http://zedboard.org, https://embeddedcentric.com and the procedures are in the PDF below plus a lot of materials are on the internet.

Nice suggestion! We can make this an ongoing, and definitely we will achieve something! As I get time, I will spent it familiarizing myself with the requirements you have put forth.

I also suggest we currently keep up updates and all developments under this topic. We may however need a public GitHub/Bitbucket repository. There are other folks I know who we can convince to join and make up the team. This is a good example of how various skills can be brought up together to accomplish a task!

Wakuu,

I have tried to gather materials and learn on how to power up Zedboard with correct jumpers to avoid damaging the board. Manuals from the vendor are really helpful. So far i know how to create, validate, simulate and generate bit stream in Vivado to be used in SDK for programming FPGA. Also to establish communication between my computer and the circuit board through COM port.

The idea is:

Zedboard( Using push buttons)----<communication protocol(To be established in Vivado software)>----Motor driver----->Motor

So, pressing the push buttons in Zedboard must have an impact in the motor(Turn left, right etc)

What is next?

Learn on how to establish communication protocol between ARM processor and its I/O peripherals (Pmod connectors) especially Push buttons.

I am not an expert in this, i am just reading available documentations and try to do something.

Video

Hello people,

This project is over. I was able to program the FPGA and ARM part of the board. I can integrated this system with sensors termed as IoT internet of things to send data to the web browser like acceleration, velocity. I might be able to control this platform from a mobile phone or through Linux libraries for Ethernet cable controls. There are possibility to implement obstacle avoidance or line following algorithms in this platform. I think, embedded systems have a lot of uses in our daily life like in Robots, Renewable energy systems, Missile systems, Marine, Tanks, Heath care [MRI ya Mhimbili nzima?], Mining, space exploration, automotive, probably PLC. This is called Automation and Control.

Pure C/C++ Programming is also possible from other platforms like ARDUINO, ALTERA, STM32 etc.

"When the hardware meets the software" it's like to say "when the wire of a motor meets printf("\n") and $display(""); commands from C, Verilog, VHDL"

Watch demo video below:

Great achievement Simulink, nice stuff!

Some book

https://www.mdpi.com/books/book/7076?ut ... e=facebook