Beagleboard gsoc 2019 bi-directional progress
About Me
IRC: pranav_kumar
Github: https://github.com/pranav083
E-Linux Username: pranav083
School: UIET,Panjab University,Chandigarh
Country: India
Primary language: English,Hindi
Typical work hours: 9:30 - 23:00 IST GMT/EST/PST to Adjusted Time
Previous GSoC participation: This is my first time participation in gsoc .I got intrested for it by seeing the vast amount of development for open source hardware around the world .And i also want to become a part of it.
Skills: C,Python,ROS,OpenCV,Embeddded C,Electronics Prototying,circuit designing
Tools(proficient): Git, Linux, C
Experience: C, Python, OpenCV, Arduino
Hardware Skills: Raspberry Pi, ICs, Circuit Designing, Atmel chips, I2C, circuit designing, circuit debugging.
Reference Design For A GPIO-based Parallel Bi-Directional Bus
Project name: Reference Design For A GPIO-based Parallel Bi-Directional Bus
Student: Pranav Kumar
Mentors: Andrew Henderson, Kumar Abhishek, Hunyue Yau
Code: https://github.com/pranav083/pocket_beagle-work
Wiki: https://elinux.org/index.php?title=/BeagleBoard/GSoC/GPIO-parallel-bi-dir-bus
Important sites
- command explanation for converting device tree in readable format : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36090929/modifying-the-device-tree-for-the-beaglebone-black
- A get start guide : https://zeekhuge.me/post/a_handfull_of_commands_and_scripts_to_get_started_with_beagleboneblack/
- Outdated but fine source on pru : https://www.element14.com/community/community/designcenter/single-board-computers/next-gen_beaglebone//blog/2013/05/22/bbb--working-with-the-pru-icssprussv2
- A basic guide to pru programming : https://markayoder.github.io/PRUCookbook/
- A online to understand kernel structure of beaglebone on the device tree : http://git.ti.com/ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-3-8-y-kernel/trees/master/arch/arm/boot/dts
- For using the prussdrv technique in pru programming through asssembly language : https://github.com/hendersa/bes through you have to make couple of changes to get it working.
Daily progress :
Date : 31 May 2019
- First I made an introductory youtube video of my project
- Purchased hardware related to this project like 8-bit logic analyzer ,logic level converter
- Understand about the code structure on making kernel module Beagleboard and understanding the beaglelogic code docs
- Read a little bit about kernel module development from this page .
Date : 1 June 2019
- Till now made the circuit based on the GitHub link withh shift register circuit diagram.
- Made the circuit for testing the board see the circuit drive link
- Further work is to implement first user space program then PRU assembly code program.
- completed studing kernel module developnment from site as suggested by my mentor and further looking into makefile
Date : 2 June 2019
I think i should also include blocker and goals in my further work
- Till Now
- Today I studied more about kernel module development and try to understand the code base starting from docs, then kernel folder and firmware folder
- Try to complete the first week commitment of making the video for the different interfacing circuit but faces some problem due to less understanding assembly code in PRU
- As i was working earlier in the User space so i was comfortable to make the program their but i want to submit the video and code with the assembly code
- Blockers:
- During navigating through the code of beaglelogic .asm file are less understandable for me .
- Less understaning of the PRU assembly code to tackle that i watched again pru video from beagle bone site.
- came across a github page during my search for barebone pru programming on pocket_beagle_samples
- And downloaded the Sitara PRU but it was too big to be understable to me.
Date : 3 June 2019
- Till Now
- Got guidance from @Jkrinder and @Hendersa through the IRC channel on the documentation regarding the PRU that are from the TI
- As PRU have very little assembly code instruction set (There is around 40+ instruction set ) for the pru on this guide page : https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/spruij2/spruij2.pdf
- And the guide for c/c++ complier for t=your assembly code : https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/spruhv6c/spruhv6c.pdf
- Clone and Made the changes in the file as suggested for the file : https://github.com/hendersa/bes/blob/v0.1/src/pru.cpp by deleting line 57 and line 58 and adding " || 1 " on the line 60
- Ran the program but got error as the main function was not there
- Blocker
- Building the program was not successful send my issue to my mentor
- reading the datasheet stated above but very less success with it
Date : 4 June 2019
- Till Now
- while waiting for the response from the mentors started to study the assembly guide as found from different websites
- completed the video training course on the pru programming and its different aspects through : https://training.ti.com/PRU-training-series
- Setup ccs studio in a hope for running the pru through assembly codes
- Blocker :
- Still exploring the right way to program the pru in the beagle bone
- Compile the code with out the main function and got bus error
- Though found a way program as stated on most of the sites through the ti ccs studio but it is not the right way to continue
Date : 5 June 2019
- Till Now
- Got reply from the mentor and it worked after including main function and by compiling
- starting every thing from new by re flashing the os image on the beaglebone black wireless
- unable to install the library from the site : https://github.com/beagleboard/am335x_pru_package
- Today is the meeting day and led a little discussion on which approach to use prussdrv or remoteproc.
- Blocker
- Still dont know how to get the system working through the assembly code and then come through the setup guide of complier form
- Tried the method again of enabling pru from element14 site
As the project progress a little bit i thing of writing a blog on enabling pru in beagle board as the most of the sources are outdated
Date : 6 June 2019
- Till Now
- Changed the uEnv.txt for enabling remotproc pru system in beaglebone
- Today finally get the pru assembly code working most of thanks to @hendersa guidance
- Because till now from my side i had searched most of the resources that i can avail from web, beaglebone google group,etc.
- But learn many things about its working and structure in the mean time .
- Blocker
- Most of the earlier problrm that i was facing is over for now now testing to run assembly code.
Date : 7 June 2019
- Till Now
- while working on the example from this site :https://credentiality2.blogspot.com/2015/09/beaglebone-pru-gpio-example.html and folowing the example given my beaglebone some how refuse to connect through the cable
- after reflashing the image and installing and making the desired changes it get up and running
- Blocker
- most of the days ran out in debugging the beaglebone