STM32MP1 customized firmware manages smart robotics operations

RTSoft designed and developed the firmware for a smart robotics controller that makes the controller an excellent platform for educational and business uses.
The system software implements the abstraction interface for work with various sensors and actuators like ultrasonic, camera, thermo, photo, encoder motor, servo motor and many others in Real-Time. The programming API is available in python and C/C++.
The robotics platform features the color touch display with the graphical interface, which can also be customized by a user via the programming API.
Besides on-board GUI the solution implements two remote interfaces: WebDAV and ssh. Integration with a cloud is supported via MQTT protocol.

The connectivity is available via WiFi, Bluetooth and USB Ethernet. SD card and USB flash drives can be used to distribute data to/from the controller. Multiple controllers can be connected with each other via CAN interface where a Master controller can seamlessly operate with remote sensors and actuators connected to a Slave controller(s) in the same real-time manner.



Key facts
  • Linux-based OS. Long-term maintenance
  • Cloud-native connectivity
  • RTOS implementing smart motor controller running on a dedicated MCU
  • OTA updates
  • Seamless (autodiscovery) expandability via СAN-Bus
SOLUTION
The smart robotics controller is based on the emerging STM32MP157 big-little microprocessor combining dual CPU cores running Linux OS and ARM Microcontroller (MCU) core running real-time applications. It is taking the best features from both MCU and CPUs.
RTsoft performed the careful customization of operating system (Linux Open Embedded) BSPs and drivers.
The solution is supposed to have a long lifecycle with a defined road map. Thus the system software includes device maintenance tools and embeds automatic update build process. The device is capable of monitoring available operating system patches and their delivery by schedule or event-driven.
A dedicated MCU core runs customized real-time OS and performs smart motor control and sensor monitoring tasks achieving 1ms real-time loop. Linux communicates with RTOS through the shared memory with no latencies.
QT/QML extendable graphic interface is implemented to control many hardware and system software parameters, the design is developed by a Germany's leading design agency.

Benefits
  • Over the Air updates Complete, reliable and resilient A/B firmware update solution
  • Cloud integration and security efficient & secured visualization and management of firmware and applications
  • Azure AWS ready solution message/event/command bus streaming analytics, machine learning, predictive maintenance, visualization and monitoring
  • Optimized power consumption and performance via utilization of hardware features of STM processor
  • Deterministic and robust algorithms for motor control and sensor hub
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