gbulmer
Moderator
ala42 - Thank you again.
So, the manufactured-in ST-bootloader is at the start of the 'System memory' block, which has different start addresses on some STM32 families?
Is that code literally #define BUILT_IN_BOOT_LOADER ((u32)0x1FFF0000) or is this really fixed in a link script?
That is the way I implemented it.
On a STM32F103 it is at 0x1ffff000, see https://my.st.com/public/STe2ecommunities/mcu/Lists/cortex_mx_stm32/Flat.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fpublic%2FSTe2ecommunities%2Fmcu%2FLists%2Fcortex_mx_stm32%2FSTM32%20Internal%20Bootloader&FolderCTID=0x01200200770978C69A1141439FE559EB459D7580009C4E14902C3CDE46A77F0FFD06506F5B¤tviews=3199
gbulmer
Moderator
feurig - It did seem to take a long time for the Arduino to evolve. However the Arduino team do seem to work hard and diligently to ensure there is smooth path forward for Arduino users.
I thought Dean Camera's Lightweight USB Framework for AVRs (LUFA - http://www.fourwalledcubicle.com/LUFA.php) showed how to replace the USB-to-serial. Paul Stoffregen's (pjrc.com) Teensy boards showed the advantages of doing it.
AFAIK, Paul Stoffregen's Teensy boards still have the sneakiest USB connection; they are HID devices, and can plug straight into most things.
FTDI, is not quite a "one trick pony". It is possible to do 'bit-banging' using some of the pins (I have never tried). So, in theory, it is possible to get it to talk to a different interface (IIRC, someone has used one to make an SPI programmer, and another to make a JTAG interface), or to set the boot pins and reset. Also, I think some are about $2.
I agree the ideal USB interface solution would be fully programable.
However, something low-cost, that avoids the need to install any drivers (on, at least, the main three platforms), and that does not create problems for users, for example by changing its USB class, would be better than where Maple is today.
Let's hope Maple 2 addresses the problems that users suffer.
gbulmer
Moderator
ala42 - thanks for the link to the ST forum. I had missed that thread.
I'll have to think about it a bit more, and I don't have time right now.
I am going over to watch the Micromouse competition, in Birmingham, UK:
http://www.micromouseonline.com/2012/10/09/robotic-2012/?doing_wp_cron=1353163796.5206758975982666015625#axzz2CUXkOkxS
Edit: I am delighted to report that 'Coventry's own' Stephen Pithouse has won his 6th
Line-Follower robot competition in a row, at the UK Autumn championships in
Birmingham. He also won non-contact wall-follower again.
The major difference is these victories are in the Senior competitions, against
adults, and not Juniors, as Stephen is now 18. Stephen designs, builds, tests
and programs all his robots himself. The 'brains' are Freeduino Nano's.
I was lucky enough to help Stephen get started when I ran an Arduino workshop at
his school, with the help of a pair of Warwick University 'Technology
Volunteers' Alice Ng, and Olmo Nieto-Silleras. So it is great to seem him
continue to refine and improve his robots at each event.
gbulmer
Moderator
feurig - I am beginning to come around to your view, that pic18lf14k50 is worth considering.
It is cheaper than a CP2120 board. About 1/2 the price of an Atmel ATmega8/16u2. Comes in DIP for prototyping.
I'd prefer to start with an Open Source 'dumb' USB CDC to UART, that works with Windows/Linux/Mac.
I guess it would eventually have both UART and RESET and BOOT control, but UART would be enough to start.
So would you give me a pointer or two to a C tool chain and example source code?
Is it straightforward to use from C, or is using assembler critical?
Do you use a USB sniffer to debug the system? If so, what do you use?
I modified the source code that came with the mpcc toolchain which ran cross platform (though without the IDE) once I had working code I just used it. I am working on modifying the code for mplab-x (which is cross platform). Ian (of dangerous prototypes) has an open source cdc implementation for the family that I haven't revisited. I did play with JAL but their usb/serial implementation was a bit flakey and their community is cracked. I will post links tomorrow.
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