Last week, I got a call from Element14 that my idea was selected for the Road-test on the PSoC 4 Pioneer kit in Smarter Life Challenge. This was a pleasant surprise for a weekend to begin. Thanks to Element14, Cypress and Cadsoft for selecting the DAS project.
Over the last two days I have tired to construct a basic plan for the development of the DAS project. It includes the possible risks in the development due to delivery delays for the kits and the materials that I am about to order. Another part is the legitimacy issue on using parts that I already have and quickly put together to get the basic system running. I will also be posting a short time line for follow on updated to help understand the road blocks and critical issues that might popup during the development.
Listed below are the stages of the Development that I have planned for DAS project:
Stage 1: Preparation
- Download necessary software + Datasheets
- Downloaded schematics and Family datasheet for PSoC 4200
- Not sure how to get the complete manual for PSoC 4 as need more details
- Need to get the App notes for related topics as per the project
- Development Suit
- Installed PSoC Creator 3
- Need to check for Keil and gnu arm embedded GCC compilation
- Pioneer Kit Shipment
- Not yet confirmed from Element 14 side
- Need to check for the delivery delays as this completely delays the next steps
- Ordering Coupons
- Not yet Received - Need to check if multiple orders are possible with the same coupon as some times in the middle of the development some additional things might need ordering.
Stage 2: Ordering & Start-up
- Prerequisite for this stage is the availability of the PSoC4 Pioneer kit
- Make the order cart and place order
- Followup to help progress in this stage
- Start-up Software
- Basic framework to perform the application development
- Initial setup for Capacitive touch testing
- Button interface
- External metallic object capacitive touch interfacing
- Trial SPI and I2C communication tests using protocol analyzer
- Trial UART communication
- Trial on PWM LED dimming and configuration
- Software and menu design for locally available Nokia 5110 display
- Look for appropriate licensing scheme to open source the complete design
Stage 3: Interfacing
- Prerequisite for this stage is the arrival of all Element14 ordered material on-time
- Wiring Up
- Connect all the Shields and test individual interfaces
- Check for Capacitive Touch sensitivity and user interface using cap-sense interface prepared earlier
- Remaining Software trials
- Check for Sounder operation with controlled DC-DC activation
- Check for complete message transaction on GSM both incoming as well as outgoing
- Implement the detection loops for the analog sensors
- Implement filter and frequency analyzer for the switched sensor inputs
- Implement the SD card logging and RTC interface
- Code Complete at driver level
- Implement all the Drivers and unit test cases needed to test each of the interfaces in the final system
- Check for timing and synchronization for key events and fault scenarios
Stage 4: Implementation
- Prerequisite for this stage is the completion of all driver and basic unit test cases for all the modules in the system that have been individually tried out in the previous stage
- Build up basic Feature set definition to Hardware functionality mapping
- Design the software state machines and paths keeping in mind the hardware features and interface gotchas
- Implement the base Application including all the drivers and sub-components
Stage 5: Integration & Test
- Prerequisite for this stage is the completion of the state-machine design and driver integration
- Test the function by function trace for each of the feature and events
- Integrate all the modules to make up the usable system
- Test each of the fault and detection scenarios using passive simulation or stimuli in software, hardware or real
Stage 6: Submission & Optimization
- Prerequisite for this stage is the complete and availability of the fully test system with basic required features working
- Prepare the complete demo video with the real situation simulated or stimulated in the available test environment
- Work to full fill other design submission requirements if any
- After completion of submission
- Look for cost optimization on components + Alternatives to speed up or enhance the basic features to make the product marketable
- If time permits try to implement the PCB for the final prototype and manufacture
Stage 7: Viability analysis & Manufacturing
- If supported and viable look for possible funding and manufacturing options
The time line of the DAS project would be updated in accordance to the updates availability or if there are any issues that are encountered.
Next posts would also include further description of what DAS is all about. For now the below shown is the block level diagram of the DAS system.
Let me know your views and I humbly request for the community's support in bringing up this idea to the final stage.
