Webinar Briefing & FAQ: Learn Embedded Design with the MiniZed is Now Available On Demand!

The following webinar is now available for On-Demand Viewing:

• Learn Embedded Design with the MiniZed (Win a MiniZed for Asking Questions!)

Download Slides Below

Q&A Session:

Does Xilinx Vitis have full support for MiniZed?

Xilinx Vitis fully supports MiniZed hardware-platforms imported from Vivado. Vitis also supports the Zynq-7000 family. We do not yet have a MiniZed-specific Vitis platform, but that is planned for Q1 2020.

Does MiniZed support security features such as secure boot and TrustZone?

Not in its own hardware.  But one of our designers worked with a secure element on a PMOD.

Does the Arduino interface support 5v logic?

Not directly, no. Your Arduino shield must have level translators.

Does the USB 2.0 connection support an external hub?

Yes, as long as it is powered. There's only enough power for a single device in each connection, and then only if you have the Aux power also plugged in.

What is the frequency range of the digital microphone?

Audio frequencies.  Refer to the MP34DT05 datasheet for detail.

As you said, there are lots of FPGA dev boards out there. What would you say is the "sweet spot" or niche for the MiniZed?

MiniZed is a good board for learning to use Zynq, or for doing proof-of concept or demonstrations.  Some competitors in that field, but MiniZed has a good variety of peripherals and community support.

Does PetaLinux support ALSA for sound?

You answered your own question with "Powered Hub". Aaware is most knowledgeable about this.

Xilinx website states that SDSoC was discontinued and now is included into Vitus Unified Software Platform from 2019.2. Will the license work in it?, Will documentation and guides be updated?

From what I understand, Vitis is free. You will still need to register and license it, but there will not be a fee associated with that license. If you have already generated a license using the SDSoC voucher, then that license will continue to work. If you do not have a license, you will not need the SDSoC voucher to be able to freely create a new license. SDSoC in 2019.1 and prior is still a viable design avenue as not everyone will want to move to Vitis immediately.

Is there a PYNQ image available for MiniZed?

No. We have looked at creating one, but due to the available PL resources, we decided to focus our PYNQ resources on other platforms.

How compatible is software from 7007-S to 7010?

Anything that runs on a 7007S should run on a 7010.  The 7007S is smaller than the 7010 in terms of resources and it only has a single core.

Is there Python interface available to program the board like in PYNQ?

There is a reference design for using a Python web server but no PYNQ image yet.

Does it have an operating system like Ubuntu or something like RISC?

You can run Standalone or you can use Linux, and that is what Avnet supports.  But you could install support for Ubuntu 16.04, for example.

So anything I can BitBake can be added to PetaLinux if space allows.. True?

That is quite broad.  I would say that anything you can bitbake in the PetaLinux environment can be added.  You cun run many apps that were built on a Rpi also, if you execute it from eMMC.

How fast is H2.64 encode and decode to send the camera feed to browser control in the robot demo showed?

I'm sorry but I do not have an easy answer on this.

How can you best reduce the learning curve typically associated with FPGA dev boards? Or don't you need to?

Honestly, I think getting a simple board like MiniZed is essential in learning. I personally learn much better if I am actively doing something with the tools and hardware as opposed to just reading it. The Technical Training Courses that will be discussed coming up are the best way to get up and running quickly.

How fast is the interrupt response of the 7Z007S core?

This will depend on which type of interrupt this is, which OS you are using and in which memory the ISR runs.  I have seen bare metal FIQ in on-chip memory benchmarked at 0.4us.

Does the board have I2S as it has mics that would be a good feature to have?

Xilinx provides IP coder for I2S transmitters and receivers that you can put in the fabric.

What is your opinion about hobbyist developers coming from Arduino, where does MiniZed stands? how steep is the learning curve to making the transition from Arduino to Minized?

The programmable logic that Zynq provides is the major difference.  And that aspect of Zynq always involves a learning curve.  Avnet's online training materials will ease your pain.

How to integrate the HDMI Output IP for miniZed, and it's associated hardware (if any) through Pmod..

Here is an E14 blog on doing this: Path to Programmable Blog 10 - MiniZed does DVI/HDMI

How would I communicate MiniZed with Raspberry Pi?

SPI, I2C, and UART are all fairly universal. You could interconnect the boards using one of those protocols.

I am curious about the ARM/PS performance, how fast or powerful could it be compared to a MicroBlaze FPGA implemenation ?

A hardened A9 core will of course be much more powerful than a Microblaze softcore.  And performance will depend on your implementation.  "Read documents available in http://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon-devices/soc/zynq-7000.html and http://www.xilinx.com/tools/microblaze.htm to get understanding on features, support and differences."

What is the craziest thing (in a good way) that you have seen people develop with the MiniZed board?

I like the MiniZed rover, but there are great examples on E14 and from Adam Taylor's blogs

Is MiniZed supported also on older versions of Vivado (ex. 2015?)

We did not test it with 2015. If 2015 supported the 7Z007S, then technically it could support MiniZed. However, the Board definitions are not always backward compatible. I suggest using the 2017 tools or newer.

How would you recommend getting started with VHDL for the MiniZed?

There is some free material put out by the Xilinx University Program that looks good. Check it out here -- https://www.xilinx.com/support/university/vivado/vivado-teaching-material/hdl-design.html

Stefan mentioned about the microphone array implementation by aaware that they use the z7010, and they confirm in their website they use a dual-core platform. As far as I understood, the miniZed is single core and uses the z7007. What limitations could this application have on the miniZed? or Am I missing something?

MiniZed uses a 7007S because it is a development platform to showcase single-core. And because it is significantly less expensive.  MicroZed or ZedBoard showcases some of the other Zynq devices.

I am sorry if I am doing multipost. my question got blank after I changed tabs, so I am sending this again       Are there any plans for a second Path to programmable class any time in the near future?

There is demand for this and we will post such plans on E14.

We have a project and if we want to use Zynq 7Z007S, is there a WiFi driver for FreeRTOS? If yes Which Wifi chip is supported (We want to avoid to use Linux for performance reason)?

MiniZed uses the Broadcom driver for the Murata Type 1DX device.  Avnet does not support FreeRTOS yet.

Did the minized get used for the graphics controller?

There is a reference design for H264 Video Streaming on Avnet MiniZed and also for MJPEG Video Streaming over Wi-Fi on MiniZed using the TDNext Pmod.  In both these cases MiniZed does not do the actual displaying.

I understand that the minized can accept Arduino shields.  Can you comment on how to integrate them into a project?

The reference design constraints file will map out all the pins to the PMOD and to the Arduino shield.

any plans for a PYNQ image?

No. We have looked at creating one, but due to the available PL resources, we decided to focus our PYNQ resources on other platforms.

What were your main objectives when you decided to design this board? What motivated you (or Avnet) to design yet another zed board? What market needs were you trying to cover with the minized?

MiniZed was created to showcase for single-core Zynq.  That is also the lowest-cost Zynq device, so MiniZed is targeted at entry level Zynq users that want to learn about using Zynq.  As such, the idea was also to pack it with a number of fun peripherals.  Because Avnet runs training courses, MiniZed is a useful platform for that.

Is it possible to have a signal MicroBlaze CPU or multiple MicroBlaze processors which run RTOS and communicate with the ARM Cortex A9?

These things are possible, but MiniZed will not have the resources for such an implementation.

How does each MicroBlaze processor communicates with the other MicroBlaze processor? And how the communication is done between the Cortex-A9 processor and the MicroBlaze processor?

MiniZed will not have the resources for experimenting with much of this.  But Adam Taylor has a good piece on inter-processor communication using Xilinx IP to implement malboxes and mutexes for this purpose.  "Mailbox — Allows bi-directional communication between multiple processors using a FIFO based approach to messaging."  See https://www.hackster.io/news/microzed-chronicles-inter-processor-communication-part-1-c1411c1c3053

If we add MicroBlaze, is it possible that the MicroBlaze continues to run and it wakes up Cortex-A9 when an external event occurs?

These things are possible, but MiniZed will not have the resources for such an implementation.

Can you route XADC to Arduino analog pins?

The Arduino A0 to A5 pins are routed to the AD0, AD1 and AD8 P and N pins.  Those are the differential XADC inputs that are available.

Is it possible to implement Cortex-M1 or Cortex-M3 as a Real-Time Co-Processing and where the Cortex-A9  runs a user interface application? If yes, is the reference design available for the MiniZed?

MiniZed would not have the resources for that, since it only has an A9 and I am not aware of any Microblaze fit either.  See Adam Taylor's notes: https://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Adaptable-Advantage-Blog/MicroZed-Chronicles-Using-Cortex-M1-and-Cortex-M3-with-Arm/ba-p/973333MiniZed would not have the resources for that, since it only has an A9 and I am not aware of any Microblaze fit either.  See Adam Taylor's notes: https://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Adaptable-Advantage-Blog/MicroZed-Chronicles-Using-Cortex-M1-and-Cortex-M3-with-Arm/ba-p/973333

If someone is used to Arduino and RaspberryPi, how would you bring them in to using the Zedboards?

The same code could probably run on the Zynq processors, but the reason to move to Zynq would be to use the power of the programmable logic.  Hopefully our demonstrations will make that case.

How is the bitstream get programmed?  Is it similar to Altera where it can be either in the first stage boot loader or U-boot or by the Kernel or from Userspace

The FSBL programs it.  Currently from QSPI flash, but it could be in the eMMC also.

Does Zynq support secure boot mode?

There are security features in Zynq 7000.  RSA Authentication of First Stage Boot Loader, AES and SHA 256b Decryption and Authentication for Secure Boot.  " The Zynq-7000 SoC can be booted securely or non-securely. The PL configuration bitstream can be applied securely or non-securely. Both of these use the 256b AES decryption and SHA authentication blocks that are part of the PL. Therefore, to use these security features, the PL must be powered on."  There is no battery on MiniZed.  You can use a PMOD for secure elements also.

Any projects for AI/ML on the MiniZed?

No, not yet.  That requires resources.

Is the provided License enough to run the Xilinx and ARM tools?

Yes, the 7007S license is free with the web tools and it supports both Vivado and SDK.

Is TrustZone supported in the PL domain as it is in the PS domain?

From what I can see, this is in the software stack.  Securing the PS should secure the PL.  See ug1019.

Is OpenAMP supported to perform the communication between Cortex A9 and MicroBlaze or Cortex-M1 or Cortex-M3?

As far as I know, there is material for OpenAMP for ZedBoard and MicroZed, but not for MiniZed.  See https://www.owler.com/reports/xilinx/xilinx-blog-adam-taylor-s-microzed-chronicles--par/1487047323837

Does Vitis unified software platform support MiniZed?

From what I can see, Vitis supports Zynq 7000, but I have not investigated this for MiniZed.

Is Xen Hypervisor supported on Cortex A9?

It does, apparently, but I have no experience with that.

Can you use FreeRTOS with MiniZed?

You could, but Avnet does not have support for that.

This link http://zedboard.org/support/design/18891/146 is great

Correct.  You can get there my going to minized.org and clicking on "View All" under the Reference Designs

Where does the hardware design reside for the PL portion of 7007-S?

If you download the MiniZed reference design, you will find the programmable logic design included.

How easy/difficult can be to use  Minized as Adq board with systems like Labview?

I am not aware of anyone using LabVIEW with MiniZed, but you could experiment.  You will have to use an external ADC/DAC on a PMOD or as a shield as an input.  There are some Youtube videos on the process using Xilinx IP for acquisition.

Attachments:

	E14 MiniZed Webinar resources.pptx
	E14 MiniZed Webinar - hardware and examples.pdf