CNXSoft – Embedded Software Development

Freescale announced the addition of the Kinetis KW20 to its Kinetis microcontroller portfolio. The Kinetis KW20 is based on ARMCortex-M4 core and MC13242 RF transceiver to deliver a single chip Zigbee solution for the Internet of Things and power applications such as smart energy, smart metering and building control.

Freescale Kinetis KW20 Block Diagram

The company explains that their new wireless MCU family aims to “address the increased processing and memory requirements associated with future ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 and Internet Protocol specifications”. The KW20 supports dual personal area network (PAN) to enable a single device to communicate wirelessly on two ZigBee networks. This feature eliminates the need for multiple radios required to connect different home automation and smart energy networks.

Kinetis KW20 wireless MCU features:

• ARM Cortex-M4 processor core
• Up to 512 KB of flash memory and 64 KB of RAM
• Cryptology accelerator and sophisticated tamper detect
• Integrated IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio (MC13242 RF transceiver)
• Low power consumption

Freescale will provide several tools for software development on the platform including:

• BeeKit wireless connectivity toolkit
• Eclipse-based CodeWarrior IDE
• Freescale MQX software solutions and associated middleware,
• Tower System modular development platform for rapid prototyping.
• Third-party tools such as IAR Systems Embedded Workbench IDE.

Alpha samples of the Kinetis KW20 wireless MCUs (KW21D256V, KW21D512V and KW22D512V) and the MC13242 RF transceiver will be available in Q3 2012, together with software and ZigBee protocol stacks

Freescale will showcase the KW20 wireless MCU family at the Freescale Technology Forum, on June 18-21 in San Antonio, Texas, and at Smart Grid Paris, on June 21-22.

For more information, you can visit www.freescale.com/KW20. If you are interested in this type of applications, you can also read Freescale Home Energy Gateway Reference Platform post for further details on system design and software.

Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) has announced the TMPM061, a new 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 MCU  specifically designed for smart metering applications. This new micro-controller provides a single chip solution for smart meters, eliminating the need for the two-chip approach with an analog front end (AFE) and a MCU, delivering a smaller footprint and lower costs.

In order to simplify smart meter power measurement, the TMPM061 features an onboard power calculation engine that can calculate active energy, reactive energy and power factor as well as monitoring voltage and frequency fluctuation. In addition, the TMPM061 features up to 128KB on-chip Flash ROM and 8KB on-chip RAM, as well as on-board peripherals including:

• 3-channel 24-bit Delta-Sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) supporting sampling up to 6 kHz
• 10-bit ADC
• Temperature-compensated real-time clock (RTC).
• 9-channel 16-bit timer
• LCD display controller
• Temperature sensor
• Voltage detection circuit
• Watchdog timer
• 5-channel general-purpose serial interface
• Serial bus interface (I2C bus mode or synchronous mode operation).

The TMPM061FWFG comes in a 14 x 14mm 100-pin LQFP package and will operate with input voltages from 1.8V to 3.6V, with a maximum operating frequency of 16MHz. There are 4 standby modes (IDLE, SLOW, SLEEP, STOP) in order to ensure minimum power consumption.

Toshiba TMPM061 samples will be available starting in August 2012, and mass production scheduled for December 2012. The MCU will cost 3.50 USD in small quantities. Toshiba has not setup a page for their new (and first) Cortex M0 MCU, but it should show up on Toshiba MCU page in due time.

Huawei is exhibiting their Machine to Machine (M2M) solutions at Cebit 2012 until March 10, 2012.

They are showcasing Smart Meter solutions with home energy gateways, smart gas meters, smart electric meters, in-home displays.. all communicating via Zigbee. Their solution is currently being implement in the UK market. They are also exhibiting diverse modules (mainly based on Freescale i.MX5 processor) featuring Huawei 3G technology that could be used in tablets among other things.

Rear-view Mirror Running Android 2.3

But the thing is really found interesting was their M2M solutions for the auto industry especially the Android car rear-view mirror where you can have the left half of the rear-view mirror displaying a menu so that you can access apps such as GPS maps, control your music or your phone and see information about your car.

Here are some details above this rear-view mirror:

• Samsung SP5V210 Cortex A8 Processor
• 4.3″ TFT capacitive touchscreen – Resolution: 800×480
• Operating System: Android 2.3 or WinCE 5.0
• Camera: 2.0 MPixel
• GPS support with antenna built-in the rear-view mirror.
• G-sensor (why?) / Bluetooth / 3G: WCDMA or CDMA2000 or TD-SCDMA
• Voice recognition

You can watch the video showing Huawei M2M solutions below starting with automotive solutions, different system on modules and finally their smart meter solutions.

National Instruments has recently published a report entitled “Embedded Systems Outlook 2012 - Key Technologies and Methodologies Impacting the Embedded Systems Market” which lists technology and business trends for the development of embedded systems.

Here are the key findings:

• Technologies & Architectures:
  • Embedded Platforms
    Technology providers are developing components, modules, or even complete embedded platforms (software + hardware) with higher levels of integration and increased functionality to speed up time to market. System-on-Chip (SoC) and System-on-Module (SoM) benefit from this trend and some also embed a FPGA.
  • Reconfigurable Computing
    Previously, designers chose between low-cost microcontroller or high performance CPU based on the expected performance needs of the embedded system. As cost decreases and performance increases, low cost devices such as control and monitoring systems now often come with more features thanks to the use of programmable logic. This type of flexibility can be achieved by adding an FPGA to the MCU / MPU in the embedded systems platform.
    

    Typical Reconfigurable Computing Architecture

  • Mobile Devices and the Cloud
    Design teams are taking advantage of new mobile devices and cloud technologies within  embedded systems. NI shows the smartphone industry has dramatically changed between 2009, where Symbian phones prevailed and 2011, where Android devices had the largest market share, but the market is still very much fragmented and will continue to be in the years ahead. NI then talks about the cloud, the security issues that arises for embedded systems and the need to support multiple platforms with technologies such as HTML5.
• Business Strategies and Processes
  • Innovating with smaller teams
    Small teams are emerging around the world and are proving that innovation can happen just as fast, if not faster, in smaller design teams. This is mainly possible thanks to off-the-shelf solutions and tools such as NI LabVIEW instead of having to design those in-house. Those tools allow companies to move to smaller teams as shown in the diagram below.
    

    Embedded Systems Development: Large Teams vs Small Teams

  • Future proofing through software
    Many embedded developers have adopted a software-first philosophy for upgrading products over time in order to match customer expectations for data visibility, connectivity, and performance.  For most embedded systems, the expectations for longevity of design and service life remain well over a decade. NI shows 2 future-proof examples: Smart Grid and Software Defined Radio (SDR). The company also explains how to future-proof your design by selecting software-definable hardware (e.g. DSP / FPGA instead of ASiC) , allowing update over the air (OTA) or via USB stick, and by selecting the right toolchain.

The Embedded World Conference 2012 will taken place on the February 28 – March 1 in Nuremberg, Germany. There will be over 1,000 exhibitors for the tenth conference (it started in 2003) showcasing their new products and solutions for the embedded markets. Beyond the exhibition, there will also be 13 classes and 22 sessions during those 3 days.

February 28th 2012

Classes:

• 09:30 – 15:30 – Modeling Behavior with UML: Interactions and Statecharts by Dr. Bruce Douglass, IBM
• 16:00 – 17:00 – Agile Systems Engineering by Dr. Bruce Douglass, IBM
• 09:30 – 18:00 – Introduction to Real-Time Operating Systems by Dr. David Kalinsky, D. Kalinsky Associates
• 09:30 – 18:00 – Hands-on-Workshop Safety Critical Linux – Automated debugging and code screening with formal methods by Prof. Nicholas Mc Guire, OSADL Safety Critical Linux Working Group and Andreas Platschek, OpenTech.
• 09:30 – 16:30 – Cryptography and embedded Security – The Workshop chaired by Dr. Thomas Wollinger, escrypt – Embedded Security and Dr. Jan Pelzl, escrypt – Embedded Security.
  There will also be a few other speakers addressing automotive (e.g. SHE: Secure Hardware Extension), industrial and medical security in embedded system in 30 minutes to 1 hour presentations during the day.
• 09:30–17:30 – Embedded Software Development on Virtual Platforms – Ready for Prime Time ? by Dr. Adam Morawiec, ECSI (Electronic Chips and Systems design Initiative).
• 14:30 – 18:00 – ARM Cortex-A Workshop by Jens Stapelfeldt and Frank Walzer, Texas Instruments
  • Part I: ARM Cortex-A for industrial real time communication
    
  • Part II: ARM Cortex-A for Industrial real-time communication! – Running an EtherCat Slave on an ARM Cortex-A8 based MPU!

4-hour sessions (14:00 – 18:00):

• Session 1: Smart Grid / Smart Metering chaired by Prof. Dr. Axel Sikora
• Session 2: Managing Embedded System Development and life Cycle chaired by Dr. Torsten Klie
• Session 3: Achieve High Embedded Software Quality chair by Dr. Jens Gerlach

February 29th 2012

Classes:

• 09:00 – 17:00 – Software Design for Multicore Systems – 2012 Edition by Dr. David Kalinsky, D. Kalinsky Associates
• 09:00–17:00 – Hands-on-Introduction to RT-Linux by Prof. Nicholas Mc Guire, OSADL Safety Critical Linux Working Group; N.N., Linutronix
  Microprocessor Architectures and Cores, Part II – Cortex-M
• 13:30–18:00 – Application programming with the new leading edge Cortex-M4 by Stefan Grohmann, Hitex Development Tools

All day sessions:

• Session 4: ARTEMiS – Visions, Projects and Results chaired by Alun Foster, Laila Gide (morning) and Ad ten Berg (Afternoon)
  Artemis is a European initiative whose goal is to design a “common Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) which acts as a reference for the Embedded Computing domain to attract investment from the stakeholders”.
• Session 5: Cryptography and embedded Security chaired by Prof. Dr. Andreas Grzemba, Prof. and Dr. Axel Sikora
• Session 6: The Multicore Session chaired by Dr. Ronald Veldema and Friedrich Schön
• Session 7: Model Based Development of Embedded Systems  chaired by Prof. Dr. Ralf Gessler
• Session 8: Functional Safety of Embedded Systems chaired by Dr. Jens Gerlach
• Session 9: Software Development in High Level Languages chaired by Jaroslav Svacina, Friedrich Schön
• Session 10: Software Development and Debug Methods chaired by Hartmut Lackner
• Session 11: RToS chaired by Robert Hilbrich

March 1st 2012

Classes:

• 09:00–17:00 – Fault Tolerant Design of Embedded Systems by Dr. David Kalinsky, D. Kalinsky Associates
• 09:00–12:30 – How to use the iPad as an embedded interface – program your iPad interface for Embedded Systems by Matthias Müller, HTWK Leipzig; N. N., IEQualize Leipzig/TQ Group
• 13:30–17:00 – MCU System Design with RTOS and Middleware Components by Matthias Hertel, ARM

Half-day and All-day sessions:

• Session 12: Communication by Embedded Systems Institute Erlangen
• Session 13: Open Source Projects chaired by Dr. Torsten Klie
• Session 14: Embedded Linux and Android – Development & Trends chaired by Prof. Dr. Andreas Grzemba
• Session 15: Embedded System Architectures and SoC chaired by Dr. Alexander Borusan
• Session 16: Internet Technology and M2M chaired by Prof. Dr. G. Kupris, K.-D. Walter
• Session 17: Wired and Wireless network Technologies chaired by Prof. Dr. Axel Sikora
• Session 18: Development tools chaired by Prof. Dr. Holger Schlingloff
• Session 19: Test and Verification chaired by Dr. Norbert Oster
• Session 20: Embedded System Applications chaired by Prof. Dr. Peter Fromm
• Session 21: Low Energy Embedded Systems chaired by Dr. Thomas Ußmüller
• Session 22 : oSADl – FloSS Safety chaired by Dr. Carsten Emde, Prof. Nicholas Mc Guire, OSADL

The sessions are chaired by academics, but most speakers come from the industry with companies such as NXP, ARM, Dassault Systèmes, IBM, Wind River, etc.. being represented.

Exhibition, Classes and Sessions Fees

If you are interested in going to the exhibition or attending classes or exhibitions, here are the ticket prices and fees (excluding 19% VAT).

The ticket for the exhibition costs 25 Euros and can be purchased online.

None of the classes and sessions are not sponsored in this events, and the price is relatively steep:

• Half Day Class 340 Euros.
• Full Day Class 520 Euros.

• 1 Conference Block 280 Euros.
• 2 Conference Blocks 405 Euros.
• 3 Conference Blocks 530 Euros.
• 4 Conference Blocks 630 Euros.
• Full Conference (Classes excluded) 720 Euros.

You can also register for the classes and session online.

Further information is available on Embedded World website.

Digi International announced the “ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy”, a Linux-based Home Energy Gateway with Zigbee connectivity based on Freescale Home Energy Gateway Reference Platform powered by Freescale i.MX28 processor.

The “ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy” is upgradable to comply with the new Smart Energy 2.0 Profile (SEP 2.0)  and  enables ZigBee devices on a Home Area Network (HAN) to communicate with an energy service provider.

Digi ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy

The new gateway is a low-cost, enhanced version (hence the “e” in X2e)  of Digi’s ZigBee Smart Energy Gateways.  The device connects ZigBee Smart Energy devices from a Home Area Network (HAN) to an energy service provider via broadband. It supports over-the-air updates of connected Smart Energy devices, making it easier for utilities and application partners to establish and maintain large Smart Energy device deployments.

The company offers two models namely:

• ConnectPort X2e, ZigBee SE Coordinator for stand-alone Smart Energy networks that do not have smart meters.
• ConnectPort X2e, ZigBee SE Router to connect and read the smart metering system which has been installed at the site.

Digi ConnectPort X2e Deployment Example

End-users can use Digi’s Smartlee application for iPhone and Android and/or utility-hosted websites to monitor and even control their electricity consumption in real-time.

The ConnectPort X2e uses the iDigi Device Cloud service to manage connectivity, configuration and software upgrades as well as application integration enabling  the Home Area Network (HAN) and Smart Energy devices, such as Programmable  Communicating Thermostat (PCT) and In-Home Display products from other manufacturers.

Here are Digi “ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy” specifications.

• General
  • Management – Secure enterprise management via iDigi Device Cloud
  • Protocols – UDP/TCP, DHCP
  • LEDs – Power, Network (LAN/WAN), ZigBee (HAN/PAN)
  • Security – SSL tunnels
  • ZigBee – XBee® ZB SMT transmit power 6.3 mW (+8 dBm); Receiver sensitivity (1% PER) -102 dBm
  • Ethernet – 10/100MBit – RJ-45 Port
  • Dimensions – (L x W x H) 7.62 cm x 7.62 cm x 2.54 cm
  • Weight – 70 grams
• Development
  • ZigBee – Public Application Profile Smart Energy 1.1 (Backwards compatible to 1.0)
  • Python – Version 2.7.1
  • Memory – 64 MB Ram, 128 MB Flash
• Power Requirements
  • Power – Input 5 VDC
  • Power Consumption – (Typical): 1.2 W, Max: 2.5 W
• Environmental
  • Operating Temperature -  0° C to 40° CF)
  • Relative Humidity – 5% to 95% (non-condensing)
  • Ethernet Isolation – 500 VAC min per IEEE802.3/ANSI X3.263
• Regulatory Approvals
  • Safety – EN60950
  • Emissions/Immunity – CE, FCC Part 15 (Class B), IC, ETSI

As you can see Python is used for application development on the platform. Resources for development with Python on Digi International devices are available at http://www.digi.com/technology/drop-in-networking/pdr.

The ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy is available now for 105 USD  for both the coordinator and router version. A Wi-Fi version will be released in Q2 2012.

Further information is available on ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy page. For technical details, you can read my previous post entitled Freescale Home Energy Gateway Reference Platform.