Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία ακολουθήθηκαν τα περισσότερα βήματα που απαιτεί η τεχνική διαδικασία για την δημιουργία ενός προϊόντος που έχει ως στόχο την εκμάθηση προγραμματισμού πάνω σε ARM πυρήνα. Το κομμάτι της εργασίας μου αφορούσε την δημιουργία της πλακέτας καθώς και την συγκόλληση των στοιχείων πάνω σε αυτή, δημιουργία τρόπου διεπαφής με τον υπολογιστή για τo φόρτωμα του κώδικα λειτουργίας του, την εύρεση πλατφόρμας προγραμματισμού, αλλά και την δημιουργία εκπαιδευτικών ασκήσεων πάνω στο συγκεκριμένο επεξεργαστή. Σκοπός των ασκήσεων είναι η εισαγωγή του αναγνώστη στην λογική και τον προγραμματισμού του ARM Cortex-M3. / Most of the steps required during the technical procedure of producing an Arm core based evaluation board were followed in the current diploma thesis. My personal assignment included the design of the printed circuit board, soldering of the components on the board, establishing a way of communication between a personal computer and the board for downloading the source code, finding a programming platform and the creation of exercises for the specific processor used on the board. The purpose of the exercises is the introduction of the reader in the programming logic of ARM Cortex-M3.

The diploma thesis deals with creating the Ethernet converter protocol UDP of the CAN bus with the used application layer CANopen. The converter is executed by means of the microcontroller ARM Cortex-M3, namely by STM32F107VC by STMicroelectronics. The project is designed for the purpose of serving as the main motor controlling card of the mobile advertising robot FektBot. In the theoretical part you can find a brief analysis of the ARM microcotrollers problematics, particularly the STM32F107VC. Then the thesis introduces the Ethernet technology including the UDP protocol. Finally, the CAN bus and its application layer CANopen is described. The practical part shows first of all the scheme of converter hardware. You can find there the design of printed circuits including all components for proper functioning, i.e. especially the microcontroller STM32F107VC, Ethernet PHY, the CAN bus transceiver and switched stabilized supply. Next chapter describes software creating for the given converter. Firstly there are analyzed possible ways of STM32F107VC programming, and then there is the main conception of resolving the programming part shown. The thesis then deals with the concrete implementation of the UDP Ethernet protocol. For that, the lwIP stack is used, over which the application layer of the FektBot robot works. Then there is analyzed the implementation of the CAN bus and CANopen. At the end of the practical part, the final execution of the converter software and the ways of its testing are described.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Electronic Systems Laboratory at Stellenbosch University is currently developing a fully 3-axis controlled Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) for CubeSats. This thesis describes the design and development of an Onboard Computer (OBC) suitable for ADCS application. A separate dedicated OBC for ADCS purposes allows the main CubeSat OBC to focus only on command and data handling, communication and payload management. This thesis describes, in detail the development process of the OBC. Multiple Microcontroller Unit (MCU) architectures were considered before selecting an ARM Cortex-M3 processor due to its performance, power efficiency and functionality. The hardware was designed to be as robust as possible, because radiation tolerant and redundant components could not be included, due to their high cost and the technical constraints of a CubeSat. The software was developed to improve recovery from lockouts or component failures and to enable the operational modes to be configured in real-time or uploaded from the ground station. Ground tests indicated that the OBC can handle radiation-related problems such as latchups and bit-flips. The peak power consumption is around 500 mW and the orbital average is substantially lower. The proposed OBC is therefore not only sufficient in its intended application as an ADCS OBC, but could also stand in as a backup for the main OBC in case of an emergency. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Elektroniese Stelsels Laboratorium by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is tans besig om ’n volkome 3-as gestabiliseerde oriëntasiebepaling en -beheerstelsel (Engels: ADCS) vir ’n CubeSat te ontwikkel. Hierdie tesis beskryf die ontwerp en ontwikkeling van ’n aanboordrekenaar (Engels: OBC) wat gebruik kan word in ’n ADCS. ’n Afsonderlike OBC wat aan die ADCS toegewy is, stel die hoof-OBC in staat om te fokus op beheer- en datahantering, kommunikasie en loonvragbestuur. Hierdie tesis beskryf breedvoerig die werkswyse waarvolgens die OBC ontwikkel is. Verskeie mikroverwerkers is as moontlike kandidate ondersoek voor daar op ’n ARM Cortex-M3-gebaseerde mikroverwerker besluit is. Hierdie mikroverwerker is gekies vanweë sy spoed, effektiewe kragverbruik en funksionaliteit. Die hardeware is ontwikkel om so robuust moontlik te wees, omdat stralingbestande en oortollige komponente weens kostebeperkings, asook tegniese beperkings van ’n CubeSat, nie ingesluit kon word nie. Die programmatuur is ontwikkel om van ’n uitsluiting en ’n komponentfout te kan herstel. Verder kan programme wat tydens vlug in werking is, verstel word en vanaf ’n grondstasie gelaai word. Grondtoetse het aangedui dat die OBC stralingverwante probleme, soos ’n vergrendeling (latchup) of bis-omkering (bit-flip), kan hanteer. Die maksimum kragverbruik is ongeveer 500 mW en die gemiddelde wentelbaankragverbruik is beduidend kleiner. Die voorgestelde OBC is dus voldoende as ADCS OBC asook hoof-OBC in geval van nood.

This master thesis discusses about designing and realization of a control system for a 6-axis robotic arm. The controlling system consist in a microcontroller LPC1756 with its firmware implemented under the Real-time operating system FreeRTOS and GUI application, running on a PC. The Microcontroller communicates with the PC through a serial line via SLIP protocol. Theoretically, it will deal with an explanation of the important terms, and describes the used robotic arm and its controlling unit. The practical part describes kinematics problems solving, firmware’s realization and GUI application.

This thesis deals with an electronic circuit and a PCB of a modular RGB LED display with the Ehernet interface. Firstly, author describes a RGB colour model, features of RGB LED displays, ways of control them. The next chapter contains a short description of the Ethernet interface, UDP and TCP protocols and a lwIP TCP/IP stack. The last theoretical chapter is an introduction to ARM Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 based microcontrollers. The next chaper is deals with a hardware design of the modular RGB LED display. The device is designed to be modular. Individual devices can be combosed together and create a larger display. Data from the Ethernet interface will be displayed on the RGB LED matrix, resolution of the matrix is 32 × 32 (1024 diodes). A refresh frequency is 100 Hz, a color depth is High color (16 bits) and a scanning 1/16 (two rows is driven at the same time). The next chapter describes the firmware for the RGB LED display, all its logical parts including a web page. Author also created the PC application, which sends pictures using UDP protocol to individual modules.

This thesis describes playing draughts game by 6 axis manipulator Lynxmotion AL5D controlled by ARM Cortex M3 MCU. It involves algorithms for image recognition, artificial intelligence and algorithms for controlling 6 axis manipulator in real-time.