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Software Development

As part of the work on the Balloon Board, various software packages have been modified and libraries of tools created, including:

• C/C++ cross compilation

  The GNU cross compiler is installed on the DVD and can be accessed from the commandline or via the Codeblocks IDE, available from the Strat -> Progamming menu.




• ARM Assembler coding/Simulation

  A Java based ARM assembler editor and simulator is being written together with a number of undergraduate practicals. The system is currently in testing and will shortly be incorporated in the EDaL system. In addition a number of ARM assembler support documentation will also be included on the disk.



• Octave Support library for the MDP microcontroller

  The Octave Support Library is a collection of C++ wrappers for CUED's Robot Link Library, kindly supplied by Stéfan van de Walt of the Univeristy of Stellenbosch.

  • Guide

    An introduction to the use of the Octave Robot Library octaverobot.pdf

  • Source code

    The necessary source files to compile the .oct files: octaverobotsource.tar.gz

  • Compiled Library

    Compiled ".oct" files for use with the MDP EDaL disk octaverobotcompiled.tar.gz
  
  

• Brandy (BBC Basic) Support for the MDP microcontroller

  Brandy is being ported to the ARM platform, complete with graphics output capability. The source code and binaries will be made available via the MDP website and the main Debian site.

• General Purpose Interface Board - PIC Firmware

  The MDP General Purpose Interface Board uses a PIC Micro to give i2c control of 4 channels of PWM and 5 channels of ADC. Documentation for the firmware is available online: manual.pdf

  The firmware is available in three tar balls:

  • library.tar.gz
  • motor_controller.tar.gz
  • bootloader.tar.gz

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