Getting Started With the Radar Sensor
This page will tell you how to get started with the radar sensor. For information about the development of the sensor please see Radar Velocity.
This guide is for use with the BoSL Board rev 0.4.x, and Radar velocity sensor 0.1.x.
Contents
Uploading to the ATmega328PB
The ATmega328PB is the MCU which is used to interface with the sensor. Firmware can be uploaded to this MCU using the Arduino IDE. 0. Download the firmware File:Radar-velocity firmware rev1.6.2.zip
1. Connect the TTL pin block on the radar sensor to a USB- TTL converter. For specific wiring please refer to the table
| Radar Sensor | Cable | USB-TTL converter |
|---|---|---|
| WKE | Half Orange | - |
| TX | Brown | TX |
| RX | Blue | RX |
| 3V3 | Green | 3V3 |
| RST | Orange | RST |
| GND | Half Green | GND |
2. Open the firmware up in the Arduino editor and select the correct port number.
3. Make sure that the BoSL AVR boards have been added to the editor if not please see https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/360016119519-How-to-add-boards-in-the-board-manager and follow the steps with the board manager URL https://monash-bosl.github.io/BoSL-IDE-Core/package_bosl.com.au_index.json.
4. Select the BoSL Boards -> ATmega328PB (3.3V, 8MHz)
5. Click upload
6. The firmware should now upload to the radar velocity sensor
ATmega328PB firmware adjustables
Please adjust the values of line 11 SWEEP_LENGTH and 12 SWEEP_START, to change how far away the radar sweep starts and how long the radar sweep goes for. Please ensure that this value is large enough to cover the expected range of water velocities. Note also that these distances are measured along the line of sight of the sensor.
Connecting to BoSL board
To connect the radar sensor to the BoSL board with the supplied logging code please see the table below:
| Radar Sensor | Cable | USB-TTL converter |
|---|---|---|
| WKE | Half Orange | - |
| TX | Brown | D3 |
| RX | Blue | D2 |
| 3V3 | Green | 3V3 |
| RST | Orange | D6 |
| GND | Half Green | GND |
BoSL logging firmware
Here is supplied firmware for a BoSL board to connect to a radar sensor and log the data to the web: File:BoSL logger radar 1.4.1.zip
Flashing the STM32G071CB
The STM32G071CB on the XM132 is responsible for controlling the A111 radar sensor and performing digital signal processing. This should already come pre-flashed with firmware. Instructions on how to do this are coming soon... If you have access to a UART port on the STM32 and can connect this to a computer then simply using:
py.exe -m stm32loader -p<comport> -b921600 -e -w -v <path to binary>
will flash the STM32
