PhytoNode Project

PhytoNode is a modular system for collecting, processing, and transmitting sensor data using an ADC connected to a microcontroller. Built on Mbed OS, it enables real-time operations and communicates seamlessly with a Raspberry Pi for advanced data processing.

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Project Overview

The system comprises the following core components:

1. ADC Module: Interfaces with the AD7124 ADC for high-precision analog-to-digital conversion.
2. Inter-Thread Communication: Manages data flow between threads using Mbed OS's Mail objects.
3. Serial Communication: Ensures efficient data transfer to a Raspberry Pi using FlatBuffers serialization.
4. Utility Functions: Provides tools for data conversion and system performance monitoring.

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Directory Structure

• build/: Build artifacts.
• include/: Header files for all modules.
  • adc/: ADC module headers.
  • interfaces/: Interface headers for inter-thread communication.
  • serial_mail_sender/: Headers for serial communication.
  • utils/: Utility headers for logging and conversion.
• libs/: External libraries.
  • flatbuffers/: FlatBuffers library.
• scripts/: Configuration and utility scripts.
• src/: Source files for project modules.
  • adc/: ADC module implementation.
  • interfaces/: ReadingQueue implementation.
  • serial_mail_sender/: Serial communication logic.
  • utils/: Conversion and performance monitoring utilities.
  • main.cpp: Application entry point.
• docs/: Doxygen-generated documentation.
• third-party/: External dependencies as submodules.
  • flatbuffers/: FlatBuffers library.
  • mbed-os/: Mbed OS source.
• CMakeLists.txt: CMake build configuration.

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Key Features

1. Modular Design

• ADC Module:
  • Manages data acquisition from the AD7124 ADC.
  • Configures channels and performs continuous readings.
• Interfaces:
  • Implements a ReadingQueue for inter-thread communication using a singleton pattern.
• Serial Communication:
  • Serializes ADC data into FlatBuffers format and transmits it over UART.
• Utilities:
  • Converts raw ADC data to meaningful voltage values.
  • Monitors memory and CPU usage for performance optimization.

2. Serialization with FlatBuffers

• Compact and efficient data representation for reliable communication between the microcontroller and Raspberry Pi.

3. Logging and Debugging

• Uses configurable logging macros (INFO, TRACE, etc.) for consistent and readable debug output.

4. Real-Time Operation

• Leverages Mbed OS for multi-threading and real-time scheduling.

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Getting Started

1. Clone the Repository

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/ChristophKarlHeck/phyto-node.git
cd phyto-node

2. Clone the Repository

• Install the required build tools (e.g., CMake, GCC Arm toolchain).
• Configure and build

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3. FLASH the Microcontroller

• Use OpenOCD or pyOCD to flash the firmware

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4. Run the System

• Connect the microcontroller to the Raspberry Pi via UART with the following connections:

  • Microcontroller TX (PC_1) → Raspberry Pi RX (GPIO 15)
  • Microcontroller RX (PC_0) → Raspberry Pi TX (GPIO 14)
  • GND → GND

• Ensure that the Raspberry Pi is running the serial data logger. You can find it here:
  serial-data-logger-phyto-node

• The microcontroller will continuously send serialized ADC data to the Raspberry Pi, which can decode and store the data for further processing.

Documentation

Comprehensive documentation for the PhytoNode project is available online. It provides detailed information about each module, including classes, functions, and usage examples.

• View Documentation:
  PhytoNode Documentation

Enable Logging

• Enable specific log levels (e.g., LOG_LEVEL_INFO) in CMakeLists.txt.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following:

• Mbed OS:
  For providing a powerful real-time operating system that simplifies development on microcontrollers.

• FlatBuffers:
  For enabling efficient and compact data serialization for seamless communication.

• The Developer Community:
  For ongoing support, contributions, and valuable insights that have helped shape this project.

Your contributions and feedback are highly appreciated!