ZombieVerter VCU Support

[Jack Bauer]

Folks having issues with flashing the VCU can you please list your OS and browser used. Good news is I can now finally generate this problem on demand.

[Jack Bauer]

So following from a report from a Patron on Discord I discovered that If I use Windows 10 for an update it will "brick" the vcu every time in the exact way reported here. The symptoms are a very slow update followed by a lack of activity led blinking and further updates fail to bring the VCU back to life.

Attached is a blank .bin file. Basically the same size as the vcu bin but with all zeros. I flashed this into the vcu using Ubuntu, reflashed a normal bin and viola! we are back to life. Also tested this just now on win 7 and works the same. What I suspect is happening here is that the OS is not allocating enough runtime to the browser and the result is the same as a poor wifi connection. Could be wrong but please try and let me know.

[et0]

What I suspect is happening here is that the OS is not allocating enough runtime to the browser and the result is the same as a poor wifi connection. Could be wrong but please try and let me know.

Aha! I knew I wasn't imagining things
(I was using Win 10 / Edge when struggling with the interface before, and got locked out.)

Well that's good news, we know how to avoid it now. Thank you.

I've just tried loading this blank image then the good image that you posted previously, onto the bricked board.
The loading seems to go smoothly from both iphone and ubuntu, but unfortunately still no blinking light or interface data yet (tried a few times).

I do have a STM JTAG loader so might try directly flashing it later.

[et0]

OK, it’s beginning to look a bit like Christmas - the bricked board is working again.

To get this I did a full flash erase and loaded the stm32_vcu.hex using st-link v2. That wasn’t super obvious so picture below for how I hooked it up.


So it’s working but I now don’t have a boot loader. I did try loading johu’s v4 boot loader .hex (from here viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1119) and then tried to update the usual .bin file via the GUI. That completes but doesn’t start blinking.

Is there a right version of boot loader to use, or any special option needed in the chip setup?

[deeamon]

Try this bootloader:

https://github.com/jsphuebner/tumanako- ... s/tag/v5.2

First upload bootloader.hex then firmware.hex via st-link

[et0]

Try this bootloader:

https://github.com/jsphuebner/tumanako- ... s/tag/v5.2

First upload bootloader.hex then firmware.hex via st-link

Thanks, same result, that gets it alive but any update attempt (from Ubuntu/Firefox) kills it.

Loading the firmware with ST-Link seems more practical at the moment so I will continue with that.

[Jack Bauer]

That's crazy. I just really cannot understand whats happening here. Ease of updates via wifi is one of the main reasons I went this path.

[et0]

Starting to wonder if the .bin file is getting mashed somewhere in the journey across the web, as well.

The only time I’ve had success with updating was with the image I built locally. But since it went wrong (due to win10 / wifi etc) I’ve been trying to rescue it with the “known good” file that you posted, but thinking about it that has 100% never worked

I’ll check again with the local file when I get a chance.

[johu]

Can any of you try to update a bricked board with a USB cable attached to the wifi sockets uart? Using the updater python script: https://github.com/jsphuebner/tumanako- ... updater.py

Code: Select all

python updater.py -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -f stm32_vcu.bin

[andrewjenkins34]

So I'm still waiting for the mailman to deliver several items but I've made some progress.
I had a MCP2003 installed to replace the LIN transceiver that I fried based on recommendation from tech support at digikey but Damien listed a MCP2004 as a replacement. I guess we'll see if that makes a difference.
I was able to perform an update today with the latest .bin file and will initialize my ISA shunt as soon as it gets here. Ordered it from EV West.
I'm having some problems getting the module to connect to my home Wi-Fi. When I enter the SSID and password, it will redirect to another blank page and nothing happens. There is no ip address created so I've been sticking with connecting to the ESP network. It's a little slow but otherwise no communication problems.
At this point, the most fun I can have is to watch the throttle pedal plot a graph for both channels.
I will eventually need to send RPM output to another computer to control the transmission, any suggestions for how to do that would be greatly appreciated as well. I guess it could be done by CAN.

I'm using a GA8P75HZ transmission from a BMW hybrid and so far there's a few things that have popped up. I went ahead and connected the 2-wire temp sensor to the MG1 and MG2 temp sensor pins and it's reading 200 degrees C at room temperature. It's cooler today then yesterday but it was 6,000 degrees yesterday. I could use some help figuring out how to get it reading the correct temperature.

I have also not seen in the web interface a way to perform the FOC tuning in order to get the motor spinning. If I upload the FOC.bin will it work with the Zombie or is there something else I need to be doing? Still waiting on the HV connector to the transmission. I've identified the resolver wiring but obviously can't move past that at this point.

Thanks all.

[Uppertown]

Can any of you try to update a bricked board with a USB cable attached to the wifi sockets uart? Using the updater python script: https://github.com/jsphuebner/tumanako- ... updater.py

Code: Select all

python updater.py -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -f stm32_vcu.bin

I'm looking into it but to be honest I am well out of my depth at the moment, if you or anyone else can help me sort which wire on the USB goes to which pin on the uart it would be a great help, I think I can find someone at work to baby step me through running a script but again if anyone can point me at a complete idiots guide to using github and running scripts it would be a help, I'm afraid this could be long slow process while I learn things I've spent 40 odd years avoiding.

[nkiernan]

Quick chip query for the VCU. I'm getting some help soldering the IC's that came loose in the kit. There are two left, IC14 and IC19, and I might have a similar issue to a previous post.

This would be IC19, the NCV7356, but want to double check the orientation. No clear marker so which pin would align with the dot on the PCB, upper left pin as per the image below?

That leaves this chip for IC14, tried searching to see what it is as its not the TJA1020 or MCP2004 suggested as a replacement. Am I right thinking this is just the wrong chip for this kit, or have I misplaced one of the others!?

[chuuux]

This would be IC19, the NCV7356, but want to double check the orientation. No clear marker so which pin would align with the dot on the PCB, upper left pin as per the image below?

Usually а chip has a slightly larger bevel on the side with the first pin (which is marked with a point on the board)

[streber]

Can any of you try to update a bricked board with a USB cable attached to the wifi sockets uart? Using the updater python script: https://github.com/jsphuebner/tumanako- ... updater.py

Code: Select all

python updater.py -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -f stm32_vcu.bin

I have one of the GD based boards and it was working until I tried to update the firmware.

To be honest I've tried a bunch of stuff, so not really sure the state of the board at the moment.

I tried the updater scripts and got this:

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 python3 updater.py -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -f bootupdater/stm32_bootupdater.bin
File length is 2728 bytes/3 pages
Resetting device...
Sending number of pages...
Sending page 0... b''
Sending page 0... b''
Sending page 0... b''

and no progress. I have tried swapping the TX and RX pins to be sure I didn't get them backwards and I get the same result either way.

Is there a guide for basically starting from scratch to get the board setup? I have a knockoff stlink-v2 and usb->ttl cable. The stlink seems works with the make flash commands once I update the script in the make file to point at the stlink-v2.cfg instead of parport.cfg.

[johu]

Looks like no loader running at all. Please don't test with the boot_updater anyhow. If you reflash stm32_loader.hex and stm32_vcu.hex and then listen on /dev/ttyUSB0 with a terminal program, you should see the "2D" bootup message when resetting/powering on.

[Jack Bauer]

Folks, I don't what to do more to get information across. The GD based boards will not run the firmware intended for the ST boards without the modifications that Johannes Identified. I can't do everything. Johannes can't do everything. I sold those GD based boards at basically cost price thanks to some sponsorship from pcbway to get the thing out there and get some feedback and encourage folks to take part. If you want to use the current ST based firmware either A)Replace the GD device with an ST part or B)Modify the firmware to run on the GD part. Now can SOMEONE PLEASE add this to the wiki.

[streber]

Looks like no loader running at all. Please don't test with the boot_updater anyhow. If you reflash stm32_loader.hex and stm32_vcu.hex and then listen on /dev/ttyUSB0 with a terminal program, you should see the "2D" bootup message when resetting/powering on.

I double checked everything and I had the pin out on the UEXT wrong, so now that I have the USB->TTL cable on correctly I can use the updater script, but it isn't helping likely since I have a GD based board. I see the "2D" over and over, so if I'm understanding this correctly the firmware is crashing and the system is in a reboot loop.

Is there a particular commit that should work on GD board that I can use to try to get it back to where it was when it shipped?

[Jack Bauer]

Yes. Its called the GD Zombie branch :
https://github.com/damienmaguire/Stm32- ... /GD_Zombie

Now all we need is a pull request with the current master firmware modded to run on the GD part and I'll happily merge it in and maintain it.

[EV_Builder]

I will do a study on this Damien what best way forward I can come up with.

I report back.

[Uppertown]

So I'm trying to get my head around Github and specifically how to compile a binary. I've down loaded arm-none-eabi toolchain, Python and chocolatey and installed them OK -I think, but I don't seem to be able to get any further and entering make get-deps in a shell results in this:

can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong and or point me at a complete idiots guide to this?

Cheers

[johu]

Easiest way to go: run Linux
Second easiest way: use the git shell supplied with Tortoise git. Or install cygwin.
But it can be made working on windows: replace all occurrences of "printf" by "echo" and retry.
EDIT: and remove the "ifneq .... endif" under get-deps for now

[Uppertown]

Thanks Johu, I only understand half of that but it's a start, I'll try this evening. Would a Linux for windows subsystem work or does it need a full Linux system?

Cheers

[johu]

Oh, yeah... I was talking about editing the Makefile

But nevermind, try running https://www.cygwin.com/

[davefiddes]

WSL is fine for building the VCU firmware. Just install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store and run

Code: Select all

sudo apt install build-essential python-is-python3 gcc-arm-none-eabi

to get the basic tools.

[johu]

Maybe we should add gitpod.yml from the inverter project, then you can edit and compile online. Not sure if you can run off my repo, but this is just an example: https://gitpod.io/#https://github.com/j ... stm32-sine