PowerDNA

UEI Power DNA units are ruggedized PowerPC powered computes, running custom Linux. FPGA array is attached to the CPU, and functions are provided in EUI SDK to load custom code to the FPGA. The FPGA runs hard real-time tasks (processing inputs as providing outputs), while PowerPC CPU uses FPGA channel to access data read from the attached I/O boards.

Configuration

After startup, the cube loads bootloader from flash memory. Based on the boot-loader configuration, one of the following three methods is performed:

• loads kernel from flash, mount root file system from flash and runs init script
• loads kernel from flash, mount root file system from SD card and runs init script
• loads kernel from network, comes with instructions how to mount root file system

Method 2 (kernel from flash, the filesystem on SD card) is primarily used at LBTO. Serial port (RS232) can be used to access the terminal (allows for interacting with bootloader, prints messages as the kernel is loaded, and once loads successfully finish, allows normal terminal operations.

Terminal access

The serial port connection is 57600, 8 bits, 1 stop, no parity. For details see UEIPAC quickstart.

PowerDNA is booted from a Linux kernel image flashed into the internal flash memory (access to the bootloader is possible through serial interface). SD card might hold root filesystem (which might be as well flashed with the kernel image to unit's flash memory).

LBTO is using PowerDNA for OVMS. There are plans to use the units for other tasks requiring hard real-time environment.

UEI Contacts

Brian Dao: BDao@ueidaq.com, support@ueidaq.com, +1 508-921-4564