9. Zolertia Re-Mote platform

The Re-Mote platform is a IoT Hardware development platform based on TI’s CC2538 system on chip (SoC), featuring an ARM Cortex-M3 with 512KB flash, 32Kb RAM, double RF interface, and the following goodies:

  • ISM 2.4-GHz IEEE 802.15.4 & Zigbee compliant.
  • ISM 868-, 915-, 920-, 950-MHz ISM/SRD Band.
  • AES-128/256, SHA2 Hardware Encryption Engine.
  • ECC-128/256, RSA Hardware Acceleration Engine for Secure Key Exchange.
  • Power consumption down to 3uA using our shutdown mode.
  • Co-Processor to allow peripheral management, programming over BSL without requiring to press any button to enter bootloader mode.
  • Built-in battery charger (500mA), Energy Harvesting and Solar Panels to be connected to standards LiPo batteries.
  • Power input with wide range 2-26VDC.
  • Built-in TMP102 temperature sensor
  • Small form-factor (as the Z1 mote, half the size of an Arduino) 57x35 mm.

10. Port Features

In terms of hardware support, the following drivers have been implemented:

  • CC2538 System-on-Chip:
    • UART
    • Random number generator
    • Low Power Modes
    • General-Purpose Timers.
    • ADC
    • LEDs
    • Buttons
    • Internal/external 2.4GHz antenna switch controllable by SW.

And under work or pending at cc2538 base cpu:

* RF 2.4GHz built-in in CC2538 (PR #2198)
* SPI/I2C library
* Built-in core temperature and battery sensor.
* TMP102 temperature sensor driver.
* CC1120 sub-1GHz radio interface.
* Micro-SD external storage.
* USB (in CDC-ACM).
* uDMA Controller.

11. Requirements

  • Toolchain to compile RIOT for the CC2538
  • Drivers to enable your host to communicate with the platform
  • Built-in BSL programming over USB using cc2538-bsl (included)

11.1. Install a Toolchain

The toolchain used to build is arm-gcc, to check if it is currently installed run:

$ arm-none-eabi-gcc -v
Using built-in specs.
Target: arm-none-eabi
Configured with: /scratch/julian/lite-respin/eabi/src/gcc-4.3/configure
...
(skip)
...
Thread model: single
gcc version 4.3.2 (Sourcery G++ Lite 2008q3-66)

Else install from https://launchpad.net/gcc-arm-embedded

11.2. Drivers

The Re-Mote features a FTDI serial-to-USB module, the driver is commonly found in most OS, but if required it can be downloaded from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

11.2.1. For the CC2538EM (USB CDC-ACM)

The Re-Mote has built-in support for USB 2.0 USB, Vendor and Product IDs are the following:

  • VID 0x0451
  • PID 0x16C8

On Linux and OS X this is straightforward, on windows you need to install the following driver:

https://github.com/alignan/lufa/blob/remote-zongle/LUFA/CodeTemplates/WindowsINF/LUFA%20CDC-ACM.inf

And replace the IDs accordingly.

11.2.2. Device Enumerations

For the UART, serial line settings are 115200 8N1, no flow control.

Once all drivers have been installed correctly:

On windows, devices will appear as a virtual COM port.

On Linux and OS X, devices will appear under /dev/.

On OS X:

  • XDS backchannel: tty.usbserial-<serial number>
  • EM in CDC-ACM: tty.usbmodemf<X><ABC> (X a letter, ABC a number e.g. tty.usbmodemfd121)

On Linux:

  • Re-Mote over FTDI: ttyUSB1
  • Re-Mote over USB driver (in CDC-ACM): ttyACMn (n=0, 1, ....)