uTasker V1.4.2 for Kinetis

[mjbcswitzerland]

Hi All

The uTasker Kinetis release 1.4.2 is now available. The complete release notes and software are at http://www.utasker.com/forum/index.php?topic=1721.0

The highlights are as follows:

- multiple interface and network support, including Micrel KSZ8863 SMI mode allowing using the single Ethernet controller in the Kinetis to realise 2 independent physical Ethernet connections (optionally with different MAC, IPs and/or on different VLANs)

- Emcraft board support

- ELZET80 board and module support - see http://www.elzet80.de/kbed.html As well as standard setups in the project, ELZET80 supplies application level code to fully utilise the modules' features, as well as various additional documents

- Magic frame and UDP based discovery - powerful Windows utility supplied by ELZET80 (ELZET80 Network-Utility)

- The full version contains a stand-alone web server based boot loader (on top of the SREC, USB-MSD, SD card loaders)

- Various new drivers and features as detailed in the complete release-notes

Below are some images from various board configurations running in the uTasker simulator!

Major parts of, or complete, project development and testing is possible in the Kinetis simulator environment using Microsoft VisualStudio (Free Express edition is adequate) which can greatly increase project efficiency compared to working only with embedded IDEs and debuggers.

Regards

Mark

http://www.uTasker.com

   

ELZET80 KBED module (second with I2C bus extension module)

ELZET80 NET-K60 module with LCD and Matrix Keyboard

EMCRAFT K70F120 module and base board

[mjbcswitzerland]

Note that the ELZET80 Device Discovery utility description is here:

http://files.elzet80.de/Device-Discovery-manual.pdf

Some background information:

The utility can be used to discover devices in a network and command them to a web server based boot loader mode; this is a typical and general requirement in many network based projects. However, the embedded software supports a technique where new applications written by users can be loaded and recovery is possible even if the application were faulty, even if it fails to correctly enable the standard watchdog and stops Ethernet communication. An "application verification" technique means that the boot loader will monitor the correct operation of the application and not allow this to be able to happen until the user has successfully verified the correct operation.

This was developed for situations where the modules are installed in locations where recovering such after errors in loading new (probably test software) code could result in major difficulties (roof mounted control nodes which are difficult to access or mast mounted communication nodes requiring specially trained personal to recover hardware, etc.) in order to remove potential risks. The uTasker Kinetis project has such mechanisms integrated into it and the ELZET80 module applications make full use of it as standard project support.

Regards

Mark