Prototype Final Objectives

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Almost everything worked in Prototype 1.1 with the exception of Express card. And so, we decided to implement the simpler, more straightforward 'vertical slot PCI Express' instead.

In addition, we also made the layout to be exactly to what they would be in the final version.

Things to test are still the same: COM Express working, VGA, USB, SATA, GBE, PCI Express

For this board we try to put the finishing touches keeping in mind ease of debug by having a lot of labels on the board, especially the 'tracings of the USB panel mount connectors' to know which computer an outlet belongs to.

Prototype Final Results

The logs are written below, but this is the summary: 'Almost All signals work', except for:

* 'X5': the PCI Express slot. * 'X1': Bottom USB on (closest to) Baseboard (in RJ45 jack). * 'X2': Top USB on (farther from back of robot) Back panel mount. * 'X2': Top USB on (farther from USB4 adapter) Side panel mount. * 'X6': Top USB on (farther from back of robot) Back panel mount. * 'X8': Top USB on (farther from back of robot) Back panel mount.

Computers are also stable when powered from the battery.

Bug List

* PCI Express slot for X1 computer * 'The VGA signal for X2 and X4 cannot be displayed on an older Dell monitor', but can be displayed on a newer Samsung SyncMaster2253. M aybe the newer monitor boosted the signals. * Panel mount USB0 in X5 does not work

Logs

'May 26, 2009' We came back from AHI assembly house with the COM-Express connectors soldered on the Base board. We start with power circuitry without the LED's but it didn't work. 'It did work after we put the LEDs.' We got the board to power up and also got the VGA to output a video.

The 'LED color convention':

* SATA: red * -12V: blue * 12V: yellow * 5V sby: blue * 5V: red * 3.3V sby: green * 3.3V: orange * sus3: red * link: white

We then build a mini COM-Express module breakout board to get a more robust VGA signal setup. 15 minutes later, 'the board suddenly stopped working.' VGA does not work, USB keyboard is not powered up. We called Robert Schiedel at Kontron and got an RMA for repair. We send it the next day and they started working on it on the 28th.

One more thing: 'the COM Express connectors are not fully soldered.' After taking the module on and off a few times, the connector legs are no longer sit on the footprint pads. Rand had to re-checked and re-solder them.

'June 1, 2009' We received 8 new COM-Express Boards from WDL today. And so, we set up the baseboard with the KVM and all the peripheral boards. We installed Mandriva Linux and use 'vesa'driver for X. Most of the functionality works, except for the 'PCI Express'. Need more testing why this is the case. Try Congatec & Intel reference, Mother Board PCI Express lane specs. Check the pins when the board is running.

'June 5, 2009' We installed the toolkit and successfully run stream on an mpeg input. Now we are trying to get the 'IPCam' to work.

'June 7, 2009' IP cam worked with delay of more than 66ms latency. Not quite acceptable.

'June 16, 2009' Testing the rest of the computers: X2, X3, X4. Only X3 seem to work and 'PCI-Express worked on X3 module'. There is a USB over-current in X3. Also Ethernet moved from eth0 to eth2 because we use the same Hard Drive that was used in X1 (because the mac addresses are different).

'June 19, 2009' X2 and X4 is also working. As it turned out the problem was in the VGA signal being lost in the KVM board. We jumped the VGA Mux circuit and was able to get a display.

'June 22, 2009' Fixed miscellaneous problems: USB over-current in X3, Soft-On in X4. 'PCI Express in X1 is un-fixed'. VGA signal for X2 and X4 are working on a newer Samsung SyncMaster2253 monitor.

'June 24, 2009' All 4 computers are powered simultaneously, first from a power supply and then from the battery. Ran neovision successfully.

'June 26, 2009' All 4 computers on the second/bottom board are assembled and tested almost everything works.

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