MexBIOS Technology: general review

Technological situation

Till today there is no universal software platform for electrical motor/motion control systems (operation system, specific drivers and applications for control, protections, communications and HMI)
Every time developers have to “invent bicycle” when they start to develop software for new motor/motion/power control system
It takes 3-6 months and requires the work of high-qualified programmers team

Solution of the problem: MexBIOS – special operational software environment for motor/motion control and other embedded control systems. Using MexBIOS, it is necessary to load MexBIOS kernel and libraries into MCU and then to make its configuration for a user task.

MexBIOS Concept

Load into program memory the kit of functions usually used for solution of some embedded control tasks (application-specific library, produced by Mechatronica-Pro or another company). Application-specific library can be created via MexBIOS BlockBuilder tool. Conditions and run order of functions and data flow will be set by configuration file, loaded lately by the user.
Load into program memory the special software (MexBIOS kernel), which can provide the set of order and conditions of application specific library functions run (via list of pointers on them on the base of Configuration file information) after a MCU start. Also Configuration file sets the dataflow between inputs/outputs of software functions.
Create Configuration file on the PC using MexBIOS development studio by the method of visual programming and using ready-to-use blocks and applications.
Using BlockBuilder, create (if necessary) users functions and load user-defined library into MCU program memory.
Debug software using MexBIOS development studio (the simulation is supported as well as the real-time debug).

MexBIOS Advantages

possible to use the visual programming and classical text programming simultaneously
integrated imitate simulation on PC of MCU embedded software work as well as models of control objects for test purposes
no need for compilation of project for most cases
ready-to-use content in program memory (pre-installed libraries)
easy integration in existing projects (start under user’s software)
predicted load of MCU
use of standard controlSUITE content
integrated elements for PC virtual control board create
possible to change the algorithms «on the run»
technology of remote access for user support
multiprocessor work support (in stage of development)
possible to use Simulink blocks for simulation purposes

MexBIOS application procedure

Step 1: Load MexBIOS kernel and application specific library into FLASH memory of MCU via standard JTAG. If necessary, load a users library into FLASH. Functions of user library can be created via BlockBuilder.

Step 2: Using MexBIOS Development Studio, create a control system from the supported blocks by visual programming method (or a ready-to-use project can be opened and adapted by user for his needs). If the user wants to use his own algorithm, he can create his own block via BlockBuilder.

Step 3: Do the preliminary test of software in simulation mode (constructed software will be run on PC), it is possible to use mathematical models of control objects for imitation of input and output signals (model of electrical motors, invertors). User can run preinstalled models. User can create his own models via BlockBuilder. User can import models from Simulink.
Step 4: Do construct the virtual control board. It is possible to picture buttons, lamps, sliders, speedometers, oscilloscopes and connect them to the registers of the developed system. It is possible to make animation (value of registers will be connected to the name of *.bmp file).

Step 5: Load Configuration file of MexBIOS into MCU (via SCI/USB/RS232/RS485, SPI, etc.), reinitialize MexBIOS kernel, and run the software for the execution.
Step 6: Do debug via virtual devices of control and indications, data log buffer monitors, WatchWindow. If necessary, do change the structure of block-diagram and return to step 5. When finished, save the configuration file into ROM IC or MCU of the device.

MexBIOS Memory Mapping

Note: MexBIOS Kernel can be installed as addition to the existing Start project of the user or can be started as one project from “white paper” with independent system and periphery registries configuration

MexBIOS Development Studio: Programming of MCU for motor/motion control is an easiest process!!!

MexBIOS Development Studio – IDE for visual embedded software development, simulation, debug of electrical motors/motion/power control systems.

Using blocks from panel of Components, user can create his own “intellect” for his tasks and systems, virtual control board for comfortable control of developed application. For example, for motor control it is possible to use library iqDMC from TI.

Ready-to-use blocks and applications

Component panel contains the pre-installed blocks:

Embedded – MCU configurations, subsystems, streams
Standard – constants, inputs/outputs for direct memory address, connections to another MCU/PC
Math – all standard arithmetic and fixed-point actions
Logic – logic actions
IqDMC – standard blocks from iqDMC library from Texas Instruments
Drivers – configurations of ADC, PWM, GPIO, QEP, HALL
User – for user-defined blocks

Embedded debug

Watch Window and Data Log buffer monitor

variables show/edit, variables format display set, connection of variables with buffers of data log for the oscilloscope
tune of data logs buffers monitors (scale, period, channels quantity, design properties)
transfer the values of Watch Window variables into block properties as “default”

Project control

Panel of Project Manager

for fast and comfort navigation in the project among blocks, subsystems and streams

Example of Subsystem in MexBIOS Development Studio

Block’s control

Inspector Panel

provides block configuration via block properties set. It is supported for blocks, applications, streams, subsystems. It allows to wire element to documents, reports, Windows application.
It has 2 properties groups:
Design group for set of block visual representation (geometry, color, text, location, size, etc.)
Run-Time group for parameters of block algorithm set (initial conditions, variables IQ-formats, regulators parameters, etc.)

Tool for multitasking software construction

Layer Inspector

Set the frequency and conditions for blocks run
Set the order of blocks run

BlockBuilder

BlockBuilder allows:

to create the blocks and application for MexBIOS by user itself !
to create own blocks by users using classical text programming language (for example C-language) and compilation tools from TI.
to tune the visual representation of blocks (color, text, font, inputs/outputs) for MexBIOS Development Studio

Integrated simulation for test purposes

Before the start of application on real MCU, it is possible to test it via different models of future control objects (on the models of PMSM, BLDC, DC motors, etc.). User can add his own models via BlockBuilder. It is possible to import blocks/systems from Simulink.