ESP32 Wifi-Bluetooth Module

2018-04-23 admin

In this article we describe briefly the ESP32 chip from Espressif

This lower power SOC contains a 32 bit MCU with bluetooth and wifi modules. At the Espressif web site we can find the detailed informations about the ESP32

ESP32 Resources

The device datasheet is available in the following pdf document

ESP32 Datasheet

The ESP32 modules are available individually or in a development kits; the last system simplifies its usage as the development kit contains all the hardware to use rapidly the soc device; we are already ready to load the firmware and use the device.

On internet various web sites describe home automation or iot projects using this soc.

A reference site for the ESP32 is

esp32

At above link we can find the various development platforms utilized for the ESP32. The most relevant are

Arduino Ide

ESP32 Arduino

ESP-IDF

ESP32 IDF

Micropython

MicroPython

PlatformIO

PlatformIO

Firmware Lua

LuaNode

Lua-RTOS-ESP32

Nodemcu Development

We can buy the ESP32 modules/dev kits from various internet online websites, for example ebay

ESP32 on ebay

Different ESP32 modules are available from different vendors

Espressif esp-wroom-32

AI-Thinker esp32s

At the link

http://esp32.net/

different hardware configurations available are listed.

As development kits we report

AI-Thinker NodeMCU-32S

DoIT ESP32 Dev Kit

There are development kits based on esp32 that also integrate a LORA wireless module internally

Lora

We report for example the following

Heltec Wifi LoRa 32

TTGO LoRa32

In the next articles we’ll describe how to build firmwares and use the ESP32 MCU.

Configuration, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Print Test File

2018-02-17 admin

After the OctoPrint server configuration

Printer settings

we set the connection parameters for the printer.

After connecting to the OctoPrint server with the octoprint user and password as password, we set up the printer connection

With these settings it is possible to print a gcode file already generated with Cura or Slic3r

Cura

Slic3r

or upload a stl file on which the slice will be executed using the loaded cura profile and the CuraEngine on the Orange Pi PC system.

In the case where a stl file is imported, the slicing of the file is proposed

At this point the file is ready for printing

Once the printing is started, the progress and temperature can be checked

as the layers that are being created

In this example, the basic settings were used to start the system for the first time.

For further information and configurations on OctoPrint refer to the software documentation

Octoprint Documentation

At the following link the supported printers are listed

Supported printers

Configuration, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Printer Settings

2018-01-08 admin

After defining the local hostname resolution

Local Hostname Resolution

at this point it is necessary to configure the printer.

WARNING: Use of the settings shown is at your own risk. We assume no responsibility if these settings cause malfunctions or breakage of the printer.

At the first access to OctoPrint, the basic parameters for managing the printer are requested. In our case, we connect the Orange PI PC to an Anet A8 3d printer via the USB port. At the first access to the address

http://3dprinter.local

a configuration mask is shown

pressing next we access the next screen where to define the user who manages the printer with his password

We press Keep Access Control; the next step is the control of the Internet connection in which we disable the Connectivity Check

We have to import our cura profile for Anet A8 and set the path to the executable CuraEngine, compiled in the previous article

Octoprint Installation

The imported profile must be generated by Cura 15.04.x or older. Below is the link to the various versions of the Cura software

Cura

We can now define the parameters of the printer, in our case Anet A8

We set the bed size and print volume

The speed of movement using the control panel is defined in the next step; we set up conservative parameters

Finally, we set the extruder parameters

At the next screen we set the commands to be sent to Debian directly from OctoPrint; they are set as follows

Restart OctoPrint: echo password |  sudo -S systemctl restart octoprint

Restart system: echo password | sudo -S reboot

Shutdown system: echo password |  sudo -S poweroff

Restart OctoPrint: echo password | sudo -S systemctl restart octoprint

Restart system: echo password | sudo -S reboot

Shutdown system: echo password | sudo -S poweroff

where in the password you must enter the password to run the root commands on Debian.

The folder in which Octoprint has been installed is inserted for the software update

We do not insert anything for the webcam

Finally, the configuration is completed with the Finish button.

For more OctoPrint settings and addons refer to the site

OctoPrint

In the next article we’ll print a test model

Print test file

Configuration, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Local Hostname Resolution

2018-01-03 admin

After configuring haproxy for the use of content in http on the standard port

HAProxy Installation

we configure the Linux machine to publish the hostname on the network with the avahi daemon.

On Linux and OSX machines this service is natively visible, while for Windows systems it is necessary to install the Bonjour service

Bonjour application for windows

On the Orange PI PC the avahi daemon must be installed with the command

sudo apt-get install avahi-daemon

1	sudo apt-get install avahi-daemon

We change the name to which our 3D print server must match in the two files /etc/hosts and /etc/hostname

sudo nano /etc/hosts
sudo nano /etc/hostname

1 2	sudo nano /etc/hosts sudo nano /etc/hostname

In our case the name orangepcpc has been changed to 3dprinter.

Restarting the linux box, the services are accessible using the name 3dprinter.local.

In the next article we’ll show a printer configuration

Printer Settings

Configuration, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – HAProxy Installation

2017-12-13 admin

After the automatic start of OctoPrint configuration

OctoPrint Autostart

at this point we can set up the system to answer to the standard port of an Http server.

For this purpose we install and configure the HAProxy reverse proxy

HAproxy

Proceed to the installation

sudo apt-get install haproxy

1	sudo apt-get install haproxy

Edit the /etc/haproxy/haproxy.cfg file and add to the default the directives including also the use of webcam

frontend public
        bind :::80 v4v6
        use_backend webcam if { path_beg /webcam/ }
        default_backend octoprint

backend octoprint
        reqrep ^([^\ :]*)\ /(.*)     \1\ /\2
        option forwardfor
        server octoprint1 127.0.0.1:5000

backend webcam
        reqrep ^([^\ :]*)\ /webcam/(.*)     \1\ /\2
        server webcam1  127.0.0.1:8080

frontend public

bind :::80 v4v6

use_backend webcam if { path_beg /webcam/ }

default_backend octoprint

backend octoprint

reqrep ^([^\ :]*)\ /(.*) \1\ /\2

option forwardfor

server octoprint1 127.0.0.1:5000

backend webcam

reqrep ^([^\ :]*)\ /webcam/(.*) \1\ /\2

server webcam1 127.0.0.1:8080

Restart the proxy with the command

sudo systemctl restart haproxy

1	sudo systemctl restart haproxy

Restart the Orange PI. If everything is configured correctly, the 3D print server answers on port 80 of the Orange Pi PC ip address

http://ORANGEPIPC_IP

It is possible to map the Octoprint service on port 5000 only to the loopback interface by editing the file ~/.octoprint/config.yaml

nano ~/.octoprint/config.yaml

1	nano ~/.octoprint/config.yaml

and adding the host reference under the server directive

server:
    host: 127.0.0.1

1 2	server: host: 127.0.0.1

Restart OctoPrint

sudo systemctl restart octoprint

1	sudo systemctl restart octoprint

Now the 5000 port is mapped only with the address 127.0.0.1.

In the next article, we’ll configure Linux to publish the hostname on the network so that it can be accessed through this reference without using the IP address

Local Hostname Resolution

Configuration, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Autostart

2017-11-23 admin

After the installation of OctoPrint and CuraEngine in the previous article

OctoPrint Package Installation

we treat now the configuration of the 3d print server.

As first operation, we set up the automatic startup of OctoPrint.

Run the following commands

sudo cp /opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/scripts/octoprint.init /etc/init.d/octoprint
sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/octoprint
sudo cp /opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/scripts/octoprint.default /etc/default/octoprint

sudo cp /opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/scripts/octoprint.init /etc/init.d/octoprint

sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/octoprint

sudo cp /opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/scripts/octoprint.default /etc/default/octoprint

Edit the /etc/ defaults/octoprint file changing the pointing to the executable to start OctoPrint using vi

sudo vi /etc/default/octoprint

1	sudo vi /etc/default/octoprint

or nano

sudo nano /etc/default/octoprint

1	sudo nano /etc/default/octoprint

and edit the file from

# Configuration for /etc/init.d/octoprint

# The init.d script will only run if this variable non-empty.
OCTOPRINT_USER=pi

# base directory to use
#BASEDIR=/home/pi/.octoprint

# configuration file to use
#CONFIGFILE=/home/pi/.octoprint/config.yaml

# On what port to run daemon, default is 5000
PORT=5000

# Path to the OctoPrint executable, you need to set this to match your installation!
#DAEMON=/home/pi/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

# What arguments to pass to octoprint, usually no need to touch this
DAEMON_ARGS="--port=$PORT"

# Umask of files octoprint generates, Change this to 000 if running octoprint as its own, separate user
UMASK=022

# Process priority, 0 here will result in a priority 20 process.
# -2 ensures Octoprint has a slight priority over user processes.
NICELEVEL=-2

# Should we run at startup?
START=yes

# Configuration for /etc/init.d/octoprint

# The init.d script will only run if this variable non-empty.

OCTOPRINT_USER=pi

# base directory to use

#BASEDIR=/home/pi/.octoprint

# configuration file to use

#CONFIGFILE=/home/pi/.octoprint/config.yaml

# On what port to run daemon, default is 5000

PORT=5000

# Path to the OctoPrint executable, you need to set this to match your installation!

#DAEMON=/home/pi/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

# What arguments to pass to octoprint, usually no need to touch this

DAEMON_ARGS="--port=$PORT"

# Umask of files octoprint generates, Change this to 000 if running octoprint as its own, separate user

UMASK=022

# Process priority, 0 here will result in a priority 20 process.

# -2 ensures Octoprint has a slight priority over user processes.

NICELEVEL=-2

# Should we run at startup?

START=yes

# Configuration for /etc/init.d/octoprint

# The init.d script will only run if this variable non-empty.
OCTOPRINT_USER=octoprint

# base directory to use
#BASEDIR=/home/octoprint/.octoprint

# configuration file to use
#CONFIGFILE=/home/octoprint/.octoprint/config.yaml

# On what port to run daemon, default is 5000
PORT=5000

# Path to the OctoPrint executable, you need to set this to match your installation!
DAEMON=/opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

# What arguments to pass to octoprint, usually no need to touch this
DAEMON_ARGS="--port=$PORT"

# Umask of files octoprint generates, Change this to 000 if running octoprint as its own, separate user
UMASK=022

# Process priority, 0 here will result in a priority 20 process.
# -2 ensures Octoprint has a slight priority over user processes.
NICELEVEL=-2

# Should we run at startup?
START=yes

# Configuration for /etc/init.d/octoprint

# The init.d script will only run if this variable non-empty.

OCTOPRINT_USER=octoprint

# base directory to use

#BASEDIR=/home/octoprint/.octoprint

# configuration file to use

#CONFIGFILE=/home/octoprint/.octoprint/config.yaml

# On what port to run daemon, default is 5000

PORT=5000

# Path to the OctoPrint executable, you need to set this to match your installation!

DAEMON=/opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

# What arguments to pass to octoprint, usually no need to touch this

DAEMON_ARGS="--port=$PORT"

# Umask of files octoprint generates, Change this to 000 if running octoprint as its own, separate user

UMASK=022

# Process priority, 0 here will result in a priority 20 process.

# -2 ensures Octoprint has a slight priority over user processes.

NICELEVEL=-2

# Should we run at startup?

START=yes

taking into account also the different user being used.

Add the script to startup automatically OctoPrint

sudo update-rc.d octoprint defaults

1	sudo update-rc.d octoprint defaults

Start OctoPrint with the command

sudo systemctl start octoprint

1	sudo systemctl start octoprint

Check that OctoPrint is active on port 5000 of the Orange PI PC by accessing the address

http://IPORANGEPIPC:5000

1	http://IPORANGEPIPC:5000

Rebooting the Orange PI PC, the OctoPrint server now starts automatically.

In the next article, Linux will be configured to connect to OctoPrint on the Http standard port, i.e. on port 80

HAProxy Installation

Compilation, Installation, Software

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Python package installation

2017-11-21 admin

This article describes how to enable the Orange PI PC board to work as 3d printers network server.

A software that provides this functionality is OctoPrint

OctoPrint

From the OctoPrint site we can download an image for Raspberry PI with the system already ready; in the case of the Orange PI PC we have to install and configure OctoPrint on a Linux image.

You can also use a Linux image available for Orange PI PC and run the steps related to OctoPrint package installation, but you have to check the prerequisites for Octoprint python package installation.

We instead built for this article an image using the Armban scripts.

As a first step, prepare the micro sd card with an Armbian image. In the specific case, we’ll use a Debian Jessie image created using the Armbian script, as indicated on the link

Armbian building

and described also in a previous article

Building Armbian image for Orange PI PC

We followed these steps to build the Armbian image on Ubuntu Xenial 16.04; from a Linux command shell

git clone https://github.com/armbian/build
cd build
./compile.sh

git clone https://github.com/armbian/build

cd build

./compile.sh

In the building options choose

We selected the default kernel configuration

Choose an Orange PI PC board

We used the mainline kernel

and Debian Jessie as distribution

We built an image with desktop envinronment

After this option, the script proceeds to the compilation. The generated image is Armbian_5.34_Orangepipc_Debian_jessie_next_4.13.12_desktop.img. This image can be downloaded from the link

Armbian image for Orange Pi PC

Start Armbian and create the user for the Jessie image; in this case we choose octoprint/password as user.

If necessary, reconfigure the keyboard with the command

sudo dpg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

1 2	sudo dpg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

and proceed to upgrade the system

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

1 2	sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade

If the system needs to be configured via a wireless connection, the connection must be active at startup. For this purpose in our case we used the Wicd daemon

Wicd Debian

Remove the network-manager package

sudo apt-get remove network-manager

1	sudo apt-get remove network-manager

This command uninstalls network-manager and network-manager-gnome.

Check that the wireless interface is not present in

/etc/network/interfaces

cat /etc/network/interfaces

1	cat /etc/network/interfaces

Proceed to Wicd installation

sudo apt-get install wicd

1	sudo apt-get install wicd

Check that the octoprint user is present in the netdev group

cat /etc/group | grep netdev

1	cat /etc/group \| grep netdev

In our case it is already present, giving as a result

If not present, add it with the command

sudo adduser octoprint netdev
sudo /etc/init.d/dbus reload

1 2	sudo adduser octoprint netdev sudo /etc/init.d/dbus reload

Start wicd

sudo systemctl start wicd

1	sudo systemctl start wicd

Logon to the armbian graphic desktop and start the wireless configuration with the command

wicd-client -n

1	wicd-client -n

Configure and save the network connection from the graphical interface.

If you want the remote desktop follow the steps listed in the article

Remote desktop setup for Armbian on Orange PI PC

We can now install Octoprint. Follow the steps available at the link

OctoPrint installation on Linux

Install the prerequisites

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python-pip python-dev python-setuptools virtualenv python-virtualenv git libyaml-dev build-essential

1 2	sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install python-pip python-dev python-setuptools virtualenv python-virtualenv git libyaml-dev build-essential

Create under /opt the octoprint folder and assign the ownership to octoprint

sudo mkdir /opt/octoprint
sudo chown octoprint:octoprint -R /opt/octoprint

sudo mkdir /opt/octoprint

sudo chown octoprint:octoprint -R /opt/octoprint

In a Linux shell command go to /opt/octoprint folder and download the software

cd /opt/octoprint
git clone https://github.com/foosel/OctoPrint.git

1 2	cd /opt/octoprint git clone https://github.com/foosel/OctoPrint.git

Run

cd OctoPrint
virtualenv venv
./venv/bin/pip install pip --upgrade
./venv/bin/python setup.py install

cd OctoPrint

virtualenv venv

./venv/bin/pip install pip --upgrade

./venv/bin/python setup.py install

Create the .octoprint folder

mkdir ~/.octoprint

1	mkdir ~/.octoprint

Add octoprint to the following groups to manage the 3d printer using the USB port

sudo usermod -a -G tty octoprint
sudo usermod -a -G dialout octoprint

1 2	sudo usermod -a -G tty octoprint sudo usermod -a -G dialout octoprint

Check the correct installation by running the command

/opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

1	/opt/octoprint/OctoPrint/venv/bin/octoprint

The OctoPrint server can be reached on port 5000 at the IP address of Orange PI PC

http://ipaddress:5000

Install the Cura Engine at this point; place yourself in the octoprint user’s home and download the source package

cd
wget https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine/archive/15.04.6.tar.gz

1 2	cd wget https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine/archive/15.04.6.tar.gz

Unpack the package

tar -zxvf 15.04.6.tar.gz

1	tar -zxvf 15.04.6.tar.gz

Go into the unpacked folder

cd CuraEngine-15.04.6/

1	cd CuraEngine-15.04.6/

Run the compilation with the command

make

make

The compiled software is located under the build folder

Create the /opt /octoprint/cura folder and copy the CuraEngine file to this folder

mkdir /opt/octoprint/cura
cd ~/CuraEngine-15.04.6/build
cp CuraEngine /opt/octoprint/cura/

mkdir /opt/octoprint/cura

cd ~/CuraEngine-15.04.6/build

cp CuraEngine /opt/octoprint/cura/

The executable is now in the /opt/octoprint/cura folder and will be used later by OctoPrint.

In the next article we’ll treat how to configure OctoPrint’s automatic startup

OctoPrint Autostart

Configuration, Software

Enigma 2 – How to read the contents of an image

2017-08-20 admin

In the previous article

OpenaATV Enigma2 image compilation

we built an Enigma2 image.

This shows how to view the content of an Enigma2 image.

As an example we will always use the image for Zgemma H2H.

In a Linux environment, Debian 8 in our case, download the image to a folder, for example enigma2

In a terminal unzip it with the command

unzip imagename.zip

1	unzip imagename.zip

In the unpacked folder we have several files

What we are interested in is rootfs.bin.

The command

file filename

1	file filename

provides informations about the file type. In the case of rootfs.bin

the command indicates that this is an image with ubi filesystem.

Now install the memory technology device utilities as the first step. In a terminal run

sudo apt-get install mtd-utils

1	sudo apt-get install mtd-utils

To view the contents run

sudo modprobe nandsim first_id_byte=0x2c second_id_byte=0xda third_id_byte=0x90 fourth_id_byte=0x95
sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 0
sudo ubiformat /dev/mtd0 -O 2048 -f ./rootfs.bin
sudo modprobe ubi
sudo ubiattach -p /dev/mtd0  -O 2048
sudo mkdir /mnt/ubifs
sudo mount -t ubifs /dev/ubi0_0 /mnt/ubifs

sudo modprobe nandsim first_id_byte=0x2c second_id_byte=0xda third_id_byte=0x90 fourth_id_byte=0x95

sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 0

sudo ubiformat /dev/mtd0 -O 2048 -f ./rootfs.bin

sudo modprobe ubi

sudo ubiattach -p /dev/mtd0 -O 2048

sudo mkdir /mnt/ubifs

sudo mount -t ubifs /dev/ubi0_0 /mnt/ubifs

The file content is now visible under /mnt/ ubifs

To unmount the filesystem run

sudo umount /mnt/ubifs

1	sudo umount /mnt/ubifs

Finally to detach the UBI from the mtd device use the command

sudo ubidetach /dev/ubi_ctrl -m 0

1	sudo ubidetach /dev/ubi_ctrl -m 0

Below the links to find more informations about mtd and ubi filesystem

UBIFS

Linux MTD UBIFS

Configuration, Software

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – Timecheck example

2017-08-13 admin

After the Python ad Firmata example

Firmata and Python

in this example we use the following programming model

We enable the board to work like Arduino Yun

Linkit 7688 Duo Arduino Yun

As specified in the Mediatek link, you must enable the bridge on the board; from a terminal in Lede run

uci set yunbridge.config.disabled='0'  
uci commit  
reboot

uci set yunbridge.config.disabled='0'

uci commit

reboot

At the reboot go to the Arduino Ide and choose File->Examples->Bridge->TimeCheck

We used the 1.6.5 Arduino Ide; we had issues whith the 1.8 version to build the sketch.

From the Arduino Ide, after the code upload, go to Tool->Serial Monitor to open the serial monitor

The serial monitor window shows the current time.

After that, to run the other examples , disable the bridge setting with the commands

uci set yunbridge.config.disabled='1'  
uci commit  
reboot

uci set yunbridge.config.disabled='1'

uci commit

reboot

Configuration, Software

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – Firmata and Python

2017-08-05 admin

After the python test in the previous article

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – MPU-MCU Uart communication

here we describe how to do the same operation using the Firmata python library

Firmata Protocol

In this case, the programming model is the following

As first step, described in the Mediatek article

Using Firmata with Python

we install the Firmata python library; in a linux terminal on LEDE run

pip install pyfirmata

1	pip install pyfirmata

In the Arduino IDE choose File->Examples->Firmata->StandardFirmata

Make the following change in sketch code:

Look for the code

Firmata.begin(57600);
while (!Serial) {

and replace it with

Serial1.begin(57600);
Firmata.begin(Serial1);

while (!Serial1) {

Save the file and perform the compilation and upload on the Linkit 7688 Duo.

In a linux terminal in Lede create the blink_with_firmata.py file and copy the following code inside

from pyfirmata import Arduino, util
from time import sleep
 
board = Arduino('/dev/ttyS0')
print "Start blinking D13"
while True:
    board.digital[13].write(1)
    sleep(0.5)
    board.digital[13].write(0)
    sleep(0.5)<span class="kwd">  </span>

from pyfirmata import Arduino, util

from time import sleep

board = Arduino('/dev/ttyS0')

print "Start blinking D13"

while True:

board.digital[13].write(1)

sleep(0.5)

board.digital[13].write(0)

sleep(0.5)<span class="kwd"> </span>

Save and quit.

Always in a linux terminal run now

python ./blink_with_firmata.py

1	python ./blink_with_firmata.py

The LED on the card should turn on and off.

Below is the link to download the two files ready for the Link 7688 Duo

Lede Python Firmata files

In the next article we’ll enable the board to work like Arduino Yun

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – Timecheck example

Micro Devices

ESP32 Wifi-Bluetooth Module

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Print Test File

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Printer Settings

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Local Hostname Resolution

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – HAProxy Installation

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Autostart

OctoPrint installation on Orange PI PC – Python package installation

Enigma 2 – How to read the contents of an image

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – Timecheck example

LEDE on Linkit 7688 Duo – Firmata and Python

Blog about embedded devices