Difference between revisions of "MISC-TN-002: The scalability of the Axel family: a real-world example"

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(The unified software development environment)
(The unified software development environment)
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From the software development standpoint, the common factor across all the product variants is the main user application. To simplify the management of all the variants, we provided the customer with one virtual machine implemented as a [[Managed_Virtual_Machine_(MVM)|Managed Virtual Machine (MVM)]].
 
From the software development standpoint, the common factor across all the product variants is the main user application. To simplify the management of all the variants, we provided the customer with one virtual machine implemented as a [[Managed_Virtual_Machine_(MVM)|Managed Virtual Machine (MVM)]].
  
This virtual machine is based on the MVMs delivered along with the following development kits:
+
This virtual machine, in turn, is based on the MVMs delivered along with the following development kits:
 
*[[AXEL_ULite_and_SBC_Lynx_Embedded_Linux_Kit_(XUELK)|AXEL ULite and SBC Lynx Embedded Linux Kit (XUELK)]]
 
*[[AXEL_ULite_and_SBC_Lynx_Embedded_Linux_Kit_(XUELK)|AXEL ULite and SBC Lynx Embedded Linux Kit (XUELK)]]
 
*[[Axel_Embedded_Linux_Kit_(XELK)|Axel Embedded Linux Kit (XELK)]].
 
*[[Axel_Embedded_Linux_Kit_(XELK)|Axel Embedded Linux Kit (XELK)]].
 
+
We managed to set up in one MVM all the tools required to handle the board support packages (BSP) for all the models and to develop the main user application which is based on the [https://www.qt.io/ Qt 5.9.2 libraries].
 
 
*The board support package (BSP), including the bootloader, the Linux kernel, etc.
 
*The main user application which is based on the [https://www.qt.io/ Qt 5.9.2 libraries].
 
  
 
As previously stated,
 
As previously stated,

Revision as of 11:53, 22 December 2017

Info Box
Axel-lite 02.png Applies to Axel Lite
AXEL ULite-top.png Applies to AXEL ULite

History[edit | edit source]

Version Date Notes
1.0.0 December 2017 First release

Introduction[edit | edit source]

One of the most appreciated characteristics of the Axel family is the scalability in terms of performances and feature set. This technical note illustrates a real-world example in which this scalability was heavily exploited by DAVE Embedded Systems to produce an entire family of products originated from a common hardware project and sharing a unified software development environment. All of this allowed our customer to reduce dramatically the time-to-market and to limit the software development/maintenance costs.

The hardware platform[edit | edit source]

The following image depicts the simplified block diagram of the hardware platform.


caption


It was designed around the system-on-module, indicated as SOM in the picture. As stated before, the range of the SOMs fitting this application is considerable. It embraces both the compact AXEL ULite class of products and the more powerful AxelLite class.

Thanks to the substantial pinout and form factor compatibility, the hardware design team managed to conceive a "one-size-fits-all" solution. In other words, a single carrier board able to host all the selected SOMs was designed.

Several factors differentiate the final products which are the result of different carrier board/SOM/application software combinations. Clear examples of these factors are the size and the resolution of the supported LCD screen which range from 7" @ 800x480 to 15.6" @ 1920x1080.

The unified software development environment[edit | edit source]

From the software development standpoint, the common factor across all the product variants is the main user application. To simplify the management of all the variants, we provided the customer with one virtual machine implemented as a Managed Virtual Machine (MVM).

This virtual machine, in turn, is based on the MVMs delivered along with the following development kits:

We managed to set up in one MVM all the tools required to handle the board support packages (BSP) for all the models and to develop the main user application which is based on the Qt 5.9.2 libraries.

As previously stated,