Compiling Thymio firmware

Source code

To compile the firmware from git, you need the following source code:

• Aseba, branch master
• aseba-target-thymio2 , branch master and its submodules

Tools

You need the MPLAB X environment and C compiler:

• IDE: MPLAB X
• Compiler: MPLAB XC16
• Legacy Peripheral Libraries:PIC24/dsPIC® DSCs

Compilation

You can compile using two methods, one using CMake (only compiling) or used the Microchip MPLAB X tool

CMake

Follow compilation instructions

Use MPLAB X

First, you need to start MPLAB X and create a new project:

• Microcontroller: PIC24FJ128GB106
• Compiler: XC16
• Hardware tool: None (simulator, or whatever).

Use the linker script provided in the aseba-target-thymio2 git tree.

Use the following sources:

• from aseba-target-thymio2 git tree, almost everything except skel-usb-user.c/h:

  abo.c, analog.c, behavior.c, button.c, crc.c, entry.s, ground_ir.c, ir_prox.c, leds.c, leds_low.s, log.c, main.c, mma7660.c, mode.c, motor.c, ntc.c, pid_motor.c, playback.c, pmp.c, pwm_motor.c, rc5.c, regulator.c, rf.c, sd/ff.c, sd/mmc.c, sd.c, sensors.c, skel-usb.c, sound.c, test_mode.c, thymio-buffer.c, thymio_natives.c, tone.c, usb_uart.c, wav.c

• from usb_pic24 folder:

  usb_descriptors.c, usb_device.c, usb_function_cdc.c

• from aseba git tree:

  vm/natives.c, vm/vm.c, transport/buffer/vm-buffer.c

• from molole git tree:

  clock/clock.c, error/error.c, flash/flash.c, i2c/i2c.c, i2c/master.c, i2c/master_protocol.c, timer/timer.c

Note that if you want to edit the firmware, you should add the following two files from the aseba-target-thymio2 git tree as "Important files": skel-usb-user.c, skel-usb-user.h. You should not compile them directly, as they are included from skel-usb.c/h. The reason is that skel-usb.c/h is target-independent code, while skel-usb-user.c/h is target-dependent code.

Project setup:

• Define common macros: ASEBA_LIMITED_MESSAGE_SIZE;ASEBA_ASSERT
• Compiler options: -Os -mlarge-code -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-strict-aliasing
• On, linux add: -fno-peephole2, because of a compiler bug (official workaround from microchip).
• Add molole, usb_pic24, aseba git tree, and aseba-target-thymio2 as include search path.

Here are screenshots of the detailed options you should set in the project properties:

Then you should be able to compile the firmware. To upload it to the robot, use the Thymio firmware upgrader and not a program such as icd3 or pickit3.