Ameba ARDUINO with AMB82-mini (RTL8735B)

Introduction 

Ameba is an easy-to-program platform for developing all kinds of IoT applications. AMB82 MINI is equipped with various peripheral interfaces, including WiFi, BLE, GPIO INT, I2C, UART, SPI, PWM, ADC. Through these interfaces, AMB82 MINI can connect with electronic components such as LED, switches, manometer, hygrometer, PM2.5 dust sensors, …etc. Besides, AMB82 MINI has 3 key features, Audio codec, Video codec and NN (build in NPU for AIoT). The collected data can be uploaded via WiFi and be utilized by applications on smart devices to realize IoT implementation.

AMB82 mini is connected to the open-source world by one of the widest development environments, Arduino. For more information, HDK, SDK, API documents, Example Guides and so on, refer to Ameba Arduino SDK page

AMB82 MINI uses Micro USB to supply power, which is common in many smart devices.

Please refer to the following figure and table for the pin diagram and functions.

	GPIO pin	GPIO INT	ADC	PWM	UART	SPI	I2C	SWD	LED
0	PF5	✓				SPI1_MISO
1	PF6	✓		✓		SPI1_SCLK
2	PF7	✓		✓		SPI1_MOSI
3	PF8	✓		✓		SPI1_SS
4	PF11	✓		✓
5	PF12	✓		✓
6	PF13	✓		✓
7	PF14	✓		✓
8	PF15	✓		✓
9	PF2	✓	A2				I2C1_SDA
10	PF1	✓	A1				I2C1_SCL
11	PF0	✓	A0
12	PE4	✓				SPI_SS	I2C_SDA
13	PE3	✓				SPI_MOSI	I2C_SCL
14	PE2	✓			SERIAL3_RX	SPI_MISO
15	PE1	✓			SERIAL3_TX	SPI_SCLK
16	PD18	✓
17	PD17	✓
18	PD16	✓			SERIAL2_RX
19	PD15	✓			SERIAL2_TX
20	PD14	✓
21	PA2	✓	A6		SERIAL1_TX
22	PA3	✓	A7		SERIAL1_RX
23	PF9	✓		✓					LED_BUILTIN / LEB_B (blue)
24	PE6	✓							LED_G (green)
25	PF4	✓			LOG_TX
26	PF3	✓	*A3		LOG_RX
27	PA1	✓	A5				I2C2_SDA	SWD_CLK
28	PA0	✓	A4				I2C2_SCL	SWD_DATA
29	PF10	✓

Set up developing environment 

Step 1. OS environment 

AMB82 MINI board currently supports Windows OS 64-bits (Windows 10 and above), Linux OS (Ubuntu22 and above) and MacOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). To have the best experiences, please use the latest version of OS.

For any Linux OS (Ubuntu) related issues, refer to https://forum.amebaiot.com/t/ubuntu-linux-environment/2259.

For any macOS related issues, refer to https://forum.amebaiot.com/t/macos-environment/2260.

Step 2. Installing the Driver 

First, connect AMB82 MINI to the computer via Micro USB:

If this is the first time connects board to computer, the USB driver for board will be automatic installed.

If you have driver issue of connect board to computer please go to http://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html for USB driver.

Check the COM port number in Device Manager of computer:

Step 3. Set up Arduino IDE 

From version 1.6.5, Arduino IDE supports third-party hardware. Therefore, we can use Arduino IDE to develop applications, and the Arduino basic examples are supported. Arduino IDE can be downloaded in the Arduino website: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

When the installation is finished, open Arduino IDE. To set up correctly in Arduino IDE, go to “File” -> “Preferences”

And paste the following URL into “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field: https://github.com/ambiot/ambpro2_arduino/raw/main/Arduino_package/package_realtek_amebapro2_index.json or https://ameba-doc-arduino-sdk-json.readthedocs-hosted.com/en/latest/_static/package_realtek_amebapro2_early_index_rtd.json

Next, go to “Tools” -> “Board” -> “Boards Manager”:

The “Boards Manager” requires about 10~20 seconds to refresh all hardware files (if the network is in bad condition, it may take longer).

Every time the new hardware is connected, we need to reopen the Board Manager. Find “Realtek Ameba Boards” in the list, click “Install”, then the Arduino IDE starts to download required files.

After the installation tool running successfully, you may open Arduino IDE and proceed to “tools” -> “Board“ -> “Boards Manager…”. Try to find “Realtek Ameba Boards” in the list, click “Install”, then the Arduino IDE starts to download required files.

Finally, we select board in “tools” -> “Board” -> “AmebaPro2 ARM (32-bits) Boards” -> “AMB82-MINI”

Try the First Example 

Step 1. Selection Ameba Modes 

There are many different Modes for user to select for different settings of compile and upload. Please refer to the following picture and table.

Mode Name	Usage	Remarks
* Auto Flash Mode	Disable. Manual process to enter flash mode. Enable. Auto process to enter flash mode.
* Camera Options	JFX37. Use the camera sensor JFX37. GC5035. Use the camera sensor GC5035. JFX53. Use the camera sensor JFX53. IMX327. Use the camera sensor IMX327. PS5268. Use the camera sensor PS5268.
* Erase All Flash Memory (16MB)	Disable. No erash flash process. Erase only. Erase entire flash. Erase then Upload. Erase entire flash then upload the current application.
* Camera FCS Mode	Disable. No Camera FCS mode process. Enable. Enable Camera FCS mode, if the camera sensor has FCS mode.
* NN Model Load From	Flash. Load the Neural Network AI model from flash memory. SD Card. Load the Neural Network AI model from SD card memory. Total size of the models depend on the total size of the SD card.
* OTA Mode	Disable. No OTA mode process. Enable. Enable OTA mode.
* Standard Lib	Arduino_STD_PRINTF. Choose the standard library function for compile and upload. Disable. No standard library function.
* Upload Speed	Upload baud rate set as 2000000. Upload baud rate set as 1000000. Upload baud rate set as 230400.

Step 2. Compile 

Arduino IDE provides many built-in examples, which can be compiled, uploaded, and run directly on the boards. Here, we take the “Blink” example as the first try.

Open “File” -> “Examples” -> “01.Basics” -> “Blink”:

Arduino IDE opens a new window with the complete sample code.

Next, we compile the sample code directly; click “Sketch” -> “Verify/Compile”

Arduino IDE prints the compiling messages in the bottom area of the IDE window. When the compilation is finished, you will get the message as following.

Afterwards, we will upload the compiled code to board.

Step 3. Upload 

Please make sure board is connected to computer, then click “Sketch” -> “Upload”.

The Arduino IDE will compile first then upload. Users are required to enter the upload mode of the board. To enter upload mode, first press and hold the UART_DOWNLOAD button, then press and release the RESET button, lastly release the UART_DOWNLOAD button.

Additionally, if the board has the hardware updates and enabled “Auto Flash Mode”, please ignore above instruction.

It is optional for users to check if the board entered the upload mode. Open serial monitor/terminal and check the following information,.

When upload completed, the “Done uploading” message is printed.

Step 4. Run the Blink example 

In each example, Arduino not only provides sample code, but also detailed documentation, including wiring diagram, sample code explanation, technical details, …etc. Please refer the detailed information of the Blink example: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Blink

In short, this example makes on-board LED blinks.

Video Tutorials and Demos 

YouTube Channel: