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diff --git a/docs/handover.adoc b/docs/handover.adoc index c948b7b..0e8af5a 100644 --- a/docs/handover.adoc +++ b/docs/handover.adoc @@ -1,13 +1,19 @@ :document: Handover Report include::share/meta.adoc[] -== A Note Before Reading -The team of year 2023-2024 consisted of only software students, meaning no -hardware was developed in this year. We were tasked with simplifying the -software to the point where it would only have to be ported into the new hardware, -which was designed in the year 2022-2023. The goal of this year is to create -a software framework which can be used to implement new puzzles and to make the -development process of these puzzles easier. +== Introduction + +This is an (at times slightly informal) document that summarizes how the 23-24 +run of this project went. We found the previous handover documents to be +unhelpful when determining the 'actual' state of the project in the first few +weeks, and felt they did not address the pitfalls of this project. + +The team of year 2023-2024 consisted of only software students (see +<<tab:proj-comp>>), meaning no hardware was developed in this year. The goal of +this year is to create a software framework which can be used to implement new +puzzles and to make the development process of these puzzles easier, and allow +the entire software stack to be ported to the the hardware designed by the +22-23 group. Previous years' groups have put their predecessor's documents inside their own project folder, which has resulted in what we called the 'Russian doll folder @@ -19,35 +25,20 @@ require credentials to log in. Please note that this is very much unofficial, and is not managed or endorsed by Avans. <<pn:blansch>> is the contact for removal or transfer of these files. -== Introduction - -This is an informal document that summarizes how the 23-24 run of this project -went. We found the previous handover documents to be unhelpful when determining -the 'actual' state of the project in the first few weeks, and felt they did not -address the pitfalls of this project. +== Group history -== Group History - -=== 19-20 - -.19-20 group composition -[%autowidth] +[[tab:proj-comp]] +.Project group composition |=== -| Name | Study path +| Year | Name | Study path +.4+| 19-20 | Daniël Janssen | Software | Dion Legierse | Software | Jop van Laanen | Hardware | Max van den Heijkant | Software -|=== - -=== 20-21 - -.20-21 group composition -[%autowidth] -|=== -| Name | Study path +.4+| 20-21 | Joost van Wiechen | Hardware | Justin Maas | Software | [[pn:creemers,Merel Creemers]]Merel Creemers | Hardware{empty}footnote:[The @@ -59,40 +50,19 @@ may indicate that they were removed from the project group. I am unsure if they were a hardware student that worked on the PCBs or a CMD student working on the puzzle box chassis.] | Vincent Lengowski | Hardware -|=== - -=== 21-22 - -.21-22 group composition -[%autowidth] -|=== -| Name | Study path +.5+| 21-22 | Alex van Kuijk | Hardware | Jef Baars | Software | Julian de Bruin | Software | Lucas van Gastel | Software | Toon Rockx | Hardware -|=== - -=== 22-23 - -.22-23 group composition -[%autowidth] -|=== -| Name | Study path +.2+| 22-23 | Frank Bekema | Hardware | Jasper Gense | Hardware -|=== - -=== 23-24 (current) - -.23-24 group composition -[%autowidth] -|=== -| Name | Study path +.4+| 23-24 | Elwin Hammer | Software | [[pn:faase,Lars Faase]]Lars Faase{empty}footnote:[<<pn:faase>> was removed from the project group on 2024-06-03 following complaints about the lack of @@ -101,57 +71,79 @@ communication, and lack of motivation] | Software | Thomas in 't Anker | Software |=== -== Project State -The current project state is as follows: No new hardware has been designed -or developed this year. The software was completely revised, now consisting of a -a puzzle bus driver, a main controller, a simple CLI application, and two puzzle -modules. Namely the puzzle modules 'Vault' and 'Neotrellis', both using an Arduino -as the controller. The main controller (a RPI Pico W) can interact with the -different puzzle modules using an I^2^C bus. The I^2^C bus has been configured to -be a multi-master I^2^C bus, allowing the puzzle modules and the main controller -to initiate a I^2^C transmission. The main controller is able to find -new puzzle modules on startup, and does not check for new modules afterwards. A -simple CLI application has been developed, which can communicate with the main -controller through a TCP connection and simple commands. - -In short: A puzzle bus driver has been implemented to allow for communication -between the main controller and the puzzle modules. A CLI application was developed -which connects with the main controller to monitor/edit the game state. And the -software for the puzzle modules 'Vault' and 'Neotrellis' is in the prototype state. +== Project state + +The current project state is as follows: + +* No new hardware has been designed or developed this year +* The software was completely revised, now consisting of +** a puzzle bus driver (``pbdrv``) +** a main controller +** a simple CLI application +** two puzzle modules ('Vault' and 'NeoTrellis') integrated using the puzzle + bus driver + +* The main controller (a RPI Pico W) can interact with the different puzzle + modules using a central shared I^2^C bus (referred to as the 'puzzle bus') +* The main controller is able to find new puzzle modules on startup, and does + not check for new modules afterwards. +* A simple CLI application has been developed, which can communicate with the + main controller through a TCP connection and allows control over various + aspects of the puzzle box using simple commands. == Incidents During this year's run of the project, we encountered several difficuties we -feel need to be addressed. We recommend that these incidents are analyzed by -future project groups and incorporated into the risk analysis section of future -project plan documents. +feel need to be addressed in order to be mitigated in future runs of the +project. We recommend that these incidents are analyzed by future project +groups and incorporated into the risk analysis section of future project plan +documents. -=== Misconceptions +=== Documentation -Make sure to know what you are developing and do some research beforehand, to make -sure you have the complete picture about what you are using. Sounds stupid, but it -happened for multiple project attempts, and caused time loss. This also includes -when you want to use documentation of previous years: go through the documentation -and verify it on the lowest possible level for the same reason as previously -mentioned. +We spent too much time working on documentation at the start of the project. +Make sure you set clear deadlines for documentation, and try not to spend too +much time on review procedures, as these cost a lot of time. -=== I^2^C +Our project documentation was originally written in Microsoft Word, but we +later transferred all documentation to AsciiDoc because of issues where +OneDrive would roll back changes. If possible, use a documentation system or +format that allows using an external version control system like Git to avoid +losing content. + +=== Misconceptions -I^2^C is easy to implement but also easy to underestimate, this project requires a -multi-master structure as communication is otherwise too complicated compared to -other means of communication. +Make sure to know what you are developing and do some research beforehand, to +make sure you have a complete picture about what you are using. Sounds stupid, +but it happened for multiple project attempts, and caused time loss. This also +includes when you want to use documentation of previous years: go through the +documentation and verify it on the lowest possible level for the same reason as +previously mentioned. -For I^2^C on hardware level: make sure to use pull-up resistors as it is otherwise -impossible to use I^2^C due to incorrect messages. This is also required for -controllers which are connected to the I^2^C bus. Make sure to use I^2^C devices -that support arbitration when using it as a multi-master. +=== I^2^C -The RPI Pico W (RP2040) does supports multi-master to the point of being able to -receive messages from other multi-masters as a slave while being configured as master. -Everything else about the I^2^C bus works, but due to this limitation a workaround has -been implemented to be able to continue using the RPI Pico W. -To simplify; a controller is needed which supports multi-master -while being able to be addressed as a slave. +I^2^C is used because it is widely available and easy to implement. We strongly +recommend 3rd year software students to refresh their knowledge on I^2^C before +making major design decisions that rely on their conception of how to I^2^C bus +works. + +Please note the following differences between I^2^C devices: + +- Regular I^2^C slave peripherals are allowed on the puzzle bus, and can be + connected to the puzzle bus as long as they do not cause issues with + addressing. +- I^2^C master controllers must have hardware support for a multi-master + hardware configuration (i.e. support bus arbitration on a hardware level). + Arbitration support is required to prevent message corruption or electrical + shorts in a multi-master setup. Multi-master controllers may also be + connected to the puzzle bus, but only as long as they only interact with + regular I^2^C slave devices. +- I^2^C multi-master controllers that are slave-addressable in master mode are + the only kind of I^2^C controller suitable for use in puzzle modules. + +The RP2040 supports multi-master, but is not addressable as a slave in master +mode. Due to time constraints, this was mitigated using a workaround (see +<<fixme:rp2040-i2c>>). === Development hardware availability @@ -160,19 +152,22 @@ include research on the product lifecycle. Choosing boards/chips that have planned long term support makes it easier for the next project team to order and use the same chips/boards instead of having to find new ones. -This also includes having enough development boards for multiple people to -program using the same setup, e.g. the RPI Pico W requires another RPI Pico W -to be debugged, effectively requiring the project team to have at least 4 RPI -Pico Ws to be able to develop in the same environment (if there are 2 software -students). +Due to a lack of foresight, only 2 Picos were ordered this year, which caused +unoptimal workload spread during the last weeks of the project. Because of +this, we also strongly recommend making enough development boards available for +multiple people to develop using the same setup. Note that the RPI Pico is a +special case, as it requires another Pico for debugging, effectively requiring +double the amount of hardware to support developers. === Auxiliary workarounds and technical limitations -This section details unelegant workarounds that should be removed from the -code. Workarounds that should be removed are marked with ``FIXME:`` comments -referring to one of the workarounds mentioned in this section. +This section details workarounds that were implemented instead of being fixed +due to time constraints or project scope. Workarounds that should be removed +are marked with ``FIXME:`` comments referring to one of the workarounds +mentioned in this section. -RP2040 I^2^C limitations:: +[[fixme:rp2040-i2c,RP2040 I^2^C limitations]] +<<fixme:rp2040-i2c>>:: - All puzzle module drivers have a hard-coded 2 second delay between receiving the MAGIC handshake request and the MAGIC handshake response handler. This was done to ensure responses are not ignored by the RP2040 (main controller) @@ -189,23 +184,43 @@ puzzle modules instead. FreeRTOS does not have an implementation of the == Recommendations +This section details our recommendations on course of action for future project +groups. + === Imperatives -* The 22-23 design document already mentions that the application of the I^2^C -bus is in a multi-master configuration, but does not mention that this only -works when pull-up resistors are used on the SCL and SDA lines. The pull-up -resistors are required, as omitting them makes the bus arbitration process -very inconsistent which causes frames to be dropped entirely. -* Start creating prototypes as fast as possible; this benefits the project in the long run, -as you have already shown that certain parts of the project are already working and "only" -need to be integrated. -* The Atmega328P chip is sufficient for the puzzle modules as it has enough I/O, mutli-master -hardware support, and the ability to be addressed as a slave while being in master mode. -* The hardware design can be taken from the year 22-23, and the game rules are taken from -the year 20-21. - -// TODO: rename this bitch -=== Loose imperatives -* The RPI Pico W has programmable IO modules, making it possible to create an I^2^C driver -that allows multi-master communication while still being addressable as a slave. + +The following points must not be dismissed by future project groups, as they +are critical for project success: + +- The 22-23 design document already mentions that the application of the I^2^C + bus is in a multi-master configuration, but does not mention that this only + works when pull-up resistors are used on the SCL and SDA lines. The pull-up + resistors are required, as omitting them makes the bus arbitration process + very inconsistent which causes frames to be dropped entirely. +- Start creating prototypes as early as possible; this benefits the project in + the long run, as you have already shown that certain parts of the project are + already working and "only" need to be integrated. +- The Atmega328P and ATmega2560 MCUs are both sufficient for the puzzle modules + as they have enough I/O, mutli-master hardware support, and the ability to be + addressed as a slave while being in master mode. +- The RPI Pico (and Pico W)'s I^2^C peripheral supports multi-master, but does + not support being addressed as a slave while in master mode. This is required + for puzzle bus integration, and was mitigated using a workaround (see + <<fixme:rp2040-i2c>>). A replacement controller should be used instead. + +=== Other suggestions + +These points are suggestions for future project groups. While we do not think +these are critical to project success, we still think they are important to +mention. + +- Implement the hardware design from the year 22-23. +- The original game rules are described in a separate document from the year + 20-21. +- The RPI Pico W has programmable I/O modules. Due to time constraints, we did + not research if these modules can be used to create a custom I^2^C peripheral + (and driver) that allows multi-master communication while still being + addressable as a slave. If this is possible, the RPI Pico W can still be used + as main controller without the use of workarounds. include::share/footer.adoc[] |