BeagleBoard I/O Pins code generation

Hi,

Is there any way, using BeageBoard as hardware Target, one can create a simulink model that uses I/O pins on the BeagleBoard? I know there is an Embedded Coder BeagleBoard example but it doe not use any I/O pins (Analog and Digital.)

Thanks,

Ahmad.

Answer 1

[Michael Lundgren]

I just posted an example to File Exchnge (search for BeagleBoard GPIO) that illustrates how to access GPIO pins on the BeagleBoard. I took the liberty of using the code above for GPIO output. However, reading the GPIO pin was more involved. I used "popen" call instead of "system" as "system" call does not return any output aside from a success code.

By the way, using the example posted by Murat here, one can do a lot of things. Making Linux calls from a Simulink model opens a lot of doors. By using the same logic, one can control built-in LEDs on the board or read the USER push button status.

Note however that the method outlined here is not very fast. I was able to implement a blinking LED using a 50 ms sample time. Just don't expect very fast response. Also be careful with the GPIO pins as they are 1.8V. Most sensors out there use +5V logic lvels. Use a voltage divider circuit to interface these sensor to a GPIO pin configured as input. You can also use a logic level shifter. Sparkfun sells one for $3.

Answer 2

[Murat Belge]

The MATLAB R2012a release has a downloadable support package for BeagleBoard (installed by executing "targetinstaller" on the MATLAB command line). There are Simulink blocks for Video Capture, Video Display, Audio Capture/Display and UDP Send/Receive. There are no GPIO blocks as of yet. It is possible to use GPIO pins for digital Input/Output using the Embedded MATLAB function block. Let me know what exactly you are trying to do.

[Ahmad]

Thanks for the response Murat.

I would like to connect Input sensors (digital and analog), relays (digital outputs), and analog actuators (PMW output.) How do I write an function blolck to use GPIO pins on the BeagleBoard? Is there an example somewhere I could use as a guide?

I appreciate your help!

[Murat Belge]

The BeagleBoard has no analog input capability. You need to use a suitable expansion board to interface to analog sensors. It is possible to use the GPIO pins as digital input or output; hence you can operate relays for example. I'll send out an example for GPIO programming with Simulink.

[NASREEN]

@Murat Belge,

Can you please send out an example for GPIO programming with simulink. I would really appreciate your help as I am analysing analog signals to simulink model

[Murat Belge]

Below is the code that you can paste into an Embedded MATLAB Function block to use a GPIO pin as an output. Using a GPIO pin as an input is very similar.

function fcn(u)
%#codegen

% This MATLAB function shows how to setup and use a GPIO pin as output.    The
% function basically issues a number of system calls to do the following:
% 1. Export GPIO pin for use
% 2. Setup GPIO direction as output
% 3. Write the value of input u to the GPIO pin
% 
% Note that input should be a boolean scalar. If the value of u is zero the
% GPIO pin goes low. Else GPIO pin goes high.
persistent firstTime;
gpioPin = '139';
coder.extrinsic('disp');
if isempty(firstTime)
  firstTime = 0;
  if isequal(coder.target, 'rtw')
      % Export GPIO pin
      cmd = ['echo ', gpioPin, '> /sys/class/gpio/export'];
      coder.ceval('system', c_string(cmd));
      % Set GPIO pin direction to output
      cmd = ['echo out> /sys/class/gpio/gpio', gpioPin, '/direction'];
      coder.ceval('system', c_string(cmd));
  else
      disp('Initialize GPIO pin as output');
  end
end

 % Set GPIO pin logic level using a system call
if (u > 0)
    cmd = ['echo 1 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio', gpioPin, '/value'];
else
    cmd = ['echo 0 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio', gpioPin, '/value'];
end
if isequal(coder.target, 'rtw')
    coder.ceval('system', c_string(cmd));
else
    disp(cmd);
end

end

function str = c_string(str) % Convert MATLAB string to C-string by adding a string termination % character str = [str, 0]; end % code end

[Franziska]

Hi, My name is Fatemeh, Thank you for your code.I wanted to ask a question, Do you know how to access to the c code of GPIO block of matlab? my emmail address: [e-mail]