STM32CubeMonitor 1.8, STM32CubeMonitor-UCPD 1.3, and STM32CubeMonitor-RF 2.12, extra highly effective knowledge manipulations

Writer: STMicroelectronics

STM32CubeMonitor 1.8 is the primary model so as to add assist for the SEGGER J-Hyperlink {hardware} probe. Consequently, builders who’re conversant in the third-party probe will be capable to use it whereas capturing knowledge with the ST software program. It’ll make debugging and monitoring operations quite a bit less complicated. Because the J-Hyperlink totally helps the JTAG interface and affords obtain speeds of as much as 4 MB/s (J-Hyperlink ULTRA+ / PRO), it additionally opens the door to larger growth alternatives and speedy flashing operations. That’s why ST up to date STM32CubeMonitor. We wished to make the instrument much more sensible and allow builders to get pleasure from a extra versatile and sensible STM32 ecosystem.

ST typically releases new variations of STM32CubeMonitor, STM32CubeMonitor-RF, and STM32CubeMonitor-UCPD. The instruments repeatedly seem on our weblog posts as a result of many STM32 builders use them to launch their merchandise to market quicker. Certainly, the problem for any embedded system engineer is to discover a complete platform for his or her microcontroller or microprocessor. A tool might have many options, nevertheless it gained’t be helpful if designers can’t implement them effectively. Consequently, it’s important to supply a variety of software program instruments that facilitate the event of functions on STM32 gadgets. Allow us to, due to this fact, discover a few of these instruments and their new functionalities.

What’s new in STM32CubeMonitor 1.8?

The massive replace introduced by STM32CubeMonitor 1.8 is the assist for SEGGER J-Hyperlink probes. Avid readers of the ST Weblog already know that SEGGER is an lively member of the ST Companion Program. The corporate ships embOS, a real-time working system optimized for STM32 gadgets. In actual fact, embOS was additionally one of many first items of software program to obtain the MadeforSTM32 label. Extra just lately, we shared how SEGGER launched their STM32-SFI Flasher Commander to allow whole meeting strains to assist software program firmware installs (SFI). Therefore, the assist of their J-Hyperlink probes ought to come as no shock.

The assist of the SEGGER probe inside STM32CubeMonitor is comparatively simple. As an alternative of utilizing the standard STLINK out and in nodes acq stlink in and acq stlink out, builders simply use ack jlink in and ack jlink out throughout the Node-RED interface. Therefore, as a substitute of getting to convert the on-board STLINK right into a J-Hyperlink, engineers can use the {hardware} probe to benefit from the SEGGER suite of software program and options. Lastly, STM32CubeMonitor 1.8 provides assist for a larger vary of acquisition charges when selecting a frequency decrease than 1 Hz. The characteristic will assist customise how typically the software program captures knowledge, thus additional optimizing its operations.

What’s STM32CubeMonitor?

The Netflix of MCUs

STM32CubeMonitor is a runtime variable monitoring and visualization instrument with an online interface for distant connections and a graphical interface to create customized dashboards. It ensures builders can effectively monitor their utility by means of a graphical interface that depends on Node-RED. This flow-based programming instrument allows customers to create advanced knowledge representations with no coding in any respect. It’ll enable them to debug their software program simply and analyze behaviors with out disrupting an current codebase. Moreover, customers can share their dashboards on the Node-RED and ST communities to construct on each other.

To make the primary expertise with STM32CubeMonitor extra intuitive, the ST Wiki explains intimately how builders can monitor a variable inside an utility in simply two steps. Customers choose the beginning tackle of the information they monitor in reminiscence and its sort. To help on this process, we’ve a information exhibiting the best way to get addresses from ELF recordsdata. The interface then asks the person to pick an STLINK probe.

A runtime monitoring utility based mostly on Node-RED

Protecting monitor of registers, variables in reminiscence, interrupts, and the myriad of occasions that happen at any second is daunting. Therefore, manually monitoring them is so demanding that groups typically do not need the sources for this endeavor. STM32CubeMonitor solves this downside and depends on Node-RED to maintain issues so simple as doable. Customers drag and drop graphical representations of a program’s aspect onto a canvas to create a circulation, that means a sequence of occasions. For example, situations can set off modules that ship alerts by e mail or push knowledge to a cloud platform utilizing MQTT.

With out coming into a single line of code, customers can create graphs, chart plots, or generate gauges that can assist them visualize values in a counter, knowledge from a sensor, and lots of different points of an utility. Moreover, the presence of an online server implies that it’s doable to make use of these visualizations on any PC or cell browser, whether or not on the native community or remotely. Furthermore, due to the Node-RED and ST group, customers can begin by different customers’ dashboards and organically study by learning different folks’s examples.

A .CSV generator for energy customers

The earlier model of STM32CubeMonitor (model 1.6) up to date the export to CSV characteristic to generate recordsdata that might work higher with spreadsheets. For example, the time column moved earlier than the worth column to suit how most individuals set their tables. Equally, time started at 0, and lengthy numbers received a separator to be extra readable. Lastly, model 1.6 additionally made it simpler to determine probe configurations by giving them names.

Model 1.7 of STM32CubeMonitor now builds on the earlier launch to carry options requested by our customers to show the CSV exporter right into a powerhouse. For example, creating and organizing a number of columns throughout the export interface is now doable. Beforehand, customers would have needed to run a Python script to govern knowledge or do every part of their spreadsheet utility, which tends to be cumbersome. Equally, every variable will get its column and a timestamp to higher monitor it. Therefore, the brand new choices inside STM32CubeMonitor guarantee customers can construction their knowledge extra simply and use their spreadsheet software program to view the outcomes as a substitute of making use of time-consuming modifications.

Node-RED 3.1

Since model 1.5, STM32CubeMonitor helps Node-RED 3. One of the vital enhancements is the addition of a contextual menu accessible when customers right-click. Consequently, they’ll entry much more actions and uncover options that might beforehand require digging into menus. The opposite essential performance accessible in Node-RED 3 is junctions, a particular sort of node that makes it simpler to route wires. It helps simplify and make clear designs by bringing larger flexibility. Model 3 additionally launched debugging capabilities that expose node places when working with sub-flows, thus serving to builders see what node is producing an error message.

And since model 1.7, STM32CubeMonitor makes use of Node-RED 3.1, which brings notifications administration on the tab degree, thus providing much more granularity to builders monitoring a number of points of their utility. Customers additionally get a much bigger workspace (from 5000×5000 to 8000×8000) and lockable circulation, which may stop unintentional modifications, which is particularly essential when coping with mission-critical flows. Model 3.1, launched only some months in the past, additionally up to date the context panel to incorporate widespread choices absent from the earlier iteration, forcing customers to dig by means of menus. Lastly, among the many many different enhancements, Node-RED 3.1 optimized the wiring between horizontally aligned nodes to make them considerably extra readable.

Eco acquisition mode

STM32CubeMonitor includes a low-power acquisition mechanism, named ECO mode, that reduces CPU consumption by decreasing the ring pattern price beneath 10 Hz. There are a lot of situations when builders don’t want quick knowledge acquisition and may benefit from a decrease processing load. Historically, the utility captures variables each 50 ms or double the low price frequency. Due to the ECO mode, builders get way more granularity and might handle sources higher. The characteristic can be fairly accessible for the reason that threshold is just a worth within the settings file. Altering it’s thus simple.

A assist instrument all through the life cycle of a product

Throughout the prototyping part, engineers will possible use an STLINK probe, comparable to one of many STLINK-V3 modules at the moment accessible. It connects the MCU board to the PC, which is able to assist arrange the STM32CubeMonitor Dashboard and act as a gateway for the online interface. As designers put together to ship their ultimate product, they’ll create a software program routine that can ship knowledge to a USB port utilizing UART. Builders can thus nonetheless monitor their utility securely by utilizing a pc with STM32CubeMonitor linked to that USB port. Consequently, the instrument offers a long-term evaluation that can assist plan upgrades or upcoming options.

New format and image change notification

The most recent model of STM32CubeMonitor brings the power to export knowledge in CSV as a substitute of merely utilizing a proprietary format. Customers can import the data into Excel, MATLAB, and others, opening the door to extra knowledge optimization and manipulation. The brand new software program can even throw a notification if symbols change. Put merely, the utility tracks variables by defining them in a file and associating them with a logo. Nonetheless, recompiling the code might render the symbols’ recordsdata out of date, creating discrepancies with the Node-RED dashboard. The brand new STM32CubeMonitor will alert customers in the event that they overlook to replace the symbols’ file.

What’s new in STM32CubeMonitor-RF 2.12?

To assist the most recent options current in STM32WB and STM32WBA gadgets, STM32CubeMonitor-RF should align itself with their Bluetooth Low Vitality stacks. Consequently, every new launch tracks the modifications dropped at the microcontrollers’ firmware packages. On this occasion, STM32CubeMonitor-RF 2.12 is aligned with model 1.17.0 of the firmware for the STM32WB and model 1.1.0 for the STM32WBA, the 1st wi-fi Cortex-M33 for extra highly effective and safer Bluetooth functions. Moreover, the brand new utility brings assist for over-the-air firmware updates on the STM32WBA and the most recent Open Thread stack on the STM32WB.

What are among the key options of STM32CubeMonitor-RF?

Utility to optimize Bluetooth and 802.15.4 functions