Difference between revisions of "BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2016"

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[[Category: OMAP]]
 
[[Category: OMAP]]
 
[[Category: BeagleBoard]]
 
[[Category: BeagleBoard]]
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[[Category: GSoC]]
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__TOC__
  
 
=Welcome!=
 
=Welcome!=
BeagleBoard.org is seeking to be accepted as a mentoring organization in the [[BeagleBoard/GSoC|Google Summer of Code]] for 2010. We will be filing a [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Application|mentoring organization application]] by 2PM CST on March 12.  If accepted as a mentoring organization, students will be applying March 18-March 29.  
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BeagleBoard.org hopes to be accepted as a mentoring organization in the [[BeagleBoard/GSoC|Google Summer of Code]] for 2015! Below, we've collected project ideas for the GSoC-2015.
  
'''Background'''<br>
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==Background==
For a quick view of how the BeagleBoard relates to the open source development community, take a listen to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9xVbntl-DY Mans and Koen's interview with the Linux Outlaws]. The BeagleBoard is a popular [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_hardware open-source hardware] project utilizing the first broadly available ARM Cortex-A8 processor. Over 10,000 people are experimenting with the BeagleBoard today to bring their ideas for the future of everywhere-computing to life and you can be one of them.
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BeagleBoard.org is a volunteer organization that seeks to advance the state of open-source software on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_hardware open-source hardware] platforms capable of running high-level languages and operating systems (primarily Linux) in embedded environments. Born from taking mobile phone processors and putting them on low-cost boards to build affordable desktop computers, BeagleBoard.org has evolved to focus on the needs of the "maker" community with greater focus on the I/O needed for controlling motors and reading sensors to build things like robots, 3d printers, flying drones, in-car computer systems and much more. Past BeagleBoard.org GSoC projects included [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/C6Run|an RPC framework for heterogeneous processor communication]], [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/USBSniffer|a transparent USB packet sniffer]], [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/XBMC|ARM optimizations for XBMC]], [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/FFTW|ARM optimizations for FFTs]], [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/Pulse_Width_Modulation|make-shift pulse-width-modulation]] and [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/OpenCV|RPC optimizations for OpenCV]]. BeagleBoard.org has benefited from sponsorship from Texas Instruments, [[CircuitCo]], Digi-Key and others, but avoids any dependence on that sponsorship for sustaining the effort. The project has evolved over the past few years with over 100,000 boards in circulation with developers worldwide and strong roots in the Linaro, Yocto Project, Angstrom Distribution and Linux communities---and support for running most major Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Android, Fedora, Debian, ArchLinux, Gentoo, Buildroot and many more.
  
Because the BeagleBoard:
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BeagleBoard was inspiration for Raspberry Pi[http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/features/raspberry-pi-interview-eban-upton-reveals-all] and is available for about $50 through over 30 distributors world-wide (and is even available at Microcenter and Radio Shack in the USA), but is more than a throw-away computer. It is an instance of true open hardware, exposing users to the broader world of electronics, demystifying computers and fostering an environment of clones that have changed the industry for good.
* utilizes a complex SoC with 3 primary processing cores,
 
** one for general-purpose activities such as running Linux and applications (ARM Cortex-A8),
 
** one for running real-time signal processing algorithms (C64x+ VLIW fixed-point DSP), and  
 
** one for rendering 3D graphics (Imagination SGX), and  
 
* is specifically designed for low-power (typically running under 2W at full processing load), and
 
* has a very small foot-print that includes standard peripheral expansion like USB,
 
there are many opportunities to explore challenges in computer science in areas of
 
* optimal execution of applications/algorithms on additional instruction set architectures like ARM or C6000,
 
* splitting tasks appropriately between processing cores to minimize task execution time and power consumption, and
 
* integrating computation into new form-factors.
 
  
'''Students and mentors'''<br>
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Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of cross-compiling before being accepted, but support for demonstration is available through the IRC channel that typically has approximately 150 online chatters logged on at any time, most with sufficient experience to explain the process.
Student proposals can create projects from the following ideas or propose their own project based on their own ideas.  From reading about previous Google Summer of Code projects, the key to success is being passionate about your project, so propose something that is extremely interesting to you, even if it not on the list. We will be glad to help students develop ideas into projects on [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=beagle the BeagleBoard IRC] or [http://groups.google.com/beagleboard the BeagleBoard mailing list]. There are many more ideas of what can be done and we will match projects to students interest and help scope the proposal to something that can be completed in the Summer of Code time-frame.
 
  
There are more than 100 exiting projects list at http://beagleboard.org/project. If you are interested in one of those projects, talk with the project members to see if there are any aspects of their projects with which they can help you contribute.
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'''''<span style="color:red">Every accepted student will be sent a BeagleBone Black before the first week of coding for testing their project.</span>'''''
  
__TOC__
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Additional hardware will be provided depending on need and value.
  
=General requirements=
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For more information, check out http://beagleboard.org and http://beagleboard.org/brief.
All projects have the following basic requirements:
 
* The project must be registered on http://beagleboard.org/project.
 
* All newly generated materials must be released under an [http://www.opensource.org/licenses open source license].
 
* Individual students shall retain copyright on their works.
 
* Source code generated during the project must be released on gitorious.org, github.com, repo.or.cz, sourceforge, code.google.com, gforge.ti.com, or omapzoom.org.
 
* The registration on http://beagleboard.org/project must include an RSS feed with project announcements and updates at every milestone.  Sources for the RSS feed should be blogger.com, wordpress.com, or some other established blog hosting service with known reliability.
 
* To help you to break your project down into manageable chunks and also help the project's mentors to better support your efforts, weekly project status reports should be e-mailed to the project's mentors and the organization administrator (Jason Kridner). Each status report should outline:
 
** what was accomplished that week,
 
** any issues that prevented that week's goals from being completed, and
 
** your goals for the next week.
 
  
=Improve open source support for ARM=
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==Students looking for ideas==
These projects fundamentally improve support of open source products on ARM, bringing the broad body of high-level open source applications into smaller, lower-cost, lower-power systems that can go anywhere.
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Student proposals can encompass projects inspired from the following list of ideas or can include personal project ideas. Previous Google Summer of Code projects show that the key to success is being passionate about your project, so propose something that is extremely interesting to you, even if it is not on this list. We will be glad to help students develop ideas into projects via [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=beagle-gsoc the BeagleBoard GSoC IRC] or [http://groups.google.com/group/beagleboard-gsoc the BeagleBoard-GSoC mailing list]. There are many potential project ideas and we will match students to projects based on their interests and help scope the proposals to something that can be completed in the Summer of Code timeframe.
  
==UEFI bootloader for ARM==
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There are more than 500 existing projects listed at http://beagleboard.org/project. If you are interested in any of the projects listed on the BeagleBoard.org projects page, contact the project members to see if there are any aspects of their projects that can be enhanced to create a GSoC project. There are also several ideas on the [[ECE497_Project_Ideas|ECE497 class project idea list]]. You can also check out [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2014|last year's idea page]].
''Goal:'' <br>
 
''Existing project:'' [http://beagleboard.org/project/tianocore Tianocore]<br>
 
''Hardware skills:'' Configure hardware at boot<br>
 
''Software skills:'' C, ARMv7 assembly<br>
 
''Possible mentors:'' _TBD_<br>
 
  
==Open source JTAG debugging==
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==Mentors wondering where to help==
Implement, configure and document a complete open source based JTAG debugging development chain for ARM Cortex A8 in OMAP3 used on Beagle Board. This includes final port of open source JTAG software [[BeagleBoardOpenOCD|OpenOCD]] for OMAP3 on Beagle, and then configure and document all software (and hardware) components involved. This could look like:
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Please start by registering your ideas for student projects below by following the template provided with the existing ideas. Furthermore, scroll down to the bottom and give everyone a bit of information about your expertise and availability by adding yourself to the table. Jason will make final approvals for mentor assignments based on if we first get accepted as a mentoring organization and best matching mentor skill sets with student project ideas deemed valuable to the community.
  
''ARM Cortex A8 <-> OMAP3 <-> BeagleBoard <-> Flyswatter (*)'' <-> OpenOCD <-> GDB <-> Eclipse (CDT)
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You will also need to register on [https://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/homepage/google/gsoc2015 Melange] and request to be a mentor for BeagleBoard.org.
  
(*) Note: [[BeagleBoardJTAG#TinCanTools_Flyswatter|Flyswatter]] is used as example JTAG dongle here. All OpenOCD JTAG dongles able to deal with 1.8V and configure EMUx pins correctly can be used.
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==General requirements==
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All projects have the following basic requirements:
 +
# Once accepted, the project must be registered on http://beagleboard.org/project.
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# All newly generated materials must be released under an [http://www.opensource.org/licenses open source license].
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# Individual students shall retain copyright on their works.
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# Source code generated during the project must be released on github.com (to be cloned to github.com/beagleboard on successful completion).
 +
# The registration on http://beagleboard.org/project must include an RSS feed with project announcements and updates at every milestone. Sources for the RSS feed should be blogger.com, wordpress.com, or some other established blog-hosting service with known reliability.
 +
# To help you to break your project down into manageable chunks and also to help the project's mentors to better support your efforts, weekly project status reports should be e-mailed to the project's mentors and the organization administrator (Jason Kridner). Each status report should outline:
 +
## what was accomplished that week,
 +
## any issues that prevented that week's goals from being completed and
 +
## your goals for the next week.
 +
# Students will provide two recorded audio/video presentations uploaded to youtube or vimeo (screencasts are appropriate), one near the beginning of the project summarizing their project goals and another in the wrap-up phase to summarize their accomplishments.  Examples can be found on http://beagleboard.org/gsoc.
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# Students will demonstrate their ability to cross-compile and utilize version control software by creating a "Hello World" application and generating a pull request to https://github.com/jadonk/gsoc-application/tree/master/ExampleEntryJasonKridner.  For assistance, please visit http://beagleboard.org/chat or utilize the beagleboard-gsoc Google Group.  The "Hello World" application must print your name and the date out in an ARM Linux environment.  Freely available emulators may be used to test your application or you can ask anyone on the chat or mailing list to help you test.
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# All projects will produce reusable software components and will not be "what–I-built-over-my-summer-vacation" projects. Including a hardware component is welcome, but the project *deliverable* will be software that may be utilized by a wide audience of the BeagleBoard.org community.
  
''Goal:'' Able to single step kernel code using OpenOCD, GDB, and Eclipse<br>
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=Ideas=
''Existing project:'' [http://beagleboard.org/project/OpenOCD+OMAP3+JTAG+support/ OpenOCD]<br>
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==Linux kernel support for embedded devices and interfaces==
''Hardware skills:'' Able to monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
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Improving the state of the Linux kernel, especially with regards to embedded devices and interfaces. Includes improved ARM/OMAP/Sitara platform support, simplifying the development of add-on hardware for embedded systems and exchanging hardware connectivity information with userspace.
''Software skills:'' C, ARMv7 assembly<br>
 
''Possible mentors:'' Dirk Behme, _TBD_<br>
 
  
=Improve open source support of heterogeneous multicore processing=
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===BeagleRT: Real-Time Linux with the BeagleBone Black===
==Vala bindings for Codec Engine algorithms==
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Assessment of the real-time limitations and capabilities with the BeagleBone Black.
''Goal:'' _TBD_<br>
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<br>
''Existing project:'' [http://beagleboard.org/project/disptec dispTEC]<br>
 
''Software skills:'' C, Vala, _TBD_<br>
 
''Possible mentors:'' Todd Fischer, Diego Dompe, _TBD_<br>
 
  
==Erlang for ARM and C6000 in heterogeneous compute environments==
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* vanilla kernel
''Goal:'' <br>
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* vanilla with PREEMPT option
''Software skills:'' Erlang, _TBD_<br>
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* PREEMPT_RT patches
''Possible mentors:'' Marcus Taylor, _TBD_<br>
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* Xenomai patches
 +
* PRUSS
  
==Simple SDK for building ANSI C code for heterogeneous slave processors under Linux==
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''Goal:'' Many applications require a certain degree of real-time response. This project will analyze, test and compare the different approaches for providing Real-Time responses with the BeagleBone Black development board.<br>
''Goal:'' <br>
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''Hardware Skills:'' PRU, PPM, PWM, PRUSS<br>
''Existing project:'' [https://gforge.ti.com/gf/project/dspeasy/ DSPEasy]
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''Software Skills:'' C, C++, Python, Assembly<br>
''Software skills:'' C, JavaScript, shell scripting<br>
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''Possible Mentors:'' Víctor Mayoral Vilches, Siddharth Bharat Purohit<br>
''Mentors:'' Jason Kridner, Daniel Allred<br>
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''Workload:'' 1 student full time. <br>
 +
''GitHub:'' https://github.com/BeagleRT/BeagleRT<br>
 +
''References:'' https://www.osadl.org/fileadmin/dam/rtlws/12/Brown.pdf<br>
  
=Linux kernel improvements=
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===Upstreaming Beagleboard.org Kernel Patches===
 +
The BeagleBone currently relies on a number of out-of-tree kernel patches in order to boot. These patches are maintained by Koen Kooi (CircuitCo) and come from many sources, including TI employees and various mailing lists. Getting more of these patches upstream would make it easier to boot a BeagleBone and also make use of a BeagleBone easier for users and kernel developers who need to track upstream kernel changes, or who otherwise need to be closer to the bleeding edge of Linux kernel development. The current patch set is [https://github.com/beagleboard/kernel/tree/3.8 maintained at github] and contains scripts to easily patch an upstream kernel. The scripts in this repository are used to build the BeagleBoard.org kernels which ship with the Angstrom SD card images.
 +
<br>
  
=Useful applications to implement=
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''Goal:'' Push as many patches as possible to [http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git Linus's mainline kernel tree] via the appropriate [http://git.kernel.org/cgit/ staging kernels] for the subsystems involved.<br>
==x86 emulation on ARM and/or DSP==
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''Existing Project:'' [http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git The Mainline Linux Kernel], [http://github.com/beagleboard/kernel/tree/3.8 patches needing to be pushed]<br>
Development or tuning the an emulator like qemu to emulate the x86 instruction set at a reasonable speed to run legacy x86 apps developed for another non Linux OS. Possibilities include Windows 9x, 2000, etc. An alternative approach to use qemu to emulate an x86 Linux system and run Wine up top of that. Yet another approach might be to add an emulation engine inside wine. The goals is to be able to run x86 applications. The OS is optional.
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''Hardware Skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals.<br>
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''Software Skills:'' Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation and testing.<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Matt Porter, Matt Ranostay, Koen Kooi, Alan Ott<br>
  
''Goal:'' <br>
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===Generic Device Tree Creator===
''Hardware skills:'' n/a<br>
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Device Tree usage can be a steep learning curve for many. Despite N tutorials for it. Kernel version and naming convention changes cause issues.
''Software skills:'' C, x86 assembly, ARMv7 assembly<br>
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So how about a tool to create the DT file for the Beaglebone Black.
''Possible mentors:'' _TBD_<br>
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Select the required options. Need this gpio for pru. Need this adc for tsc. Need this pin.
''Complexity:'' High<br>
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And it generated DT bindings for you.
  
==Speech recognition==
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Ideally it should effectively expand for other embedded development kits. If you load a Beaglebone Black Rev C file. The DT bindings for that are generated.
https://gforge.ti.com/gf/project/tiesr/
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If you load a Beaglebone White Rev A file, DT bindings for that are generated etc..
 +
Similarly, kernel version changes should be easy to incorporate as well.
  
''Possible mentors:'' Lorin Netsch, Sourabh Ravindran<br>
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Getting the whole thing as part of GSoC can get too much unless you are really skilled. So a basic structure should be the aim initially.
 +
Suggestions for the base platform running the tool are welcome. e.g. A webapp/bonescript can be used. Python perhaps.
  
==Android running as a windowed application==
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''Goal:'' Get a basic device tree creator for BBB (and possibly BBW) working with a structure to allow different board types<br>
Modify Android to work within an embedded system as a windowed application.
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''Existing Project:'' https://github.com/jluebbe/tools is a small bit of a starting point. <br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Should be able to understand the capes <br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' Cross-compile the Linux kernel and testing the DT.<br>
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''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner<br>
  
''Goal:'' <br>
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===IIO debugging tools===
''Hardware skills:'' n/a<br>
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Quick background: IIO is the new way of doing sensors but being a newer interface, it lacks tools
''Software skills:'' Java, C, shell scripting<br>
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for debugging. This project is to produce sometools to debug drivers.
''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner, Katie Roberts-Hoffman, _TBD_<br>
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There are several ways this project can happen:<br>
''Complexity:'' High<br>
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1. We can implement userland tools that read IIO data similar to the evtest tool. <br>
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2. We can implement a event handler for the IIO driver. This way existing tools and code can be used. There was references from another mailing list (probally LKML) talking about this.<br>
  
==XBMC Media Center to Beagle Board==
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''Goal:'' Userspace application similar to evtest that captures debug events and instrumented IIO driver code to produce those events.<br>
XBMC is an open-source, cross platform media center that would allow you to display high definition video on your TV that is streamed from your local network or the internet. XBMC on Beagle Board would would be a very low cost, low power platform that would allow the media center to literally be embedded ''in'' the TV.   XBMC could run on an Ubuntu distribution of Linux and would requiring the development of OpenGL ES complaint DirectFBGL drivers.
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''Existing Project:'' [http://github.com/beagleboard/kernel/tree/3.8 patched kernel with IIO driver]<br>
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''Hardware Skills:'' None.<br>
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''Software Skills:''C coding (1), (2) requires kernel coding<br>
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''Possible mentors:'' Hunyue Yau<br>
  
''Complexity:'' High<br>
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===SYSFS entries for IIO and PWM===
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IIO and PWM provide mechanisms for sampling touch screens, performing general purpose A/D conversions to read sensors, generating voltage levels and driving motors. The Linux kernel SYSFS mechanism provides a simplified mechanism for userspace applications to set parameters and read/write data values.
  
=Maker-style projects that advance general knowledge for creating and improving end products for consumers=
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''Goal:'' Push patches to Linux mainline providing SYSFS entries for IIO and PWM useful for building a demo robot<br>
==Intelligent thermostat that utilizes weather forcasts==
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''Existing project:'' http://github.com/beagleboard/kernel<br>
Improve the thermostatic control of a domestic heating system by more intelligent control based on the analysis of forecast weather.
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''Hardware skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
Enable remote control of the system through IP Internet access.
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''Software skills:'' Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation<br>
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''Possible mentors:'' Laine Walker-Avina<br>
  
''Complexity:'' Medium<br>
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===MMC and DMA Linux performance ===
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Improving performance of MMC driver by understanding issues, improving MMC, DMA drivers and eliminating bottlenecks.
  
=To be classified=
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''Goal:''  
=== BeaglePOD ===
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Both MMC and DMA are critical to high performance of I/O intensive workloads on a Beagleboard/ARM platform, even fast system boot up depends on it.
'''Easy'''
 
MP3 player based on Beagle Board. This could involve porting Rockbox (www.rockbox.org) - an open source firmware for mp3 players to Beagle Board. Additional effort would involve creating Rockbox plugins to port the audio decoders and encoders to the DSP side. MTP device class support need to be added on USB as well.  
 
  
=== BeagleChat ===
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A good amount of performance improvement is possible just by identifying what's going on in hot paths and how things can be done more simply, without breaking anything else. Also improvements are possible using innovative techniques such as intelligent buffer allocation and reducing overhead where possible in dependent components such as DMA. Cutting the fat in hot paths is definitely a start.
'''Easy'''
 
Video Chat Client on Beagle Board. Porting Ekiga (www.ekiga.org) - an open source VoIP and video conferencing application for GNOME. The client should be able to talk to ekiga software running on PC as well as another beagle board. Optimizations would involve porting audio and video codecs on Ekiga to DSP plus supporting video streaming over USB for webcam support.
 
  
===Fast Linux boot===
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''Existing Project:'' [http://kernel.org Upstream Kernel]<br/>
Beagle variant of "from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds" make a beagle that starts in < 5 seconds
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''Hardware Skills:'' Yes<br/>
 +
''Software Skills:'' C, Possible use of JTAG, ftrace, perf etc.<br/>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Joel Fernandes
  
Modify Beagle boot loader and OS to boot in < 5 seconds. While for desktop systems boot time might not be critical, for an embedded system like Beagle Board it often is. For an embedded system there often are external requirements which need fast boot to react properly to external events. For example external sensor signals, user input or even wake up signals in extremely deep sleep which needs re-start of operating system.
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==ARM processor support in open source operating systems and libraries==
 +
Optimizations to applications and libraries like XBMC to make them run better on resource constrained environments or to take advantage of more specialized processing elements.
  
For Linux OS, there are already several resources how to reduce boot time available, e.g. [[Boot_Time|boot time]] and [[Suspend_To_Disk_For_ARM|suspend to disk for ARM]] articles.
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===Library of Arduino-compatible functions for StarterWare===
 +
This would be an implementation of Arduino utilizing the BeagleBone Black and the StarterWare O/S independent library for accessing the hardware. Without having to access the hardware through an operating system, developers will be able to fine-tune the system to achieve optimal resource management of the CPU, peripherals and memory.
 +
The project would also include basic documentation and generation of code samples for various functionality of the library, such as SPI,Serial,Ethernet for starters. This would make the project thorough and ready for use by various developers in the community.
 +
 +
''Goal:'' Utilize the Energia fork of Arduino to push support for BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black<br>
 +
''Existing Project:'' [https://github.com/energia/Energia Energia], [http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/StarterWare StarterWare]<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Yes<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' C/C++<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner (others can be referred if there are interested students)
  
Review, select, and apply some of the known technologies for BeagleBoard.
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==Heterogeneous co-processor support in open source operating systems and libraries==
 +
Enabling usage of DSPs, PRUs, FPGAs, Cortex-M3s, Arduinos, MSP430 launchpads and other attached processing platforms.
  
Ideally, should come up to a GUI prompt, such as with Android, Angstrom, or Ubuntu.
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===PRU upstreaming===
 +
Remove HWMOD dependency requirement for PRU along with adding device tree bindings so it can be upstreamed into Linus's tree.
  
=== Ogg Theora integration into Firefox and performance improvements ===
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''Goal'': Push patches to Linux mainline providing support for the AM335x PRU<br>
'''Medium'''
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''Existing project'': https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/<br>
Codec Engine (C64x+) implementation of Ogg Theora
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''Hardware skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
 +
''Software skills:'' Able to write software in C, understand existing patches with PRU support, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Start with Jason Kridner and Matt Porter, but we'll get some others involved<br>
  
There was a Neuros GSoC project to port Ogg Theora to the C64x+ last year, but it was never finishedSee the [http://wiki.neurostechnology.com/index.php/Summer_of_Code_2008/Ogg_Theora_Codec Neuros project page] to understand the status.
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===PRU firmware loader===
 +
Allow "firmware" which are really binary PRU applications to be loaded directly on PRU cores and executed using the request_firmware() functionality of the Linux Kernel. This should also be Cape Manager to load PRU cape specific applications.
  
=Raw ideas that need to be fleshed out=
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Ideal workflow:
Some additional ideas can be found on the [[BeagleBoard/contest|BeagleBoard contest page]] and the [http://beagleboard.org/project BeagleBoard project page].
 
* VNC client on Beagle board: '''Done/Easy'''
 
Enable Virtual Network Computing on Beagle board to allow remote access to desktops. TightVNC (http://www.tightvnc.com/index.html) derived from VNC can be ported to a Embedded Linux distribution. 
 
  
* Ubuntu Mobile on Beagle MID: '''Done/Easy'''
+
* Cape detected that uses the PRU
Porting ubuntu mobile version on Beagle board (http://elinux.org/BeagleBoardUbuntu) and enable support for standard applications used in standard internet tablets/MIDs - media player, browser.
+
** Setup pinmux
 +
* Find the respective firmware file for PRU core (or both cores) /lib/firmware/cape_A020_pru0.bin
 +
* Load onto PRU and begin execution.
  
* NEON Support for FFTW: '''Medium'''
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''Goal'': Push patches to Linux mainline providing support to loading firmware on PRU cores and executing<br>
[http://www.fftw.org| FFTW] is a library for calculating the [http://mathworld.wolfram.com/FastFourierTransform.html| Fast Fourier Transform]. The current implementation of FFTW contains SIMD optimizations for several instructions sets. It should be possible to add optimizations for the NEON SIMD co-processor in the Beagle Board. FFTW is widely used in the open source sommunity and this project would make FFTW far more useful on processors with NEON instructions. The mentor is particularly interested in improving GNU Radio on the OMAP3 and improving FFTW performance would be very useful.
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''Existing project'': https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/<br>
 +
''Hardware skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
 +
''Software skills:'' Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Matt Ranostay, Matt Porter<br>
  
* Voice recognition integrated into Ubiquity: '''Medium'''
+
===Program PRU using high-level scripting languages===
Integrate Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Ubiquity, and voice recognition on the BeagleBoard with a microphone. Use of a Wiimote could provide additional interactive capabilities.
+
Based on Chris Roger's BotSpeak work to provide a virtual machine for typical Arduino functions that can be accessed from LabView, build a virtual machine to enable PRU programming from Bonescript. The virtual machine is a simple interpreter that loops over the commands to perform such as delay, pinMode, analogRead, analogWrite, digitalRead and digitalWrite functions.
  
* Audio-based translator: '''Medium'''
+
A basic design is elaborated upon at http://github.com/jadonk/pruduino
Utilizing voice recognition on the BeagleBoard with a microphone, submit text to Google Translator, then perform text-to-speech.
 
  
* Spectrum analyzer using the DSP: '''Medium'''
+
''Goal'': Implement a BotSpeak interpreter that off-loads hard real-time tasks from Bonescript onto the PRU and include that in the BoneScript project<br>
Write a program that uses the DSP to take an alsa input and to all the math and a GUI on the arm that display the realtime spectrum. The DSP side needs to use xdais so other DSP programs can run at the same time.
+
''Existing projects'': [http://github.com/jadonk/pruduino PRUDUINO], http://github.com/beagleboard/am335x_pru_package, http://github.com/jadonk/bonescript, [https://sites.google.com/site/botspeak/the-language Chris' language definition]<br>
 +
''Hardware skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
 +
''Software skills:'' Able to write software in JavaScript and assembly<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Chris Rogers, Jason Kridner<br>
  
* Android integrated into embedded distributions: '''Medium'''
+
==Linux userspace support of embedded devices and interfaces in high-level languages==
Utilize Open Embedded to build Android including Android kernel patches and integration of accelerated multimedia.  Add the 'repo' tool to Open Embedded to pull the Android open source code, apply kernel patches, and patch Android to utilize OpenGLES and GStreamer with the GStreamer-TI plugins.  Android file system would co-exist with Angstrom file system.
+
Improving the Bonescript JavaScript library, the PyBBIO Python library, Userspace Arduino, web-based interface libraries, examples or alternatives in other languages.
  
* Cairo support for OpenVG: '''Medium'''
+
===Implementing and testing core libraries in Userspace Arduino===
Cairo has an experimental openvg backend (found at http://lists.cairographics.org/archives/cairo/2008-January/012833.html). And there is some work that shows noticeable performance improvements on top level applications like webkit (http://www.atoker.com/blog/2008/01/28/accelerating-webkit-with-openvg/).
+
Implementing and testing core libraries in Userspace Arduino, especially SPI, I2C, Wire, Serial, Servo, Stepper
  
* Port MPlayer or GStreamer with DSP codec support: '''Medium'''
+
This would primarily target the Arduino Tre.
GStreamer is a multimedia package that handles streaming and file playback for a variety of multimedia files. The port was done for DaVinci, it would be cool to have a simiilar port done for Beagleboard.  http://focus.ti.com/dsp/docs/dspsplash.tsp?contentId=3100
 
  
There's a lot of work done in the GStreamer arena: [[BeagleBoard/gst-openmax]] and there's also the [http://github.com/felipec/gst-dsp gst-dsp]. These projects are targeted for the [[BeagleBoard/DSP_Howto|bridgedriver]].
+
===Making a stable release of Processing's serial libraries for Tre===
  
* USB Webcam: '''Medium'''
+
===Making a stable release of OpenFrameworks's serial libraries for Tre===
Implement a USB Webcam (video input) driver for the BeagleBoard.
 
  
* Ogg Vorbis audio xDM encode and decode codecs: '''Medium'''
+
==Improving initial experience for novice developers==
 +
Improving the methods for communicating how to build projects, improving the out-of-box experience for novices and consolidating support for simplified home manufacturing (CNC, 3D printers, laser cutters, pick-and-place machines, etc.), drones/bots (ROS, IMU, video streaming, etc.) or other common tasks.
  
* Implement NTFS and/or Mac OSX file systems: '''Medium'''
+
===node-webkit based cross-platform getting-started app===
Read/write for SD cards and such
+
Newbies often have a difficult time following directions that could be replaced by an application. The steps to download and install an application is something that even newbies can typically manage. This avoid issues like having bad browsers or not having typical development tools like 'ssh'. This is a common problem across all embedded Linux platforms and node-webkit provides a good solution for making it cross-platform.
  
* Develop a ‘simple’ DSP loader Linux application that will allow user to load DSP image from ARM side: '''Medium'''
+
''Features'':
 +
* Provide instructions for getting up-and-running with the board based (incorporate the Getting Started Guide)
 +
* Automatically discover boards on the LAN using mDNS and predetermined IP addresses
 +
* Act as a browser to interact with the board, including performing SSH and SCP
 +
* Discover the latest SD card images from multiple distributions
 +
* Bootload the board with a USB-mass-storage-class application
 +
* Program SD cards through the board or a USB adapter
 +
* Program on-board eMMC
  
* Porting open-source codec to DSP (MadPlay, VLC, some of the mplayer codecs …: '''Medium'''
+
''Goal:'' Provide a downloadable application for Linux, Windows and Mac that enables unexperienced users to get going enough to start learning about using Linux and the embedded I/O.<br>
 +
''Existing Project:'' [http://github.com/jadonk/beaglebone-getting-started/tree/node-webkit-app Incomplete node webkit app for the BeagleBone Getting Started guide]<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' N/A<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' Able to write software in JavaScript and work with node.js modules<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner<br>
  
* USB sniffer: '''Hard'''
+
===BoneScript web pages with live-running examples and documentation===
Come up with a USB sniffer solution. Idea is that the device to be sniffed is connected to the USB host port of the beagle and the beagle itself to the original host. The beagle will pass-trhu all usb data while logging that data. This could be a great help diagnosing USB problems or reengineering USB communication to a device (by logging the behaviour of a device when connected to a PC (software solutions for that exist too (usbsnoop), but a hardware solution could also support replay etc.
+
{{#ev:youtube|VP0DOheLxQA||right|5 JavaScript Tricks for BeagleBone}}
 +
The BoneScript JavaScript library enables hardware control from web pages using socket.io for remote procedure calls. This provides an excellent environment for teaching how to wire-up sensors and controls and rapidly prototype user interfaces. Numerous examples exist on the web, but consolidation and testing are required to make them usable by novices. Examples include interfacing with potentiometers, light sensors, temperature sensors, motors and LED arrays then visualizing/controlling with Twitter, Facebook, jQuery, Spacebrew and dweet,io.
  
* USB device audio support: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal:'' About 25 web pages with executable script that demonstrate how to connect up sensor and actuator hardware integrated into the bone101 repository and shared on http://beagleboard.org/Support/BoneScript<br>
The Linux USB gadget infrastructure doesn't have audio device class support (but Linux does have [http://www.linux-usb.org/USB-guide/x319.html USB host audio] support.  There is some work on a [http://docs.blackfin.uclinux.org/doku.php?id=gadget_midi gadget MIDI audio driver].  Some work has been done over at [http://blackfin.uclinux.org/gf/project/uclinux-dist/tracker/?action=TrackerItemEdit&tracker_item_id=4212 Blackfin], but is reported as not working very well. Getting USB isochronous endpoint, gadget audio driver connected to audio on BeagleBoard would be beneficial to all OMAP3 isochronous USB needs, better isochronous gadget support in Linux (there are no standard gadgets test for isochronous endpoints), and a prove out a real gadget driver that requires isochronous endpoints.  Anyone wanting to learn about communication protocols, a well designed layered communication implementation, and a chance to work at the driver level will enjoy this project.
+
''Existing Projects:'' [http://makezine.com/2014/01/14/5-easy-javascript-tricks-you-can-teach-your-beaglebone/ 5 easy tricks presentation], http://beagleboard.org/Support/BoneScript, https://github.com/jadonk/bone101, [https://github.com/jadonk/beaglebone-getting-started/blob/add-bone101/Docs/demo_bmp085.html BMP085 Bonescript example], [http://elinux.org/Category:ECE497 ECE497 examples], [http://jsfiddle.net/gh/gist/jquery/1.9.1/9602198/ JSFiddle on GIST example]<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Basic knowledge of digital circuits.<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' JavaScript and some familiarity with Linux<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner<br>
  
* Touchscreen and LCD open hardware design: '''Hard'''
+
===Integrate support libraries into Debian===
BeagleBoard rev C has a new connector for attaching an LCD. The Touchscreen and LCD open hardware design project would consist of a schematic, PCB layout, and bill of materials that can be purchased easily over the Internet.  On online PCB fab could make the PCBs cheaply.  Only a soldering iron should be needed to populate the PCB.  Once built, the user could connect the PCB to their BeagleBoard had have an LCD with touchscreen support.  This project is targeted toward those interested in hardware and shouldn't require any complex software if a well supported touch screen controller chip is selected.
+
Many BeagleBone and embedded Linux support libraries in various programming languages exist as projects that aren't included in the distro shipped with BeagleBoard and BeagleBone. These need packaging scripts such that they can be easily downloaded and incorporated into the upcoming shipping Debian distro.
  
* OpenCV DSP acceleration: '''Hard'''
+
* Python PyBBIO
Research and implement hardware acceleration for OpenCV using the DSP on beagleboard. The DSP side needs to use xdais so other DSP programs can run at the same time.
+
* Ruby beaglebone-ruby
 +
* Perl bonelib
  
* Power Aware Computing APIs: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal:'' PyBBIO, beaglebone-ruby and bonelib included in the distro shipping with BeagleBone<br>
Power consumption is a major problem in mobile devices. While there are many HW level power management features in processors such as the OMAP35x, SW lacks the ability to manipulate and control those features.  Research those power features and implement kernel APIs to allow applications to manage their power more efficiently.
+
''Existing Project:'' [https://github.com/alexanderhiam/PyBBIO PyBBIO], [https://github.com/ryanfaerman/beaglebone-ruby beaglebone-ruby], [http://sourceforge.net/p/bonelib/wiki/Home/ bonelib]<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Able to wire up simple hardware, like LEDs<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' Familiarity with Python, Ruby, Perl, embedded Linux and build systems.<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Jason Kridner, Robert Nelson, Rob Rittman<br>
  
* OpenGL DSP acceleration: '''Hard'''
+
===Using BeagleBone PRUs to control CNC and 3D printer stepper motor Drivers===
Research and implement OpenGL ES using the DSP on beagleboard. The DSP side needs to use xdais so other DSP programs can run at the same time.
+
This project is to write code for the PRU (realtime processors on the AM335x used in the Beagle Bone) so that it can generate multiple step and direction outputs based on a queue of commands in real time. This needs to be done in real time so the acceleration and coordination of multiple stepper motors can be controlled and coordinated. A step/dir signal is commonly used in a lot of stepper motor drivers. While it is possible to generate stepper phase information from the PRU, it is also undesireable from a testing stand point. An example of a reason for doing this is controlling the X/Y directions of the head of a 3D printer so that it can generate precise curves. While similar code has been done, it is not done in a real time fashion so it is difficult to add coordination between motors and/or maintain a known acceleration.<p>
Can take a look at Vincent OpenGL ES open source implementation and add DSP to it
 
  
* Adding Sense to Beagle: '''Hard'''
+
The result of this code should be something interfaceable to a control system like the non realtime portions of the Linux CNC project (formerly the EMC project). But as a demo, this same code should also demonstrate a node.js functionality such as a "G-code" interpreter. This node.js portion can be considered a second project due to the different skill sets required and ideally this project would be split between two GSoC students. One project would be working mostly on PRU assembly with integration into the Linux kernel. The other project would be working mostly on userspace JavaScript in node.js and C++ code for anything needing optimization or low-level kernel access. Mentors would heavily assist on defining the right interfaces between the two programming environments.
Sensory aware applications are becoming more mainstream with the release of the Apple iPhone.  This project would combine both HW and SW to add sensory awareness to beagle. First, additional modules such as GPS, 3-axis accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Temperature Sensors, Humidity Sensors, Pressure Sensors, etc, would be added to beagle to compliment the microphone input in order to allow sensing of the real world environment. Then SW APIs would need to be layered on top to allow easy access to the sensory data for use by applications.
 
  
* Smart Energy Monitoring Console: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal'': create code to use the AM335x PRUs to generate multiple step and direction outputs for reprap and CNC applications<br>
The ZigBee Smart Energy profile is a wireless standard for utility companies and consumers to securely monitor and manage home energy consumption by communicating directly with smart appliances that report their power usage.  By interfacing the Beagle Board to an MCU and RF transceiver monitoring the energy consumption of a home and it's appliances, the Beagle Board could act as a dedicated terminal to track ''and control'' energy usage of power hungry devices. 
+
''Existing projects'': [http://github.com/beagleboard/am335x_pru_package Pru Documentation], [https://www.kernel.org/doc/htmldocs/uio-howto.html UIO Driver documentation]<br>
 +
''Hardware skills:'' Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals<br>
 +
''Software skills:'' Assembly and C coding. Node.js for g-code interpretation<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:''Jason Kridner, Hunyue Yau, Laine Walker-Avina<br>
  
* Wiigle Board (low cost video game platform): '''Hard'''
+
===Cross platform USB boot===
Develop an open source platform for video game development by generating the drivers to standard interfaces such as wireless accelerometers or game controllers.  Off the self microcontrollers can be leverages to handle the I/O and RF interfaces, and the Beagle Board would handle all processing and display.  By generating a clean, open standard, the community could port existing games or use this as their preferred platform for video game development. The concept could be extended by porting known console emulators (NES, Genesis, SNES, etc) to run classic games on a unified, low cost platform.
+
Boot (and flash) your BeagleBone (Black) from a Windows, Mac or Linux computer without using a microSD card.
  
* MUSB enhancements: '''Hard'''
+
Extend [https://github.com/ungureanuvladvictor/BeagleDroid last year's GSoC project] to boot from an Android device to support Windows, Mac and Linux hosts.
The MUSB block on the Beagle has a lot of potential but the driver is currently rather buggy. This project will be to fix the driver so the MUSB implementation as paired with the PHY used on the Beagle board can work reliably as a USB OTG device. This means it should be able to at least reliably go back and forth between host and device mode without a reboot by just changing from a A to a B cable AND be able to force host or device mode in software. See the Nokia N8x0 devices for a sample behavior of how software can force this. An initial estimate is code needs to be implemented to force the PHY into host or device mode as requested by SysFS.
 
  
* Real-time audio room analyzer/equalizer: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal:'' Download a Linux image from the web and boot a BeagleBone using it over USB<br>
Implement a real-time audio room analyzer/equalizer. Using techniques such as PN sequence “noise” correlation, analyze the acoustic characteristics of a room and adjust the multiband filter responses for the high fidelity music output, all in real-time.  If the room acoustics change, even with something as transient as a person walking into the room, the filters adjust in real time to maintain the same frequency response for the specified region of the room.
+
''Existing Project:'' https://github.com/ungureanuvladvictor/BeagleDroid, https://github.com/ungureanuvladvictor/BBBlfs<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Some knowledge of USB<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' C and familiarity with Mac, Linux and Windows<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Vladimir Pantelic, Jason Kridner<br>
  
* Adjustable sweet spot for a high-end sound system: '''Hard'''
+
===Android under Angstrom===
Create an adjustable sweet spot for a high-end sound system. Use a sensor (thermal, webcam, whatever) to determine the placement of humans in the audience of a home theater or small concert hallUsing appropriate timing delays in all pass filters and perhaps adjusting the frequency response, provide an optimized “sweet spot” for a 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 sound system.  The program will be able to “move, ”  “grow,” or “shrink” the sweet spot area to provide the best acoustic experience for the greatest number of audience members, or as determined by some other user selectable criteria.
+
Some people want to play Angry Birds or run other Android apps on their BeagleBoard/BeagleBone. Of course, you could use the Rowboat Android project as-is, but then you'd have to give up all of their typical Linux/X11 applications available in AngstromThis project would use an Android-enabled kernel and a combination of both Angstrom and Android file systems.  The input and display methods required for Android would need to be adjusted to run in on a virtual terminal and chroot/chvt would be used to invoke the various user space windows.
  
* Inexpensive teleprompter that adapts to the speaker: '''Hard'''
+
This has essentially been done once as part of [https://www.alwaysinnovating.com/beagleboard/ Always Innovating's Super-Jumbo] demo running Ubuntu, Angstrom, ChromeOS and Android simultaneously. The fundamental challenge is getting it reproducible and integrated into the OpenEmbedded build system for Angstrom and then starting to minimize the wasted file space by sharing libraries. Eventually, even making Android applications run in a window is desired.
Design a small inexpensive teleprompter that adapts to the speaker. Using an image sensor and appropriate algorithms to determine the speaker’s location and direction of gaze, use a picoprojector to project the teleprompter output on a variety of predetermined surfaces. The surfaces could be special glass as with current teleprompters or simply a convenient wall of the room!  As the speaker moves their head or even moves around the stage or room, the teleprompter provides the projected output where needed.
 
  
* Protect the ears of concert-goers: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal'': Run Android applications under Angstrom and toggle back-and-forth using CTRL-ALT-Fn key presses.<br>
Protect the ears of concert-goers. Design a wideband real-time beamformer that would direct less sound energy to the front rows of a concert hall or stadium and more to the back rows, to equalize the relative volume.  Since beamforming algorithms are frequency (wavelength) dependent, the BeagleBoard would need to analyze the music content and adjust the beamforming parameters as needed in real-time.
+
''Existing projects'': http://arowboat.org, http://www.angstrom-distribution.org<br>
 
+
''Hardware skills:'' Minimal<br>
* GPS: '''Hard'''
+
''Software skills:'' Able to write software in C and Java, experience with X11 and Android<br>
GPS application that works with USB GPS receiver (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/USB-12-Channel-NMEA-0183-Receiver-UT-41/dp/B000G6TYC8) or http://www.electronics-lab.com/projects/robotics/003/index.html
+
''Possible mentors:'' Hunyue Yau, Vladimir Pantelic<br>
 
 
* Jogger’s Friend: '''Hard'''
 
Gather heart-rate data and GPS position information
 
Use it to analyse the value of exercise and to suggest different exercise patterns to optimise the benefit to each individual.
 
 
* HiFi Companion: '''Hard'''
 
Develop analysis algorithms to characterise the acoustic properties of a room, then present suggestions to optimise those characteristics to get best results from audio systems
 
 
 
* Voice Scrambler: '''Hard'''
 
Develop algorithms for real-time scrambling of voice conversations for transmission across unsedcured connections.
 
 
* Brain Mouse: '''Hard'''
 
Interpret brain signals so that a PC cursor can be controlled by thoughts to point and click on the screen.
 
  
* Open Source PLC: '''Hard'''
+
===Documentation for BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black===
Imagine Beagle opening and closing curtains, rendering audio when someone enters a room, turning on a fan as the temperature rises in a trombe wall - but only if the room temperature is cool, or a million other control applications.  There are several automation standards, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_61131 [IEC 61131]] and [http://www.automationml.org [AutomationML]].  However, there is no open source software available that implements any of these standards (puffin/MatPLC seems to have fizzled)! Create an Open Source PLC project supporting a freely accessible standard.
+
'''We need to avoid documentation projects for GSoC. Please turn this into a coding project. Providing code examples might be sufficient, but code needs to be the output. The documentation can be a side-effect.'''
 +
Produce HOWTOs and code samples for use of I/O on BeagleBone to be placed in the neutral elinux.org BeagleBone community pages.
  
* One-laptop-per-child (http://laptop.org/en/ ) with Beagle: '''Hard'''
+
''Goal:'' The Beagleboard.org community has lacked a canonical source of high quality documentation on how to use peripherals found on AM335x. Peripheral use to be documented will include UARTs, I2C, SPI, PWM, ADC, USB Host/Gadget as well as advanced topics such as software development and optimization for the M3 and PRU coprocessors.<br>
 +
''Existing Project:'' [http://www.elinux.org/BeagleBone_Community elinux.org BeagleBone Community Page]<br>
 +
''Hardware Skills:'' Yes<br>
 +
''Software Skills:'' C<br>
 +
''Possible mentors:'' Hunyue Yau and Matt Porter (others welcome to volunteer)
  
* Move Firefox to Cairo on OpenVG and minimize memory footprint
+
==Previous ideas==
* Implement OpenVG with the C64x and DMAs
+
* [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2014]]
* more codecs on the dsp (e.g. mp3 encoder/decoder, mpeg2 decoder, codecs for IP telephony (with video), ...)
+
* [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2013]]
* port LXDE (see www.lxde.org)
+
* [[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2012]]
* beagle as upnp renderer
 
* good text to speech support, xDM-based algorithm
 
* Clean MythTV, Boxee, XBMC, or Miro builds
 
* facial recognition with depth analysis using pico projector and webcam
 
* Port face-recognition and/or fingerprint recognition user app running on top of Android OS thru USB webcam
 
* high-speed 3d scanning with pico projector and webcam
 
* implementing a single pixel camera with beagleboard, pico projector and webcam; accelerate processing using DSP
 
* USB class converters (MTP to mass-storage, audio to midi, ...) or invasive sniffer
 
* Wiimote + Pico Projector + 3D art tool
 
* Extend Android with extra sensory operations (GPIO/PWM controls, temperature sensors, barometers, etc.)
 
* DSP libraries for Android (both portable C and optimized implementations with C64x+ and/or NEON)
 
* Gesture-controlled web browser
 
* Power monitoring (http://www.google.org/powermeter/smarterpower.html)
 
* Off-line Google App host on an SD card
 
* Commodore 64 emulator via S-Video and Bluetooth keyboard
 
* Printer and Scanner Drivers for Beagle
 
* JPEG2000 codec running on BeagleBoard
 
* Video extender – take in video via usb webcam, compress it using video encoder, stream it over ethernet (could be like a security camera)
 
* DVD player – hook up USB dvdrom drive and playback video and audio
 
* Receive and/or transmit IR signals (like from a remote control. Since I don’t think Beagle has an IR receiver, you’d probably need something like http://www.usbuirt.com/ (there are many others out there, too
 
* Recording/logging data coming from instrumentation (e.g. Fluke multi-meter) … even better, combine with some DSP algorithm to “crunch” the data.
 
* Telescope interface that let a telescope track items in the sky (important if you’re trying to photograph things). Something along these lines for Beagle might be neat.
 
** http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/general-accessories/meade15foot20usbcable.cfm
 
** http://www.instructables.com/id/Usb_PTZ_webcam_tracking_system/
 
* USB midi keyboard interfacing
 
* Beagle-based Linux Fileserver
 
* Beagle-based Skype phone (VOIP application that connects microphone & speaker to ethernet). Could use either USB or Audio headset/mic-speaker
 
* Solar cell powered beagle-board (hardware/software). For potential laptop/computer applications
 
* Incorporate accelerometer (SPI or I2C interface) to lay the foundation for neat motion detection apps (hardware/software)
 
* Youtube on Linux (Angstrom) on Beagleboard:
 
* ekiga Wi Fi Video Softphone:
 
(existing open source video conferencing code )that works on Linux (Angstrom) on Beagleboard Ekiga is already compiled for the arm-7 on Angstrom (http://www.angstrom-distribution.org/repo/?pkgname=ekiga). So The project would be to optimize it for the Beagle (and probably some debugging as Ekiga on beagle apparently is not that stable).
 
  
* Cellular Wireless card plug into USB on Beagleboard:
+
=Mentors=
(http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT%26T+USBConnect+Quicksilver&q_sku=sku3020359
+
{| border="1"
* Windows CE 6.0R2 running on Beagleboard using armv7 (Cortex A8) instruction set===
+
! Name
* 2D Graphics acceleration using Cortex A8 Neon Coprocessor on Beagleboard===
+
! IRC nickname
* SWFDEC using Cortex A8 / Neon coprocessor for acceleration===
+
! Melange name
 +
! Native language
 +
! Other languages
 +
! Timezone
 +
! Software help
 +
! Hardware help
 +
! Focus projects
 +
|-
 +
| Jason Kridner
 +
| jkridner
 +
| jkridner
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Eastern
 +
| JavaScript, C, u-boot
 +
| wiring, timing diagrams, basic debug
 +
| BoneScript development
 +
|-
 +
| Vladimir Pantelic
 +
| av500
 +
| vp7
 +
| German
 +
| English, Serbian
 +
| CET
 +
| Experienced on most areas of Embedded Linux, Multimedia
 +
| Schematic Review + Design
 +
| Embedded Linux, Linux Multimedia, Android
 +
|-
 +
| Matt Ranostay
 +
| mranostay
 +
| mranostay
 +
| English (U.S. Midwestern Dialect)
 +
| None
 +
| US Pacific Time
 +
| Experienced on most areas of Embedded Linux or Systems
 +
| Schematic Review + Design
 +
| ARM/AM335x Kernel Development
 +
|-
 +
| Matt Porter
 +
| mdp
 +
| -
 +
| English (U.S. Midwestern Dialect)
 +
| None
 +
| US Eastern
 +
| Embedded Linux Firmware/Kernel and system level design. Designing Linux drivers to make the best use of existing infrastructure.
 +
| Schematic Review + Design
 +
| ARM/AM335x/OMAP/PRU U-Boot and Kernel/Driver Development
 +
|-
 +
|-
 +
| Vlad Ungureanu
 +
| vvu
 +
| ungureanuvladvictor
 +
| Romanian
 +
| English
 +
| GMT +2
 +
| Linux, C, Android, U-Boot, build-systems, USB
 +
| -
 +
| Cross-Platform USB Boot, Android Based Display
 +
|-
 +
| Hunyue Yau
 +
| ds2
 +
| hygsoc
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Pacific
 +
| Android, C, Linux, scripting
 +
| Yes
 +
| -
 +
|-
 +
| Tom Rini
 +
| Tartarus
 +
| trini
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Eastern
 +
| C, u-boot, OpenEmbedded
 +
| -
 +
| U-Boot or OpenEmbedded development
 +
|-
 +
| Luis Gustavo Lira
 +
| lglira
 +
| lglira
 +
| Spanish
 +
| English
 +
| GMT/UTC -5
 +
| Embedded Linux, C, Android
 +
| Design, Debug, Wiring
 +
| Projects on the BeagleBone
 +
|-
 +
| Frans Meulenbroeks
 +
| eFfeM
 +
| effem
 +
| Dutch
 +
| English
 +
| CET
 +
| Linux (including drivers), U-Boot, C, Documentation; Coding Style, QA
 +
| device interfacing (for drivers), review FPGA code
 +
| -
 +
|-
 +
| Pantelis Antoniou
 +
| panto
 +
| panto
 +
| Greek
 +
| English
 +
| GMT+2
 +
| Linux Kernel, S/W Architecture
 +
| -
 +
| Embedded Linux architecture fixes
 +
|-
 +
| Víctor Mayoral Vilches
 +
| vmayoral
 +
| vmayoral
 +
| English, Spanish
 +
|
 +
| CET
 +
| Linux Kernel, C, C++, python
 +
| -
 +
| BeagleRT
 +
|-
 +
| Alexander Hiam
 +
| alexanderhiam
 +
| alexanderhiam
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Eastern
 +
| Python, C, Linux Kernel
 +
| Prototyping, design, layout, debugging
 +
| PyBBIO
 +
|-
 +
| Samy Kamkar
 +
| samy/samy_
 +
| -
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Eastern
 +
| Python, C, Linux Kernel
 +
| Privacy and security researcher, computer hacker, whistleblower and entrepreneur
 +
| BeaglePilot
 +
|-
 +
| Joel Fernandes
 +
| joel_
 +
| joelagnel
 +
| English
 +
| -
 +
| US Central
 +
| C, Linux Kernel, Python
 +
| Processor Engineer, Embedded systems Architecture
 +
| Linux kernel improvement (perf and functionality)
 +
|-
 +
| Greg Kroah-Hartman
 +
| gregkh
 +
| gregh
 +
|-
 +
| David Scheltema
 +
| dschelt
 +
| dcschelt
 +
|-
 +
| Charles Steinkuehler
 +
|
 +
| cdstienkuehler
 +
|-
 +
| Steve French
 +
| VoltVisionFrenchy
 +
| voltvisionfrenchy
 +
|}
 +
[[BeagleBoard/GSoC/Ideas-2012#Mentors|Previous mentors]]

Revision as of 16:50, 30 January 2015


Contents

Welcome!

BeagleBoard.org hopes to be accepted as a mentoring organization in the Google Summer of Code for 2015! Below, we've collected project ideas for the GSoC-2015.

Background

BeagleBoard.org is a volunteer organization that seeks to advance the state of open-source software on open-source hardware platforms capable of running high-level languages and operating systems (primarily Linux) in embedded environments. Born from taking mobile phone processors and putting them on low-cost boards to build affordable desktop computers, BeagleBoard.org has evolved to focus on the needs of the "maker" community with greater focus on the I/O needed for controlling motors and reading sensors to build things like robots, 3d printers, flying drones, in-car computer systems and much more. Past BeagleBoard.org GSoC projects included an RPC framework for heterogeneous processor communication, a transparent USB packet sniffer, ARM optimizations for XBMC, ARM optimizations for FFTs, make-shift pulse-width-modulation and RPC optimizations for OpenCV. BeagleBoard.org has benefited from sponsorship from Texas Instruments, CircuitCo, Digi-Key and others, but avoids any dependence on that sponsorship for sustaining the effort. The project has evolved over the past few years with over 100,000 boards in circulation with developers worldwide and strong roots in the Linaro, Yocto Project, Angstrom Distribution and Linux communities---and support for running most major Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Android, Fedora, Debian, ArchLinux, Gentoo, Buildroot and many more.

BeagleBoard was inspiration for Raspberry Pi[1] and is available for about $50 through over 30 distributors world-wide (and is even available at Microcenter and Radio Shack in the USA), but is more than a throw-away computer. It is an instance of true open hardware, exposing users to the broader world of electronics, demystifying computers and fostering an environment of clones that have changed the industry for good.

Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of cross-compiling before being accepted, but support for demonstration is available through the IRC channel that typically has approximately 150 online chatters logged on at any time, most with sufficient experience to explain the process.

Every accepted student will be sent a BeagleBone Black before the first week of coding for testing their project.

Additional hardware will be provided depending on need and value.

For more information, check out http://beagleboard.org and http://beagleboard.org/brief.

Students looking for ideas

Student proposals can encompass projects inspired from the following list of ideas or can include personal project ideas. Previous Google Summer of Code projects show that the key to success is being passionate about your project, so propose something that is extremely interesting to you, even if it is not on this list. We will be glad to help students develop ideas into projects via the BeagleBoard GSoC IRC or the BeagleBoard-GSoC mailing list. There are many potential project ideas and we will match students to projects based on their interests and help scope the proposals to something that can be completed in the Summer of Code timeframe.

There are more than 500 existing projects listed at http://beagleboard.org/project. If you are interested in any of the projects listed on the BeagleBoard.org projects page, contact the project members to see if there are any aspects of their projects that can be enhanced to create a GSoC project. There are also several ideas on the ECE497 class project idea list. You can also check out last year's idea page.

Mentors wondering where to help

Please start by registering your ideas for student projects below by following the template provided with the existing ideas. Furthermore, scroll down to the bottom and give everyone a bit of information about your expertise and availability by adding yourself to the table. Jason will make final approvals for mentor assignments based on if we first get accepted as a mentoring organization and best matching mentor skill sets with student project ideas deemed valuable to the community.

You will also need to register on Melange and request to be a mentor for BeagleBoard.org.

General requirements

All projects have the following basic requirements:

  1. Once accepted, the project must be registered on http://beagleboard.org/project.
  2. All newly generated materials must be released under an open source license.
  3. Individual students shall retain copyright on their works.
  4. Source code generated during the project must be released on github.com (to be cloned to github.com/beagleboard on successful completion).
  5. The registration on http://beagleboard.org/project must include an RSS feed with project announcements and updates at every milestone. Sources for the RSS feed should be blogger.com, wordpress.com, or some other established blog-hosting service with known reliability.
  6. To help you to break your project down into manageable chunks and also to help the project's mentors to better support your efforts, weekly project status reports should be e-mailed to the project's mentors and the organization administrator (Jason Kridner). Each status report should outline:
    1. what was accomplished that week,
    2. any issues that prevented that week's goals from being completed and
    3. your goals for the next week.
  7. Students will provide two recorded audio/video presentations uploaded to youtube or vimeo (screencasts are appropriate), one near the beginning of the project summarizing their project goals and another in the wrap-up phase to summarize their accomplishments. Examples can be found on http://beagleboard.org/gsoc.
  8. Students will demonstrate their ability to cross-compile and utilize version control software by creating a "Hello World" application and generating a pull request to https://github.com/jadonk/gsoc-application/tree/master/ExampleEntryJasonKridner. For assistance, please visit http://beagleboard.org/chat or utilize the beagleboard-gsoc Google Group. The "Hello World" application must print your name and the date out in an ARM Linux environment. Freely available emulators may be used to test your application or you can ask anyone on the chat or mailing list to help you test.
  9. All projects will produce reusable software components and will not be "what–I-built-over-my-summer-vacation" projects. Including a hardware component is welcome, but the project *deliverable* will be software that may be utilized by a wide audience of the BeagleBoard.org community.

Ideas

Linux kernel support for embedded devices and interfaces

Improving the state of the Linux kernel, especially with regards to embedded devices and interfaces. Includes improved ARM/OMAP/Sitara platform support, simplifying the development of add-on hardware for embedded systems and exchanging hardware connectivity information with userspace.

BeagleRT: Real-Time Linux with the BeagleBone Black

Assessment of the real-time limitations and capabilities with the BeagleBone Black.

  • vanilla kernel
  • vanilla with PREEMPT option
  • PREEMPT_RT patches
  • Xenomai patches
  • PRUSS

Goal: Many applications require a certain degree of real-time response. This project will analyze, test and compare the different approaches for providing Real-Time responses with the BeagleBone Black development board.
Hardware Skills: PRU, PPM, PWM, PRUSS
Software Skills: C, C++, Python, Assembly
Possible Mentors: Víctor Mayoral Vilches, Siddharth Bharat Purohit
Workload: 1 student full time.
GitHub: https://github.com/BeagleRT/BeagleRT
References: https://www.osadl.org/fileadmin/dam/rtlws/12/Brown.pdf

Upstreaming Beagleboard.org Kernel Patches

The BeagleBone currently relies on a number of out-of-tree kernel patches in order to boot. These patches are maintained by Koen Kooi (CircuitCo) and come from many sources, including TI employees and various mailing lists. Getting more of these patches upstream would make it easier to boot a BeagleBone and also make use of a BeagleBone easier for users and kernel developers who need to track upstream kernel changes, or who otherwise need to be closer to the bleeding edge of Linux kernel development. The current patch set is maintained at github and contains scripts to easily patch an upstream kernel. The scripts in this repository are used to build the BeagleBoard.org kernels which ship with the Angstrom SD card images.

Goal: Push as many patches as possible to Linus's mainline kernel tree via the appropriate staging kernels for the subsystems involved.
Existing Project: The Mainline Linux Kernel, patches needing to be pushed
Hardware Skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals.
Software Skills: Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation and testing.
Possible mentors: Matt Porter, Matt Ranostay, Koen Kooi, Alan Ott

Generic Device Tree Creator

Device Tree usage can be a steep learning curve for many. Despite N tutorials for it. Kernel version and naming convention changes cause issues. So how about a tool to create the DT file for the Beaglebone Black. Select the required options. Need this gpio for pru. Need this adc for tsc. Need this pin. And it generated DT bindings for you.

Ideally it should effectively expand for other embedded development kits. If you load a Beaglebone Black Rev C file. The DT bindings for that are generated. If you load a Beaglebone White Rev A file, DT bindings for that are generated etc.. Similarly, kernel version changes should be easy to incorporate as well.

Getting the whole thing as part of GSoC can get too much unless you are really skilled. So a basic structure should be the aim initially. Suggestions for the base platform running the tool are welcome. e.g. A webapp/bonescript can be used. Python perhaps.

Goal: Get a basic device tree creator for BBB (and possibly BBW) working with a structure to allow different board types
Existing Project: https://github.com/jluebbe/tools is a small bit of a starting point.
Hardware Skills: Should be able to understand the capes
Software Skills: Cross-compile the Linux kernel and testing the DT.
Possible mentors: Jason Kridner

IIO debugging tools

Quick background: IIO is the new way of doing sensors but being a newer interface, it lacks tools for debugging. This project is to produce sometools to debug drivers. There are several ways this project can happen:
1. We can implement userland tools that read IIO data similar to the evtest tool.
2. We can implement a event handler for the IIO driver. This way existing tools and code can be used. There was references from another mailing list (probally LKML) talking about this.

Goal: Userspace application similar to evtest that captures debug events and instrumented IIO driver code to produce those events.
Existing Project: patched kernel with IIO driver
Hardware Skills: None.
Software Skills:C coding (1), (2) requires kernel coding
Possible mentors: Hunyue Yau

SYSFS entries for IIO and PWM

IIO and PWM provide mechanisms for sampling touch screens, performing general purpose A/D conversions to read sensors, generating voltage levels and driving motors. The Linux kernel SYSFS mechanism provides a simplified mechanism for userspace applications to set parameters and read/write data values.

Goal: Push patches to Linux mainline providing SYSFS entries for IIO and PWM useful for building a demo robot
Existing project: http://github.com/beagleboard/kernel
Hardware skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals
Software skills: Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation
Possible mentors: Laine Walker-Avina

MMC and DMA Linux performance

Improving performance of MMC driver by understanding issues, improving MMC, DMA drivers and eliminating bottlenecks.

Goal: Both MMC and DMA are critical to high performance of I/O intensive workloads on a Beagleboard/ARM platform, even fast system boot up depends on it.

A good amount of performance improvement is possible just by identifying what's going on in hot paths and how things can be done more simply, without breaking anything else. Also improvements are possible using innovative techniques such as intelligent buffer allocation and reducing overhead where possible in dependent components such as DMA. Cutting the fat in hot paths is definitely a start.

Existing Project: Upstream Kernel
Hardware Skills: Yes
Software Skills: C, Possible use of JTAG, ftrace, perf etc.
Possible mentors: Joel Fernandes

ARM processor support in open source operating systems and libraries

Optimizations to applications and libraries like XBMC to make them run better on resource constrained environments or to take advantage of more specialized processing elements.

Library of Arduino-compatible functions for StarterWare

This would be an implementation of Arduino utilizing the BeagleBone Black and the StarterWare O/S independent library for accessing the hardware. Without having to access the hardware through an operating system, developers will be able to fine-tune the system to achieve optimal resource management of the CPU, peripherals and memory. The project would also include basic documentation and generation of code samples for various functionality of the library, such as SPI,Serial,Ethernet for starters. This would make the project thorough and ready for use by various developers in the community.

Goal: Utilize the Energia fork of Arduino to push support for BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black
Existing Project: Energia, StarterWare
Hardware Skills: Yes
Software Skills: C/C++
Possible mentors: Jason Kridner (others can be referred if there are interested students)

Heterogeneous co-processor support in open source operating systems and libraries

Enabling usage of DSPs, PRUs, FPGAs, Cortex-M3s, Arduinos, MSP430 launchpads and other attached processing platforms.

PRU upstreaming

Remove HWMOD dependency requirement for PRU along with adding device tree bindings so it can be upstreamed into Linus's tree.

Goal: Push patches to Linux mainline providing support for the AM335x PRU
Existing project: https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/
Hardware skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals
Software skills: Able to write software in C, understand existing patches with PRU support, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation
Possible mentors: Start with Jason Kridner and Matt Porter, but we'll get some others involved

PRU firmware loader

Allow "firmware" which are really binary PRU applications to be loaded directly on PRU cores and executed using the request_firmware() functionality of the Linux Kernel. This should also be Cape Manager to load PRU cape specific applications.

Ideal workflow:

  • Cape detected that uses the PRU
    • Setup pinmux
  • Find the respective firmware file for PRU core (or both cores) /lib/firmware/cape_A020_pru0.bin
  • Load onto PRU and begin execution.

Goal: Push patches to Linux mainline providing support to loading firmware on PRU cores and executing
Existing project: https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/
Hardware skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals
Software skills: Able to write software in C, create patches to the Linux kernel and perform cross-compilation
Possible mentors: Matt Ranostay, Matt Porter

Program PRU using high-level scripting languages

Based on Chris Roger's BotSpeak work to provide a virtual machine for typical Arduino functions that can be accessed from LabView, build a virtual machine to enable PRU programming from Bonescript. The virtual machine is a simple interpreter that loops over the commands to perform such as delay, pinMode, analogRead, analogWrite, digitalRead and digitalWrite functions.

A basic design is elaborated upon at http://github.com/jadonk/pruduino

Goal: Implement a BotSpeak interpreter that off-loads hard real-time tasks from Bonescript onto the PRU and include that in the BoneScript project
Existing projects: PRUDUINO, http://github.com/beagleboard/am335x_pru_package, http://github.com/jadonk/bonescript, Chris' language definition
Hardware skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals
Software skills: Able to write software in JavaScript and assembly
Possible mentors: Chris Rogers, Jason Kridner

Linux userspace support of embedded devices and interfaces in high-level languages

Improving the Bonescript JavaScript library, the PyBBIO Python library, Userspace Arduino, web-based interface libraries, examples or alternatives in other languages.

Implementing and testing core libraries in Userspace Arduino

Implementing and testing core libraries in Userspace Arduino, especially SPI, I2C, Wire, Serial, Servo, Stepper

This would primarily target the Arduino Tre.

Making a stable release of Processing's serial libraries for Tre

Making a stable release of OpenFrameworks's serial libraries for Tre

Improving initial experience for novice developers

Improving the methods for communicating how to build projects, improving the out-of-box experience for novices and consolidating support for simplified home manufacturing (CNC, 3D printers, laser cutters, pick-and-place machines, etc.), drones/bots (ROS, IMU, video streaming, etc.) or other common tasks.

node-webkit based cross-platform getting-started app

Newbies often have a difficult time following directions that could be replaced by an application. The steps to download and install an application is something that even newbies can typically manage. This avoid issues like having bad browsers or not having typical development tools like 'ssh'. This is a common problem across all embedded Linux platforms and node-webkit provides a good solution for making it cross-platform.

Features:

  • Provide instructions for getting up-and-running with the board based (incorporate the Getting Started Guide)
  • Automatically discover boards on the LAN using mDNS and predetermined IP addresses
  • Act as a browser to interact with the board, including performing SSH and SCP
  • Discover the latest SD card images from multiple distributions
  • Bootload the board with a USB-mass-storage-class application
  • Program SD cards through the board or a USB adapter
  • Program on-board eMMC

Goal: Provide a downloadable application for Linux, Windows and Mac that enables unexperienced users to get going enough to start learning about using Linux and the embedded I/O.
Existing Project: Incomplete node webkit app for the BeagleBone Getting Started guide
Hardware Skills: N/A
Software Skills: Able to write software in JavaScript and work with node.js modules
Possible mentors: Jason Kridner

BoneScript web pages with live-running examples and documentation

{{#ev:youtube|VP0DOheLxQA||right|5 JavaScript Tricks for BeagleBone}} The BoneScript JavaScript library enables hardware control from web pages using socket.io for remote procedure calls. This provides an excellent environment for teaching how to wire-up sensors and controls and rapidly prototype user interfaces. Numerous examples exist on the web, but consolidation and testing are required to make them usable by novices. Examples include interfacing with potentiometers, light sensors, temperature sensors, motors and LED arrays then visualizing/controlling with Twitter, Facebook, jQuery, Spacebrew and dweet,io.

Goal: About 25 web pages with executable script that demonstrate how to connect up sensor and actuator hardware integrated into the bone101 repository and shared on http://beagleboard.org/Support/BoneScript
Existing Projects: 5 easy tricks presentation, http://beagleboard.org/Support/BoneScript, https://github.com/jadonk/bone101, BMP085 Bonescript example, ECE497 examples, JSFiddle on GIST example
Hardware Skills: Basic knowledge of digital circuits.
Software Skills: JavaScript and some familiarity with Linux
Possible mentors: Jason Kridner

Integrate support libraries into Debian

Many BeagleBone and embedded Linux support libraries in various programming languages exist as projects that aren't included in the distro shipped with BeagleBoard and BeagleBone. These need packaging scripts such that they can be easily downloaded and incorporated into the upcoming shipping Debian distro.

  • Python PyBBIO
  • Ruby beaglebone-ruby
  • Perl bonelib

Goal: PyBBIO, beaglebone-ruby and bonelib included in the distro shipping with BeagleBone
Existing Project: PyBBIO, beaglebone-ruby, bonelib
Hardware Skills: Able to wire up simple hardware, like LEDs
Software Skills: Familiarity with Python, Ruby, Perl, embedded Linux and build systems.
Possible mentors: Jason Kridner, Robert Nelson, Rob Rittman

Using BeagleBone PRUs to control CNC and 3D printer stepper motor Drivers

This project is to write code for the PRU (realtime processors on the AM335x used in the Beagle Bone) so that it can generate multiple step and direction outputs based on a queue of commands in real time. This needs to be done in real time so the acceleration and coordination of multiple stepper motors can be controlled and coordinated. A step/dir signal is commonly used in a lot of stepper motor drivers. While it is possible to generate stepper phase information from the PRU, it is also undesireable from a testing stand point. An example of a reason for doing this is controlling the X/Y directions of the head of a 3D printer so that it can generate precise curves. While similar code has been done, it is not done in a real time fashion so it is difficult to add coordination between motors and/or maintain a known acceleration.

The result of this code should be something interfaceable to a control system like the non realtime portions of the Linux CNC project (formerly the EMC project). But as a demo, this same code should also demonstrate a node.js functionality such as a "G-code" interpreter. This node.js portion can be considered a second project due to the different skill sets required and ideally this project would be split between two GSoC students. One project would be working mostly on PRU assembly with integration into the Linux kernel. The other project would be working mostly on userspace JavaScript in node.js and C++ code for anything needing optimization or low-level kernel access. Mentors would heavily assist on defining the right interfaces between the two programming environments. Goal: create code to use the AM335x PRUs to generate multiple step and direction outputs for reprap and CNC applications
Existing projects: Pru Documentation, UIO Driver documentation
Hardware skills: Able to read schematics, understand basic digital logic and monitor logic-level digital signals
Software skills: Assembly and C coding. Node.js for g-code interpretation
Possible mentors:Jason Kridner, Hunyue Yau, Laine Walker-Avina

Cross platform USB boot

Boot (and flash) your BeagleBone (Black) from a Windows, Mac or Linux computer without using a microSD card.

Extend last year's GSoC project to boot from an Android device to support Windows, Mac and Linux hosts.

Goal: Download a Linux image from the web and boot a BeagleBone using it over USB
Existing Project: https://github.com/ungureanuvladvictor/BeagleDroid, https://github.com/ungureanuvladvictor/BBBlfs
Hardware Skills: Some knowledge of USB
Software Skills: C and familiarity with Mac, Linux and Windows
Possible mentors: Vladimir Pantelic, Jason Kridner

Android under Angstrom

Some people want to play Angry Birds or run other Android apps on their BeagleBoard/BeagleBone. Of course, you could use the Rowboat Android project as-is, but then you'd have to give up all of their typical Linux/X11 applications available in Angstrom. This project would use an Android-enabled kernel and a combination of both Angstrom and Android file systems. The input and display methods required for Android would need to be adjusted to run in on a virtual terminal and chroot/chvt would be used to invoke the various user space windows.

This has essentially been done once as part of Always Innovating's Super-Jumbo demo running Ubuntu, Angstrom, ChromeOS and Android simultaneously. The fundamental challenge is getting it reproducible and integrated into the OpenEmbedded build system for Angstrom and then starting to minimize the wasted file space by sharing libraries. Eventually, even making Android applications run in a window is desired.

Goal: Run Android applications under Angstrom and toggle back-and-forth using CTRL-ALT-Fn key presses.
Existing projects: http://arowboat.org, http://www.angstrom-distribution.org
Hardware skills: Minimal
Software skills: Able to write software in C and Java, experience with X11 and Android
Possible mentors: Hunyue Yau, Vladimir Pantelic

Documentation for BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black

We need to avoid documentation projects for GSoC. Please turn this into a coding project. Providing code examples might be sufficient, but code needs to be the output. The documentation can be a side-effect. Produce HOWTOs and code samples for use of I/O on BeagleBone to be placed in the neutral elinux.org BeagleBone community pages.

Goal: The Beagleboard.org community has lacked a canonical source of high quality documentation on how to use peripherals found on AM335x. Peripheral use to be documented will include UARTs, I2C, SPI, PWM, ADC, USB Host/Gadget as well as advanced topics such as software development and optimization for the M3 and PRU coprocessors.
Existing Project: elinux.org BeagleBone Community Page
Hardware Skills: Yes
Software Skills: C
Possible mentors: Hunyue Yau and Matt Porter (others welcome to volunteer)

Previous ideas

Mentors

Name IRC nickname Melange name Native language Other languages Timezone Software help Hardware help Focus projects
Jason Kridner jkridner jkridner English - US Eastern JavaScript, C, u-boot wiring, timing diagrams, basic debug BoneScript development
Vladimir Pantelic av500 vp7 German English, Serbian CET Experienced on most areas of Embedded Linux, Multimedia Schematic Review + Design Embedded Linux, Linux Multimedia, Android
Matt Ranostay mranostay mranostay English (U.S. Midwestern Dialect) None US Pacific Time Experienced on most areas of Embedded Linux or Systems Schematic Review + Design ARM/AM335x Kernel Development
Matt Porter mdp - English (U.S. Midwestern Dialect) None US Eastern Embedded Linux Firmware/Kernel and system level design. Designing Linux drivers to make the best use of existing infrastructure. Schematic Review + Design ARM/AM335x/OMAP/PRU U-Boot and Kernel/Driver Development
Vlad Ungureanu vvu ungureanuvladvictor Romanian English GMT +2 Linux, C, Android, U-Boot, build-systems, USB - Cross-Platform USB Boot, Android Based Display
Hunyue Yau ds2 hygsoc English - US Pacific Android, C, Linux, scripting Yes -
Tom Rini Tartarus trini English - US Eastern C, u-boot, OpenEmbedded - U-Boot or OpenEmbedded development
Luis Gustavo Lira lglira lglira Spanish English GMT/UTC -5 Embedded Linux, C, Android Design, Debug, Wiring Projects on the BeagleBone
Frans Meulenbroeks eFfeM effem Dutch English CET Linux (including drivers), U-Boot, C, Documentation; Coding Style, QA device interfacing (for drivers), review FPGA code -
Pantelis Antoniou panto panto Greek English GMT+2 Linux Kernel, S/W Architecture - Embedded Linux architecture fixes
Víctor Mayoral Vilches vmayoral vmayoral English, Spanish CET Linux Kernel, C, C++, python - BeagleRT
Alexander Hiam alexanderhiam alexanderhiam English - US Eastern Python, C, Linux Kernel Prototyping, design, layout, debugging PyBBIO
Samy Kamkar samy/samy_ - English - US Eastern Python, C, Linux Kernel Privacy and security researcher, computer hacker, whistleblower and entrepreneur BeaglePilot
Joel Fernandes joel_ joelagnel English - US Central C, Linux Kernel, Python Processor Engineer, Embedded systems Architecture Linux kernel improvement (perf and functionality)
Greg Kroah-Hartman gregkh gregh
David Scheltema dschelt dcschelt
Charles Steinkuehler cdstienkuehler
Steve French VoltVisionFrenchy voltvisionfrenchy

Previous mentors