Firmware Upgrade using RS-485

How to update the firmware on the Micro AI Vision Sensor using the RS-485 serial port.

Prerequisites

• New .hex firmware file
• Micro AI connected to PC using RS-485 Serial Adapter
• Serial Terminal open and communicating with the Micro AI Vision Sensor

Loading Firmware

1. In the serial terminal, run the command “dfu”
2. Press Y once in DFU mode.  Wait for the prompt to read "Board in DFU mode!" and close the serial application.
3. Put the included blhost.exe executable file, the .hex firmware, and the included blhost_upload.py scripts into the same directory.
4. Open Command Prompt on the desktop by going to search and typing in “CMD” 
5. If a previous firmware upgrade failed, or invalid firmware was loaded and the serial console is not operation, the Micro AI Vision Sensor can be forced into DFU mode.
   1. Remove power from the device.
   2. Using a small pin or similar device, press the button located behind he hole in the bottom of the enclosure rear connector.
   3. While pressing the button, re-apply power.  This will force the unit into bootloader upgrade mode.
6. In command prompt navigate to the folder where the documents blhost.exe, rtcam.hex and blhost_upload.py are stored using the ‘cd’ command
7. 
8. Run blhost_upload.py using:

python3 blhost_upload.py --com <COM#> --HEX <RTCAM.HEX file>

where:

<COM#> - Com port for the RS-485 adapter.  This should be written as COM# (e.g. --com COM8 )

<RTCAM.HEX file> - filename of the new firmware to be loaded.  Include the full name i.e. 'MicroFirmware.hex'

Here is an example command:

python3 blhost_upload.py --com COM8 --HEX rtcam_0.8.0b1.hex

10. Once entered the user is prompted if the board requires a firmware update or initial load
11. Select firmware update and wait for the time mentioned by the script to compete the process
12. Once Completed user may log on to the board with the updated firmware

Here is example of a successful run: