Getting Started with the Remote I/O Platform (RIOP)

The kit comes with a pre-programmed out-of-the-box experience demo application. To run it, configure an Ethernet port (by following the instructions in this chapter) and install FreeMASTER 3.2.

2.1 Install FreeMASTER 3.2

1. Download the FreeMASTER tool 3.2 Windows installer
2. Next, install the tool by following the instructions from the installation wizard

2.2 Configure the Ethernet Port

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Go to "Network and Internet"
3. Open the "Status" tab
4. Click on "Change adapter options"
5. Right-click on the Ethernet port you want to use, then open "Properties"
6. Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", then click on "Properties"
7. Configure the properties to the IP address "192.168.1.1" and the subnet mask to "255.255.255.0", like in Figure 1 or Figure 2

Figure 1. Ethernet port configuration on Windows 10.

Figure 2. Ethernet port configuration on Windows 11.

The RIOP is designed for developers seeking multi-protocol, industrial real-time Ethernet communication support. The platform integrates the i.MX RT1180 MCU and NAFE13388 analog front-end (AFE) into a fully tested, modular and expandable system. This solution accelerates time-to-market for developers of remote I/O and digital and analog I/O modules.

The platform comes with example applications showcasing the enabled industrial protocols:

• Demo (out-of-the-box experience): Uses Network Controller (NETC) over Ethernet to communicate with FreeMASTER on a PC, providing an intuitive out-of-box experience
• Ethernet for Control Automation Technology Sample Application (ECAT Sample Application): Demonstrates the NXP implementation of the EtherCAT protocol by communicating with a TwinCAT-driven soft-programmable logic controller (soft-PLC) application on a PC

3.1 Board Features

• Complete reference platform for the i.MX RT1180 and NAFE13388
• Support for industrial communication protocols
• Eight configurable analog input AFE pins
• Ten configurable digital I/O AFE pins
• Seven digital input MCU pins
• Eight digital output MCU pins
• Three Ethernet ports
• USB interface for connecting the host PC and powering the board
• External power supply option

Figure 3. Remote IO Platform Configuration

Figure 3. Remote IO Platform Configuration

4.1 Configure Hardware

Figure 3. Remote IO Platform Configuration

Figure 3. Remote IO Platform Configuration

Note: The board can be powered by a 24 V or 5 V adapter through the external power supply port, or via a micro-USB cable connected to the Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART)-to-USB port. When the micro-USB port is used, the power switch will not be used. You can use both an external power supply and a micro-USB cable simultaneously.

Before running the application, perform the following steps:

1. Configure the SW6 switch to set the boot mode (each pin can be set to ON [up] or OFF [down]), then set the positions to: 1: OFF, 2: ON, 3: OFF, 4: OFF

   Note: JP20 and JP21 are not relevant to the demo application, so they can be connected in any position.

2. Connect JP17 and JP18 to position 2-3 (the left-most and the middle pin, as they are numbered 3-2-1)
3. Connect external power supply of 24 V to the programmable logic controller input/output (PLCIO) board
4. Power on the board
5. Connect Ethernet port 4 (ENET4) to your PC with an Ethernet cable
6. Connect a micro-USB cable between the board and the PC

5.1 Connect FreeMASTER to the Board

To connect the FreeMASTER tool with the board, perform the following steps:

1. Open the folder with the downloaded RIOP software package, then navigate to "riop_M33LEADER_DEMO/example_data" and open "RIOP_demo.pmpx"


Figure 4. Location of the FreeMASTER project.

2. The FreeMASTER application will open


Figure 5. FreeMASTER Application GUI overview.

3. Go to "Tools" → "Connection Wizard"


Figure 6. Open the Connection Wizard.

4. Click "Next"


Figure 7. Click on next.

5. Select the "Connect over TCP/UDP" option, then click "Next"


Figure 8. Connect over TCP/UDP option.

6. Click "Plug-in Configuration"


Figure 9. Plug-in Configuration.

7. Click "Discover Targets" then select an available target and press "Use Selected Target", then click "OK"


Figure 10. Discover Targets.

8. Click "Finish"


Figure 11. Click on Finish.

FreeMASTER is now connected to the board so the application can be used.

5.2 Test the Connection

To test the connection, measure the external voltage signal by performing the following steps:

1. Connect the blue wire between J16[13] and AI1+ (5th pin from the left)
2. Connect the yellow wire between J16[15] and AI1- (4th pin from the left)
3. Connect the black wire between analog input common (AICOM) (3rd pin from the left) and analog ground (AGND) (6th pin from the left)
4. Enable a signal generator using the FreeMASTER application
5. In the high-voltage signal ("HVsig") tab, enable one or more channels
6. Press the "SEND CONFIG" button
7. Check the signal waveform in the recorder – "HVsig" window
8. Double-click on the "Hvsig measurement" button in the Project tree to switch to the "HVsig" view (alternatively, you may right-click on the "Hvsig measurement" button and choose "New window" to show it like in Figure 13)

When "SINE" is enabled, channels 1 and 3 are offset from each other and channel 2 is the difference between the other two waves (bur when "SAWTOOTH" is enabled, there are no offsets between the channels and channel 2 shows 0).

Figure 12. Remote IO Platform HVSIG Configuration

Figure 12. Remote IO Platform HVSIG Configuration

Figure 13. FreeMASTER signal recorder.

Board Documents

• Remote I/O Platform Quick Start Guide

Chip Documents

• i.MX RT1180 Crossover Processors Data Sheet
• i.MX RT1180 Reference Manual
• IMXRT1180CCE Chip Errata
• NAFE13388 Data Sheet
• NAFE73388 Data Sheet

Additional References

• Remote IO Platform - Application Code Hub

Forums

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