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Advanced Electronics

This section covers advanced electronics topics for the UC2 ecosystem, including firmware development, software interfaces, and specialized hardware components.

Section Overview​

1. UC2-ESP32 Firmware​

Advanced topics for UC2-ESP32 firmware development and customization:

2. UC2-REST Python Interface​

Python software interface for UC2 hardware control:

3. Hardware Interfaces​

Specialized hardware components and interfaces:

Key Features​

UC2-ESP32 Ecosystem​

  • Modular Firmware: Compile only needed modules for optimal performance
  • Multi-Protocol Support: Serial, WiFi, Bluetooth, I2C communication
  • Real-time Control: Loop-based hardware management with microsecond precision
  • Extensible Architecture: Easy addition of new hardware modules

UC2-REST Interface​

  • High-Level API: Object-oriented Python interface for hardware control
  • ImSwitch Integration: Native support for ImSwitch microscopy software
  • Error Handling: Robust communication with automatic retry and recovery
  • Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Hardware Integration​

  • Standardized Connectors: Consistent electrical and mechanical interfaces
  • Scalable Architecture: From single devices to complex multi-device systems
  • Industry Standards: Support for common protocols and interfaces
  • Open Source: All designs and software freely available

Getting Started​

Prerequisites​

  • Basic electronics knowledge
  • Python programming experience (for UC2-REST)
  • Arduino/PlatformIO experience (for ESP32 development)
  • UC2 hardware components

Quick Start Path​

  1. Basic ESP32 Setup - Flash firmware and test basic communication
  2. UC2-REST Installation - Install Python interface
  3. First Integration - Connect everything together
  4. Advanced Customization - Adapt for your specific needs

Hardware Architecture​

System Overview​

┌─────────────────┐    ┌──────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│   Host Computer │◄──►│  UC2-REST   │◄──►│  UC2-ESP32     │
│   (ImSwitch)    │    │  (Python)   │    │  (Firmware)    │
└─────────────────┘    └──────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
                              │                      │
                              │                      ▼
                       ┌──────▼──────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
                       │   Network   │    │    Hardware     │
                       │ (WiFi/USB)  │    │   Components    │
                       └─────────────┘    └─────────────────┘

Communication Flow​

  1. High-Level Control: ImSwitch or custom Python scripts
  2. UC2-REST Layer: Translates high-level commands to JSON messages
  3. Communication Channel: USB Serial or WiFi/HTTP
  4. UC2-ESP32 Firmware: Interprets commands and controls hardware
  5. Hardware Modules: Motors, LEDs, sensors, etc.

Development Workflow​

Firmware Development​

# Clone firmware repository
git clone https://github.com/youseetoo/uc2-esp32
cd uc2-esp32

# Configure for your hardware
cp config_template.h config.h
# Edit config.h for your modules

# Build and flash
pio run --target upload

Python Development​

# Install UC2-REST
pip install UC2-REST

# Basic usage
from UC2REST import UC2Client
client = UC2Client(serialport="/dev/ttyUSB0")

# Test communication
if client.is_connected:
    print("Connected to UC2-ESP32")
    client.led.set_led(channel=1, intensity=50)

Advanced Topics​

Custom Hardware Modules​

Create new hardware modules for specialized applications:

// custom_sensor.h
class CustomSensor {
public:
    void setup();
    void loop();
    void act(JsonObject& json_in, JsonObject& json_out);
    void get(JsonObject& json_in, JsonObject& json_out);
};

Protocol Extensions​

Extend communication protocols for new use cases:

# custom_protocol.py
class CustomProtocol:
    def __init__(self, client):
        self.client = client
    
    def custom_command(self, parameters):
        command = {
            "task": "/custom_act",
            "parameters": parameters
        }
        return self.client.send_command(command)

Performance Optimization​

  • Memory Management: Optimize RAM usage for large configurations
  • Communication Speed: Minimize protocol overhead
  • Real-time Performance: Ensure deterministic response times
  • Power Efficiency: Reduce power consumption for battery operation

Integration Examples​

ImSwitch Integration​

Complete examples of integrating UC2 hardware with ImSwitch:

  • Multi-channel fluorescence microscopy
  • Automated scanning workflows
  • Real-time image processing feedback

Custom Applications​

Examples for specialized use cases:

  • High-throughput screening systems
  • Educational microscopy setups
  • Research-specific modifications

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Communication Problems:

  • Check USB cable and drivers
  • Verify correct COM port/device
  • Test with simple commands first

Firmware Issues:

  • Verify module configuration
  • Check power supply stability
  • Monitor serial output for errors

Performance Problems:

  • Profile communication bottlenecks
  • Optimize module configuration
  • Consider hardware upgrades

Debug Tools​

  • Serial Monitor: Real-time firmware debugging
  • Network Analyzer: WiFi communication debugging
  • Logic Analyzer: Hardware signal analysis
  • Python Profiler: Software performance analysis

Contributing​

We welcome contributions to the UC2 electronics ecosystem:

Areas for Contribution​

  • New hardware modules
  • Protocol improvements
  • Documentation enhancements
  • Testing and validation

Development Process​

  1. Fork the relevant repository
  2. Create feature branch
  3. Implement changes with tests
  4. Submit pull request
  5. Participate in code review

Support and Resources​

Documentation​

Community​

Professional Support​

  • Commercial licensing options
  • Custom development services
  • Training and consultation