Programming FPGA Assignment - Embedded Design: Enabling...

Embedded Design: Enabling Robotics Spring 2015
Lab Assignment 6
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Lab Assignment 6
Programming FPGA using Simulink
The goal of this lab is to develop a digital design and download the design on to the FPGA using
Simulink. You will be using the Simulink HDL Coder to program the FPGA on the ZedBoard.
The lab will span a minimum of two weeks (Lab 6 in week 1, and Lab 7 in week 2). Over these
weeks we will first connect switches to LEDs, then control the LED with a simple counter, and
finally control an LED with a push button.
Instructions
 Each lab assignment consists of a set of pre-lab questions, the actual time in the lab, and a
lab report.
 The pre-lab assignments prepare you for the challenges you will be facing in the actual
lab. So that each lab member gets the same benefits, pre-lab assignments have to be
solved individually. Feel free to discuss problems with class and lab mates, but complete
the assignment on your own.
Reading List
The following reading list will help you to complete the pre-lab assignment. The readings will
also help you in subsequent lab assignments. Please complete the readings that are marked
[Required] before attempting the pre-lab assignments.
[1] Review materials on designing a counter
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[2] Chapter 2 of Simulink tutorial, how to program FPGA
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https:// blackboard . neu .edu/
[3] Mathworks materials on HDL coder
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Embedded Design: Enabling Robotics Spring 2015
Lab Assignment 6
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Pre - Lab Assignment
We have only very limited time for the lab available. To make efficient use of the lab time, you
will need to prepare for it. First, go through the assigned reading above and get an overview of
the schematics and the manuals mentioned. Second, approach the questions below to apply your
knowledge. Please submit the solution to the pre-lab assignments in PDF format via blackboard.
Counter design
Pre 6.1) Analyze counter behavior from Simulink.
1) Open Simulink.
2) Create a new Simulink Model. Clink on the “New” i con and select the Simulink Model.
Wait for the model to get created (check the lower left area to see if MATLAB is busy, it
may take a few minutes to start).
3) Simulink offers different solvers to cover everything from continues models (e.g. for control
theory) to discrete HDL (as in our case). To make this Simulink model correctly simulate
counters and discrete logic, select discrete solver with a fixed step size of 1.
Open the configuration settings: “Simulation” - > “Model Configuration Parameters”.
4)
In the dialog “Configuration Parameters” select:
a) Solver: “discrete (no continuous states)”,
b) Type: “Fixed - step”
c) Max step size: 1
5) Click on the “Library Browser” icon (4 boxes, 2 of them red and blue).
6) Allocate “Manual Switch”
7) Allocate constant (fro m group Source), double click to get its properties. In “Signal
Attributes”, change the “Output data type” to Boolean. In main tab, set Constant value to 0.
8)