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Getting started

Prerequisites

  1. Your laptop with an active internet connection.

  2. An SD card of at least 8 GB.

    ℹ️ Information If you buy your own SD card, then make sure that it is a high-reliability SD card because it is heavily used by the board. Cheap SD cards quickly become corrupt and fail.

  3. A USB-A to micro-USB cable to connect to the PYNQ.

    ⚠️ Warning If your laptop has no USB-A connector then either use an adaptor (USB-A to USB-C) or use a micro-USB to USB-C cable. Ensure that the cable is compatible with your operating system.

  4. An Ethernet cable to connect to the PYNQ.

    ⚠️ Warning If your laptop doesn't have an Ethernet port, then you also need an Ethernet to USB-A/C cable. Ensure that the cable is compatible with your operating system.

  5. Downloaded Visual Studio Code

Provided Equipment

  1. Two Robots containing each:
  2. One PYNQ-Z2 board
  3. One ESP32-based Connectivity Board headers
  4. One Power Bank

  5. Stepper Motors

  6. One charger and two USB cables to charge the power banks.

  7. One TCS3200 color sensor headers
  8. Two VL53L0X distance sensors headers headers
  9. Five small rock samples of size 3x3x3 cm (one of each color: Red, Green, Blue, White, and Black)
  10. One big rock samples of size 6x6x6 cm (may be of any color)
  11. One roll of black tape

Set up the PYNQ

These steps need to be done only once per course.

  1. Make sure you have the latest version of the SD-card image. Download the latest SD-card image for 5EID0 and flash the SD card.
  2. Before booting (i.e. starting) the PYNQ, check the correct configuration of the PYNQ board.

Use your PYNQ

Every time you wish to use your PYNQ board after setting it up, you'll need to:

  1. Connect the PYNQ board to your laptop.
  2. Write and run your own application.
  3. Shut down and disconnect the PYNQ.