3.8 KiB
Flashing custom firmware to artoo
This guide shows you how to flash a custom firmware onto artoo. Super useful if you've bricked it (see note at end) or have made a custom build. If you haven't already, you should see building artoo's firmware.
Note: this was tested on an artoo flashed with OpenSolo and on an artoo just after a factory reset. Both appeared to work but ymmv. (your mileage may vary)
Let's Start
First you need to connect to the SoloLink_xxx WiFi. Once you're connected you can start running the commands below.
Navigate to the artoo directory:
cd <open solo directory>/artoo
Make sure the firmware file has something in it:
du -h artoo.bin
Should output something like this:
236K artoo.bin
The next two steps will require you to enter this password when prompted:
TjSDBkAu
Copy the firmware over:
scp artoo.bin root@10.1.1.1:/home/root/
SSH into artoo:
ssh root@10.1.1.1
Run the flash tool:
updateArtoo.sh
Your screen should immediately turn off. You'll see lots of lines scrolling up the screen like below. DO NOT interrupt this process. Wait for it to finish, it will take a minute or two. You'll know when it's done because artoo's screen should turn back on.
root@3dr_controller:~# updateArtoo.sh
Bootloader version 22
Chip id: 0x414 (STM32 High-density)
Write 256 bytes at 0x8000000
Write 256 bytes at 0x8000100
Write 256 bytes at 0x8000200
Artoo should reboot. Well the WiFi stays connected and it's quicker then usual so I doubt it's actually doing a full reboot. If you're running open solo you should now see the new boot up logo and text strings. Do a full reboot for good measure:
/sbin/shutdown -r now
If you've customised it you'll be greeted with the custom image. Here's mine ;)
Bricked artoo?
If you've soft bricked artoo it's normally pretty easy to fix. This generally happens when a bad artoo.bin is genereated by solo-builder then flashed. This method only works if that is what has happened. Also note a factory reset does not fix this as it just reflashes the dodgy .bin file again.
Check your artoo.bin file size (optional)
If you want to make sure this is the reason artoo got bricked you can check the artoo.bin file generated by solo-builder. Decompress the complete artoo tarball. (normally called 3dr-controller.tar.gz) Inside is a 3dr-controller-imx6solo-3dr-artoo.squashfs file. Open that file with the ubuntu archive manager and look inside the /firmware directory. You should see a file that looks like artoo_x.x.x.bin. If it's size is 0 bytes you have a dodgy build.
Download "good" copy of artoo.bin
This file is provided for use at your own risk.
This link is a copy of the "good" artoo.bin file I built from the artoo source. This may or may not work on your controller but it is worth a try if your builds keep failing to produce a good artoo.bin. (and yes it has my nyan cat startup screen ;) )
Download "good" artoo.bin
Flash "good" copy of artoo.bin
Now press and hold the power on button for at least 5 seconds. (exactly like normal) The controller will still turn on, the screen will just be blank. You can verify that it's booting up by looking in the air vent on the rear - you should see a red and/or orange light. Wait ~30 seconds and the SoloLink_xxx WiFi should come up. Connect to it then follow the instructions above like normal, using the artoo.bin file you downloaded.