SR110 Build and Flash with VS Code

This document provides concise, VS Code-only steps to build, convert images, flash, and debug SR110 applications. For common extension features (installation, tools, SDK import, logging, memory analysis), see Astra MCU SDK VS Code Extension User Guide.

Throughout this guide, <sdk-root> refers to the directory where you extracted or cloned the SDK.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Build and Deploy Flow

The Build and Deploy view allows running each step one at a time or sequentially.

If you check Build Configurations, Image Conversion, and Image Flashing, all three operations run sequentially. Each step automatically fills in required information for the next step, such as the .elf/.axf file or .bin file.

You may also run each step one at a time if desired.

The steps do not run until the Run button at the bottom of the view is pressed.

Environment Setup

  1. Ensure the current working directory is the <sdk-root>/examples folder. Select this via the Import Application/Example view.

  2. Set the workspace SRSDK_DIR to <sdk-root> via the Import SDK view so the Build UI can detect the SDK.

  3. Open the Build and Deploy view in the Synaptics extension and set Device β†’ SR110.

Build and Deploy Window

Build Configurations (SR110)

Purpose: Generate .elf/.axf for SR110 firmware (cm55).

Steps:

  1. Check the Build Configurations checkbox

  2. Select the desired Build Mode:

    • Release for flashing

    • Debug for GDB debugging

  3. Select the application from the Application dropdown.

  4. Board Revision is printed on the bottom of Astra Machina Micro.

  5. Choose the desired Compiler and Build Toolchain.

  6. Enable the desired build and clean checkboxes

  • Build (SDK + App) builds and installs the SDK and builds the application.

  • Build App builds the application only and relies on previously installed SDK.

Result:

  • .axf/.bin files are written to out/sr110_<Build_Type>/<Build_Mode>/sr110_<Build_Type>.elf/.axf for example out/sr110_cm55_fw/release/sr110_cm55_fw.elf.

SR110 Build UI

Image Conversion (SR110)

Purpose: Convert .axf/.elf outputs into flashable .bin images.

Steps (basic):

  1. Check the Image Conversion checkbox.

  2. The built .elf/.axf path is auto-populated after the build completes.

  3. Select Flash Image

  4. Select Secured

  5. For flash images, choose Flash Type (default GD25LE128) and Flash Frequency (default 67).

  6. Click Run to convert.

Optional (advanced):

  • Convert a model bin when needed by selecting the model file and its security setting.

Result:

  • Converted binaries are written under out/bin_files/Output/B0_Flash/B0_flash_full_image_GD25LE128_67Mhz_secured.bin

SR110 Image Conversion

Image Flashing (SR110)

  1. Check the Image Flashing checkbox.

If you are running WSL, please consult the Astra MCU SDK - WSL User Guide to ensure USB ports are properly handled.

Interface

There are three methods to update the flash connected to the SR110 on the Astra Machina Micro development kit.

FW mode (UART/CDC)

This is the device firmware update (DFU) mechanism. For this method to work an image with the Host API and FW Update enabled must be running on the SR110. By default the communication protocol is USB CDC. This USB CDC enumerates on J13 of the Astra Machina Micro.

  1. Plug J13 into the Astra Machina Micro and press reset.

  2. Open Image Flashing and select Interface β†’ FW Update (Application Chip).

  3. Connect to the enumerated CDC Port.

  4. Set Select Command to Burn File to Flash.

  5. After flashing completes reset the SR110.

Note: For FW update, ensure only J13 is plugged in during the update process.

ROM

The SR110 has a ROM boot mechanism. To enable ROM boot the boot strap must be set properly.

  1. On the Astra Machina Micro set SW1.2 in the β€œon” position, closer to the β€œKE” text on the switch.

  2. After setting the boot strap reset the SR110.

  3. Open Image Flashing and select Interface β†’ ROM.

  4. Connect an external USB to UART converter to J28.

  5. Select the COM Port: that matches your external USB to UART converter.

  6. After flashing is complete put SW1.2 back to off position and reset the SR110 to allow the code to run from external flash.

Advanced options

FW Update (Debug IC): This only needs to be run the first time you recieve the Astra Machina Micro or if the SDK ships with a new version.

  • In Advanced Options, select FW Update (Debug IC).

  • Choose the Debug IC COM port and select tools/Debug_IC_FW/Debug_IC_FW.bin

  • Click Run, then unplug/replug the USB cable when finished.

  • Note: When updating Debug IC FW, ensure only J14 USB is plugged in.

Debugging (SR110)

Steps:

  1. Build with Debug

  2. Check the Debug Options and confirm the AXF/ELF path.

  3. Select Adapter driver (CMSIS-DAP or J-Link) and keep Use default config file (or choose Provide custom config file to browse to a config).

  4. Choose Mode:

    • Download and Reset Program (typical)

    • Attach to Running Program

    • Attach and Halt Program

  5. Click Run to start the debugger.

Running Examples

After flashing, reset the board and follow the example README for runtime instructions.

USB CDC Image Streaming (Windows)

Some vision examples stream image data over USB CDC. On Windows, install the correct driver for the streaming port. These steps will only work once a Vision example has been flashed onto the SR110. After flashing the vison example into the SR110 ensure both J14 and J13 USB are plugged in and reset the board.

Hardware setup:

  • Connect J13 for streaming

  • Keep J14 connected for power and console

Driver setup (Zadig):

  1. Download Zadig from https://zadig.akeo.ie/.

  2. Run zadig-2.8.exe.

  3. From Options, select List All Devices.

    Zadig - List All Devices

  4. In the device dropdown, select SR 100-B0 CDC 1.

    Zadig - Device Selection

  5. Choose WinUSB as the driver and click Replace Driver.

    Zadig - Replace Driver

  6. Reconnect the board and verify streaming in your example.