6. Getting Started Using Linux
Recent versions of the linux kernel include support for the Pololu Orangutan USB
Programmer as part of the usb-serial driver. We have tested the following instructions under
Ubuntu Linux 7.04; if you experience any problems, we recommend you upgrade to the most
recent version of your distribution.
To begin working with AVRs under linux, you will need to install four software packages,
which can be downloaded from their respective websites. Under Ubuntu Linux, these
packages are provided in the “Universe” repository.
1.
gcc-avr:
the GNU C compiler, ported to the AVR architecture
2.
avr-libc:
a library giving access to special functions of the AVR
3.
binutils-avr:
tools for converting object code into hex files
4.
avrdude:
the software to drive the programmer
Once these packages are installed, you will be able to compile C programs for the AVR with
gcc to produce hex files. We will not go into the details of writing C programs for the AVR
here, but, as an example, we will show you how to use your linux computer and Orangutan
USB programmer to make the user LED on your Orangutan or Baby Orangutan blink.
Download the archive that is appropriate for your device’s microcontroller:
• mega48:
[http://www.pololu.com/file/download/
BlinkLED_m48.zip?file_id=0J188]
(9k zip)
• mega168:
[http://www.pololu.com/file/download/
BlinkLED_m168.zip?file_id=0J189]
(9k zip)
• mega328:
[http://www.pololu.com/file/download/
BlinkLED_m328.zip?file_id=0J190]
(9k zip)
and unpack it on your linux computer. Copy the file
BlinkLED/linux/Makefile
into the
BlinkLED/
directory. It may be necessary for you to edit this file, changing the settings at the beginning
to reflect the locations where the AVR utilities were installed. Additionally, if you are
using an original Orangutan mega168 (instead of a Baby Orangutan, Orangutan SV-xx8,
Orangutan LV-168, or 3pi robot), you might want to edit
BlinkLED.c
by uncommenting line 2
and commenting out line 3 to account for the Orangutan’s lower 8 MHz clock frequency.
At this point, you should be ready to compile the example program and load it onto the
Orangutan. Plug in the programmer and type
make
.
You should see output like this:
/usr/bin/avr-gcc -g -Os -Wall -mcall-prologues -mmcu=atmega168 -c -o BlinkLED.o BlinkLED.c
/usr/bin/avr-gcc -g -Os -Wall -mcall-prologues -mmcu=atmega168 BlinkLED.o -o BlinkLED.obj
/usr/bin/avr-objcopy -R .eeprom -O ihex BlinkLED.obj BlinkLED.hex
/usr/bin/avrdude -c avrispv2 -p m168 -P /dev/ttyUSB0 -e
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e9406
avrdude: erasing chip
Pololu Orangutan USB Programmer User's Guide
© 2001–2010 Pololu Corporation
6. Getting Started Using Linux
Page 17 of 29
