Port for the Arduino Opta?

[uppfinnarjohnny]

Is anyone working on a port for the Arduino Opta? (https://www.arduino.cc/pro/hardware-arduino-opta)

If not, how would one get started? The CPU (STM32H747XI) is the same as other supported boards like the Portenta H7, so I guess it shouldn't be too impossible. :)

I've tried uploading the firmware for the Portenta using dfu-util, but there is no serial port available after reset. So I'm not able to check if it actually runs at all. There is no JTAG or similar available on the device.

[DanDeveson]

I have this problem, and I want to use the Opta for some fun industrial work. But I was hoping for Micropython...

I see you've been waiting since March. I have bought 2 of them, and have an application for hundreds, so maybe we will get some help !

[Fr4ng]

Hello, I am Francesca from Arduino.
Would it be possible to get in touch to deep dive your need? In case you are available for a chat, please send me a message: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-gentile/.
Thanks!
Francesca

[jimmo]

@iabdalkader might be able to provide some insight here.

[iabdalkader]

I was told there are no plans to add support for it at the moment, sorry. Also I'm not involved in this project, so can't provide any help with it (haven't even seen one before).

[ppontre]

Me too....
I support the request: I think Micropython would be a good choice for some revamping project we're going to start....

[scruss]

On the MicroPython Discord group, Matt Trentini responded that:

... the Opta is not an open product; in particular the schematic is not available. It would be easy to get MicroPython basically running on the device, but knowing how the peripherals are connected will require some frustrating reverse-engineering...

The Arduino official forum seems to have come to a similar conclusion: Where to look the schematics of Opta? - Hardware / Opta - Arduino Forum. A port is unlikely with the (lack of) information we have.

[DuncanCT]

Does this help?

https://docs.arduino.cc/hardware/opta/

https://docs.arduino.cc/resources/schematics/AFX00001-AFX00002-AFX00003-schematics.pdf

[mattytrentini]

It does help but, unfortunately, it's extremely light on details. It doesn't even show the external flash, let alone peripherals or a proper pinout.

If I had an Opta I could probably use those documents to reverse engineer all the required information. I'm not going to spend A$250+ to find that out though. 😜

[iabdalkader]

Arduino Opta is now fully supported by MicroPython. Additionally, the expansion protocol is also supported via a Python module frozen in the firmware. There's an example here that shows how to use it: https://github.com/arduino/arduino-lib-mpy/blob/main/lib/opta/example.py

[jonnor]

That is nice. I am missing a bit of documentation though? Like which board configuration to use, and MicroPython version? As well as which modules and how to include them into a build? Along with instructions on how to flash the device?

[iabdalkader]

Is this some sort of automated reply ? Or is there a real question here ?

[jonnor]

Genuine question. I looked at the link, imagined I had Opta and looked for information (in that repo) on how to actually get that example to run. Did not find such information.
I see now that there is an upstream board build in MicroPython for the Opta WiFi (for 1.24), available at https://micropython.org/download/ARDUINO_OPTA/
So I am assuming that is what should be used.

[iabdalkader]

So I am assuming that is what should be used.

Yes. The deploy instructions are provided here: https://micropython.org/download/ARDUINO_OPTA/.

I looked at the link, imagined I had Opta and looked for information (in that repo) on how to actually get that example to run. Did not find such information.

Once you have MicroPython running on the board, you can just use mpremote run example.py. All the needed modules are frozen so no extra steps required. You do need some expansions connected though, for that they have lots of tutorials.

If you have other questions feel free to ask, but I can't help with Opta's internals, connections etc.. for this your best source of info is probably the Arduino forums, or support tickets.

[daneisinger]

When you say, "Arduino Opta is now fully supported by MicroPython", does that refer to any variant or only to the Wifi variant, which is the one listed on the link you provided?

I have the RS485 variant, which does not have Wifi or BT hardware and has a different USB device ID than the Wifi variant. Looking at the mpconfigboard.h file for the OPTA, it contains a number of Wifi- and BT- related settings that would not apply in my case. What modifications would be required to configure the build for the RS485 variant?

[iabdalkader]

Yes, the WiFi variant.

What modifications would be required to configure the build for the RS485 variant?

See how other boards enable it?