Fasar Elettronica offers a starter kit designed to allow all users to develop their own application, in a fast and simple way, with the ORION platform: an advanced and "user friendly" system particularly suitable for the realization of complex user interfaces. ORION is a real electronic laboratory which, thanks to the last generation processor Atmel ARM Cortex-A5 SAMA5D34 and the Linux Embedded operating system, allows to effectively control any process that requires graphics processing, networking and management of mass storage. Refers not only to professionals, but also to students and fans of computer and electronic science , ORION opens new horizons to those who wish to approach the world of programming with the certainty of having a technological vanguard tool, supported by complete and enriched documentation by application notes periodically updated, that registered users can free download from www.fasarelettronica.com.

1. ORION STARTER KIT ….
….a real electronic laboratory

2. Summary
1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................3
2. Product’s overview...........................................................................................................4
3. Linux................................................................................................................................5
4. First Start.........................................................................................................................5
5. Virtual machine’s Start.....................................................................................................6
6. QtCreator.........................................................................................................................8
7. Open an existing project in QtCreator………………………….........................................9
8. My first Qt application....................................................................................................10
9. How to execute the application in the ORION board.....................................................17
10. How to manage the Linux Embedded operating system...............................................19
11. Frequently questions.....................................................................................................23
Reference Documents..........................................................................................................24
Useful Links..........................................................................................................................24
Contacts................................................................................................................................24

3. 1. INTRODUCTION
Fasar Elettronica offers a starter kit designed to allow all users to develop their own application, in a
fast and simple way, with the ORION platform: an advanced and "user friendly" system particularly
suitable for the realization of complex user interfaces. ORION is a real electronic laboratory which,
thanks to the last generation processor Atmel ARM Cortex-A5 SAMA5D34 and the Linux Embed-
ded operating system, allows to effectively control any process that requires graphics pro-
cessing, networking and management of mass storage.
Refers not only to professionals, but also to students and fans of computer and electronic science ,
ORION opens new horizons to those who wish to approach the world of programming with the cer-
tainty of having a technological vanguard tool, supported by complete and enriched documentation
by application notes periodically updated, that registered users can free download from
www.fasarelettronica.com.
The starter kit’s packaging (Figure 1) includes:
 an embedded ORION board, in which are loaded the kernel and a Linux Embedded distri-
bution together with a demo software specially developed to illustrate the significant poten-
tials offered by the system;
 a 12Vdc power supply;
 a double layer DVD that contains the VMware Virtual Machine and the necessary docu-
mentation required to start developing an application;
 a serial communication cable RS-232 and an USB - RS-232 adapter, to allow the user to
access, with a personal computer, to the operating system loaded on the embedded
board.
Figure 1- ORION Starter kit: package’s content
3

4. 2. PRODUCT’S OVERVIEW
ORION is a system that cosists of three distinct modules:
 CPU Module: hardware platform hosting the Atmel SAMA5D34 processor, based on ARM
architecture, as well as memory modules DDR2, NAND Flash, NOR Flash and Serial Data-
Flash;
 Main Board: board that thanks to the different types of integrated peripherals (USB, ether-
net, RS-485, RS-232), allows interfacing with other devices and data storage in external
memory supports;
 Display Module: module that supports a 7.0” TFT display, 16:9 format ,with resistive touch
-screen.
Below are indicated the embedded ORION board’s main technical features.
 No. 1 Atmel SAMA5D34 embedded MCU 536MHz BGA324;
 No. 2 2Gb DDR2;
 No. 1 2Gb NAND Flash;
 No. 1 128Mb NOR;
 No. 1 32Mb SPI Serial DataFlash;
 No. 1 512Kb EEPROM;
 No. 1 RGMII Ethernet 1Gb w/PHY;
 No. 1 RS-485;
 No. 1 Buzzer;
 No. 1 USB 2.0 di tipo Hosts (type A);
 No. 1 Display TFT 7.0” WVGA ( 800 x 480 resolution, 16:9 format), resistive type.
Figure 2 – ORION board’s peripherals scheme
4
Backup batteryUsb host
Buzzer
CS_BOOT
Power supply and RS485
Usb deviceEthernet
Reset
Debug port
(DBU)

5. 3. LINUX
The ORION board is supplied with a Linux Embedded operating system, its main components are
listed below:
 Boot Program: preloaded program in the ARM A5 processor’s ROM, which verifies
the bootstrap’s integrity typically present in the NAND Flash (it is also possible custom-
ize this verification phase if the bootstrap is uploaded to other devices: for this, please
refer to the processor’s datasheet); if the integrity test is successful then the bootstrap is
loaded into the internal SRAM;
 Bootstrap: program that transfers the bootloader (U-Boot) from the NAND Flash to
the SRAM for run it right after;
 Bootloader (U-Boot): Program that deals with the start of the operating system;
 Linux Kernel: Linux operating system’s kernel (current version 3.10), whose function is
to manage the system resources making them directly accessible to the different running
programs;
 Device tree: Binary file that contains the processor’s description and hardware configu-
ration (I/O and peripherlas);
 Root file system: distribution (buildroot or yocto) that contains all the applications that
can run on the ORION board (for example, busybox).
The Linux operating system (file system, kernel, device tree) is preloaded on the ORION board’s
NAND Flash to make it immediately ready for use.
4. FIRST START
The ORION board is provided with a demonstration software
(demo) that allows the user to appreciate the system’s potentials
and, at the same time, the user can start to interact with it in an
stimulating and intuitive way.
To boot, connect the 12Vdc power supply included in the starter kit,
to the power supply and then to the power connector on the ORI-
ON board (Figure 3).
Once powered the board, you must wait that the demo is loaded,
which includes within it a number of applications made as examples:
once the loading is completed, in the display will appear a screen
(Figure 4), where there are the date and the current time infor-
mations, in addition to seven graphic buttons and an icon which simu-
lates the environment temperature measurement. It is possible to
interact with the demo by acting to the touch-screen display at the
graphic buttons: the installed applications allow user to adjust the
brightness of the display, to change the language in use, to test the
buzzer, to see a video and a series of pre-loaded images, to adjust
the date and time.
With the graphic button located at the bottom left, it is possible turn
off the system.
Figure 3 – ORION board: particular rela-
tive to the power connector
Figure 4 – ORION board: demonstra-
tion software’s main screen
5

6. To proceed with the development of a simple first application, the user can exploit, as a model, the
source code used to realize the demo, which is provided with the documentation accompanying the
starter kit.
5. VIRTUAL MACHINE’S START
In the DVD, included in the starter kit, there is a .zip file containing the VM (Virtual Machine) with
operating system Linux Embedded: the virtual machine just proposed will also allow, to the most
novice user, to develop directly on personal computer the applications to be loaded on the ORION
board.
To get a fluent and efficient management of the virtual machine, it is necessary that the host PC
has the following minimum requirements:
 Operating System: Windows 7 32/64bit or others;
 RAM: 4 GB;
 HD: 250 GB.
In order to use the virtual machine it is necessary to download the freeware virtualization VMware
Player software from the website:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/7_0
Download the right version for the operating system (Windows or Linux) on the host PC and install
VMware Player.
After the VMware Player’s installation is completed successfully, this icon will appear on the desk-
top .By clicking on it, the VMware Player ‘s welcome menu will open. Thanks to this menu it
is possible select virtual machines already existing on the personal computer, add virtual
machines from external media or create new ones (Figure 5).
Figure 5 - WMware Player’s welcome menu
6

7. To add the virtual machine that is on the supplied DVD, it is necessary at first to unzip the
ubuntu.zip file in the host PC's hard disk and save it to the desired location (such as in the desk-
top): completed this operation, thanks to the VMware Player’s menu, it will be possible to open the
virtual machine using the button "Open a virtual Machine" (Figure 5).
Then click on the "Open a Virtual Machine" and select the previously
extracted folder (for example /desktop/ubuntu). On the left side of
the VMware Player’s menu will appear the virtual machine identified by the name "Ubuntu": select
this item and click the button "Play Virtual Machine" to start it (Figure 6).
In case which it is shown a message with a confirmation request from VMware Player, select
"I copied it" (Figure 7).
Figure 6 - WMware Player’s welcome menu: “Ubuntu” virtual machine’s selection
Figure 7 - WMware Player message: select “I copied it”
7

8. In order to use the virtual machine, the system requires the access by a login; entering the following
data:
username: fasar
password: elettronica
At this point it will start the Ubuntu 04.14 32 bits distribution, allowing access to a desktop where
there are the DOCS folder containing the documentation, and the EXAMPLES folder containing the
demo’s source code in addition to other Qt projects that can be used as models for the personal ap-
plication’s development.
6. QTCREATOR
QtCreator is an IDE that includes the editor code and integrates the QtDesigner functionality
for the graphical interface’s (GUI) design and development.
On Ubuntu is installed QtCreator’s 3.3.1 version, accessible through the bar at the left of the desktop
(Figure 8).
Start QtCreator clicking on this icon QtCreator’s main window allows to create a new project or
open an existing one, with the possibility to choose the projects that are in the EXAMPLES folder.
QtCreator is configured to compile the projects for x86/x64 architectures and for the board
embededd ORION’s architectures.
Figure 8 – Ubuntu’s dekstop and QtCreator’s icon
8

9. 7. OPEN AN EXISTING PROJECT IN QTCREATOR
After QtCreator was started by clicking on the icon, it is possible to open an existing project: click on
"Open Project" (Figure 9), then select "Desktop" under "Resources", finally choose this route
EXAMPLES/my_application/DEMO.pro and click to "Open" (Figure 10).
Figure 9 - QtCreator’s main window: opening an existing project
Figure 10 - QtCreator: DEMO.pro project’s opening
9

10. After opening the DEMO.pro project, the main window appears divided into three parts: in the top
left is listed the active project and the files that compose it, in the lower left there are the open files,
while on the right there is the currently selected file’s code (Figure 11).
The project reflects the style of the C ++ programming, therefore includes header files (.h) and
source files (cpp).
For the projects that include graphic elements, there will be a Forms folder, that contains .ui files,
where these items are saved: for modify the project’s graphic structure, it's enough to do a double
click on the .ui files for access to the editor that allows to edit or add objects, which can be the but-
ton, widgets, frames type, etc ...
8. MY FIRST QT APPLICATION
Creating a project with QtCreator is a particularly easy, thanks to the presence of a wizard that
guides the user step by step.
First of all it is necessary to open QtCreator, by clicking on this icon that is in the Ubuntu’s
dekstop, and then select “New Project” (Figure 12).
Figure 11 - Existing DEMO.pro project’s opening : QtCreator’s main window structure
Figure 12 - QtCreator: creating a new project
10

11. If the intention is to develop a project that contains graphic elements, choose the "Qt Widget Appli-
cation" option and select "Choose" in the lower right (Figure 13): now it is possible to re-
name the project (for example "project_1") and choose the folder where it will be saved.
At the end of this phase, select "Next" (Figure 14): the window that opens immediately after
allows to select the compiler to use for the application, proposing two different options, "Desktop"
and "ORION".
Figure 13 - QtCreator: creating a new project that contains graphic elements
Figure 14 - QtCreator: rename a new project
11

12. The "Desktop" options allows to compile and perform the own application on Ubuntu, but not on the
embedded ORION board and it is useful to have a preliminary project’s overview on the host PC; the
"ORION" option allows to compile and perform the application on the embedded board but
not on the host PC. For greater project flexibility, select both options and click "Next" in the lower
right (Figure 15).
Once defined the compiler to use, it is possible to access to the window dedicated to the "Class Infor-
mation" that allows to rename .cpp, .h and .ui files that will make up the project: for each of these
files, it is possible leave the name "MainWindow "as suggested by the IDE, and proceed by selecting
" Next "(Figure 16).
Figure 15 - QtCreator: selection of the compiler to use for a new project
Figure 16 - QtCreator: Class Information Window
12

13. At this point, the wizard guides user to the last setting window: "Project Management", where it is
enough select "Finish" (Figure 17) to confirm the choices made in the previous steps and
complete the new project’s creation.
Once the project is created, the QtCreator‘s main window appears divided into three parts: in the
top left is listed the active project and the files that compose it, in the lower left there is the open
files, while on the right there is the currently selected file’s code (Figure 18).
Figura 17 - QtCreator: Project Management Window
Figure 18 - Creation of a new project: QtCreator’s main window architecture
13

14. Do a double click on the mainwindow.ui files to access the editor and modify the program’s graphic
structure. On the left side of the window there is a vertical bar, where are listed the graphical ob-
jects that can be added to the project by simply dragging them into the main window (Figure 19):
then drag the item "PushButton" in a point of the mainwindow.ui file. Repeat this process to add a
"Label" to the mainwindow.ui file.
To modify the object’s properties inserted into mainwindow.ui file it is necessary to act appropriate-
ly on the items contained within the window in the lower right (Figure 20). For example, through the
“text” property it is possible assign the name "my_button" to the "PushButton" element and, in the
same way, it is possible delete the “Label” ’s content in order to obtain an empty field.
Figure 19- QtCreator: editor that allows to modify the program’s graphic structure
Figure 20- QtCreator: graphic object’s property modification
14

15. So that the application can handle the "my_button" button, it is necessary associate an event to it.
To achieve this type of association it is necessary to click with the right button of the mouse, the
button in question and select "go to slot": between the different types of events that is listed, select
"clicked ()" to create an event that manages the single click of the "my_button" button (Figure 21).
Once the "clicked ()" event is selected, we are redirected to the project’s source code: main-
window.cpp, where it will be automatically created the procedure (method) shown below, which
implements the event associated with the button (Figure 22).
void MainWindow::on_pushButton_clicked
(
)
Within this method, it will be possible to write the code to handle the event associated with the
"my_button" button. For example, if we want that in the " Label" there is the message "Hello
World" at the button’s single click, it is necessary use the "setText ()" method, which allows to
write any string in a "Label": so, will be necessary to modify the method above described as fol-
lows.
void MainWindow::on_pushButton_clicked
(
ui->label->setText("Hello World");
)
Figure 21- QtCreator: event’s selection for the "my_button" button
15

16. To proceed at the written code’s compilation, first of all click on this icon.
Inside the box that appears next to it (Figure 23) there will be the different compiler options
through which the user can define:
 the target architecture, choosing to compile the project for the host pc (selecting
“Desktop” item) or for the embedded board (selecting “ORION” item);
 the compilation’s configuration, choosing between “Debug” (for the testing phase) and
“Release” (to get an optimized version of the project, characterized by executable file’s
small size and the program’s greater speed of execution).
Then click to this button and wait the completion of the compilation.
Figure 22- QtCreator: method that implements the event associated with the "my_button"
button
Figure 23- QtCreator: compilation’s options selection
16

17. 9. HOW TO EXECUTE THE APPLICATION IN THE
ORION BOARD
If the user has identified the embedded board, as the target architecture, it is necessary to load the
application on it to perform it. This operation can be performed in two distinct ways:
 through an USB support (FAT32 formatted);
 through the communication network SSH protocol (Secure Shell).
If we decide to load the application in the ORION board through an USB support, it is necessary to
copy the executable file created by the compiler and saved in the following folder in the
same USB support (directly in the root or within a specific folder) (Figure 24):
progetto_1/build-progetto_1-ORION-Debug.
The second method that is possible to follow to load the application in the ORION board, uses the
SSH protocol (Secure Shell): the SSH is a network protocol that allows to establish an encrypted
remote session, through command-line interface with another network host.
First of all, the use of this technique requires to edit the project's file .pro by adding the code below
reported (Figure 25).
linux-*{
target.path=/root
INSTALLS+=target
}
Figure 24- Application's loading on the ORION board: identification of the executable file to be
copied on USB support
17

18. The code inserted in the project1.pro file indicates the executable file's save path (in this case
/root) on Embedded Linux distribution on the ORION board: at this point, using an ethernet cable,
connects the embedded board to the local network or (preferable solution) directly to the pc.
IMPORTANT: make sure that the host PC's firewall is turned off and that the local IP address
associated with the host PC itself is static.
To start compilation click this icon and select "ORION" as target architecture, then select
the button
If there aren't connection or compilation errors, the program will be loaded on the embedded ORI-
ON board.
The next chapter describes how to access and manage Embedded Linux distribution's file on the
ORION board, and then, what are the steps to take to use the executable file loaded into the same
board with SSH protocol or through USB.
Figure 25- QtCreator: file progetto_1.pro's modification that is necessary for QtCreator to load the executable file in the
Embedded Linux distribution on the ORION board
18

19. 10. HOW TO MANAGE THE LINUX EMBEDDED
OPERATING SYSTEM
In order to interact with the operating system Linux Embedded loaded on
the ORION board it is necessary to exploit the debug serial port present on
it (Figure 26): connect the serial communication RS-232 cable, included in
the starter kit, to the ORION board's connector (Figure 27)
Below it is described the procedure that allows to manage correctly the
communication between a host PC, equipped with Windows operating
system, and the embedded ORION board, connected to the same host
PC through the serial communication RS-232 cable and RS-232 - USB
adapter provided with the starter kit.
Connect the RS-232 - USB adapter (Figure 28) to the serial communica-
tion cable and to the host PC, then open the "Control Panel" in the host
PC and follow the path below:
control panel -> system -> devices management
to check which COM port is associate with the device USB Serial Port by the operating system
(Figure 29).
Figure 26 - ORION
board: debug serial
Figure 27- Embedded ORION
board: connecting the RS-232
serial communication cable to the
debug port
Figura 28 - RS232 - USB adapter
Figure 29- Control panel: verification of the COM port associated with the USB Serial Port device
19

20. To achieve the communication between the host PC and the ORION board it's enough any Hyper-
terminal program: below is considered to use the well-known stand-alone PuTTY program free
downloadable at the web:
http://www.putty.org/.
Download the appropriate version for own operating system (x86 or x64), then start the PuTTY
program with a double click to this icon and set its configuration parameters as follows
(Figure 30):
 select “Serial” at the “Connection type” item;
 insert in the "Serial line" the COM port assigned to the USB Serial Port device previously
connected;
 Insert in "Speed" the value 115200.
Click "Open": if the PuTTY program's install is successful, it will appears a terminal through which it
is possible interact with the ORION board's operating system (Figure 31).
Figure 30- PuTTY program's configuration
20

21. Embedded Linux system does not require to make any login through the username and password
entering; however, there are the following access credentials for the root user, who is allowed to
open and edit any file system:
username: root
password: root
IMPORTANT: if the root user's username and password are changed, the SSH protocol may
not work properly on QtCreator. So leave these parameters unchanged.
If the program made with QtCreator was sent to the ORION board through SSH protocol, it will be
present in the embedded board's /root folder; so type the following Linux command to access at that
folder:
# cd /root
IMPORTANT: the # character is not to be typed, because is the Linux shell's initial symbol;
moreover, when type the commands it is very important to respect the spaces as they are
reported, or the command will not work.
To verify that the wanted file is actually being in the /root folder, type the following command for list
all files in the root:
# ls
Finally enter the following command to run the program made with QtCreator:
# ./progetto_1 –qws
In the absence of connection failures, in the ORION board's display will appear the program's form
made with QtCreator: test the application's correctness checking that appears the words "Hello
World" when touch the display at the "my_button" button.
To end the program, simultaneously press CTRL + C in the host PC's shell.
Figure 31 - PuTTY program: terminal that allows to interact with the ORION board's operating system
21

22. If the program made with QtCreator is saved on a USB drive, enter this drive into the ORION board's
host USB port and make the mount operation (to connect the device's file system at the operating
system's file system) with the following command, where "sdXX" indicates the name of the remova-
ble device connected:
# mount /dev/sdXX /mnt
To generate a list of all devices connected to the ORION board and find, then, the USB device con-
nected to it, type the instruction:
# ls /dev
Assuming that the USB support has the name “sda1”, type that command:
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
The files contained in the USB support will be loaded in a folder whose path is identified by /mnt; for
entering it is necessary to type the following instruction:
# cd /mnt
Copy on the ORION board's root the program's executable file inside the removable USB support's
root folder, using the command:
# cp progetto_1 /root
After copying, it is possible to return to the Linux's root using the following instruction:
# cd /
Before removing the USB device from the embedded ORION board is necessary run the following
command, which allows to disconnect the device's file system from the operating system's file sys-
tem:
# umount /mnt
IMPORTANT: before physically removing the external USB device, always run the above com-
mand, in order to preserve the USB device's integrity itself.
Before run the program it is necessary to select the root folder, where it is loaded, using the following
command:
# cd /root
Run the program using the following instruction:
# ./progetto_1 –qws
On the ORION board's display will appear the program's form made with QtCreator: test the applica-
tion's correctness checking that it appears the words "Hello World" when touch the display at the
"my_button" button.
To end the program, simultaneously press CTRL + C in the host PC's shell.
22

23. 11. FREQUENTLY QUESTIONS
Q: I can't connect with PuttY and I recieve the message "Unable to open connection to
COMX serial port": how can I solve it?
A: Normally this error occurs when the serial port is not open: this may be due to the com-
munication cable RS-232 serial and / or USB - RS-232 adapter's failed or incorrect connec-
tion, or to an incorrect port COM's assignment. Recheck the connection between the host
PC and embedded board then check, in the Device Manager menu, which COM port the op-
erating system has associated with the "USB Serial Port" device. Then try to reconfigure the
PuTTY program.
Q: I can't connect using SSH on QtCreator and I recive the error “Could not connect to host:
Time out waiting for reply from server”: how can I solve it?
A: The causes of this error may be different: first of all check that the firewall on the host
computer is turned off and that the computer in question is associated with a static IP ad-
dress, then try again.
Q: The USB support, inserted into the slot in the ORION board, is not noticed by the system:
how can I solve it?
A: Probably the USB support has not been formatted in FAT32 format: the system doesn't
accept USB drives formatted in NTFS.
23

24. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
User Guide CM.pdf
User Guide MB.pdf
User Guide DM.pdf
USEFULL LINKS
For further information see the following link:
Linux embedded: http://www.at91.com/linux4sam/
Qt and QtCreator libraries : http://www.qtcentre.org/content/
http://doc.qt.io/qt-4.8/
Programming in C++: http://www.cplusplus.com/
Atmel: http://www.atmel.com/
CONTACTS
Fasar Elettronica S.r.l.
Tel: +39 071 6609805
Fax: +39 071 6611573
Web Site: http://www.fasar.it
http://www.fasarelettronica.com
Email: export@fasar.it
24

25. Rev.00 del 29/06/2015
25

26. FASAR ELETTRONICA S.r.L.
VIA CORVI 96,
60019 SENIGALLIA (AN)
TEL: 071.6609805
FAX: 071.6611573
www.fasar.it - www.fasarelettronica.com
export@fasar.it