Upgrading Application image in field

Using Arduino Microcontrollers
1

Hello

We have designed a board using ATMEGA 2560 and gsm/gprs etc; We can use ICSP programmer to program the chip/board, but our problem is -

This box/boards would be distributed in different regions, if I have to upgrade software application - then it is difficult as we have to provide programmer to end user etc.

I want to upgrade using a "USB stick" , so that I send "updated application image" to end user and he simply copies in a USB and places in the board USB connector, then reboot the system - it upgrades.

Question 1) Do you have any other better option to upgrade applications in field, For Bootloader upgrade, I still prefer ICSP programmer and do myself in my office and not by end user.

  1. Does Ardinuo have already a USB library and Application code that can read image from a USB stick and rewrite in flash area, if it fails to write/power off - it should be capable of retaining the OLD image.

  2. is ATMEGA 2560 production ready? I mean stable enough for mass production?

Regards
Suraj

2

As far as i know no, arduino or better avr, doesn t have any kind of library which could upload the flash from usb, it could be done however....

I think your best option is to use a minimal windows/unix program where the end user choose the hex file (which you will provide) and the program upgrade the arduino

There are already this kind of program but i think many of them work on a cli without a gui so you could use one of them

Yes the mega 2560is ok, there are also newer chips

3

Do a search for 'arduino upload sketch from sd card'. Never tried it, requires a dedicated bootloader and (obviously) a sd card reader to my knowledge

4

Thanks Guys for response, we are using SD card, so will try to upgrade application using SD card. Need to check bootloader code and modify for writing into application area