Matter EFR32 Energy Management Example#
An example showing the use of CHIP on the Silicon Labs EFR32 MG12 and MG24.
NOTE: Silicon Laboratories now maintains a public matter GitHub repo with frequent releases thoroughly tested and validated. Developers looking to develop matter products with silabs hardware are encouraged to use our latest release with added tools and documentation. Silabs Matter Github
Introduction#
The EFR32 Energy Management example provides a baseline demonstration of a EVSE or Water Heater device, built using Matter and the Silicon Labs gecko SDK. It can be controlled by a Chip controller over an Openthread or Wifi network.
The EFR32 device can be commissioned over Bluetooth Low Energy where the device and the Chip controller will exchange security information with the Rendez-vous procedure. If using Thread, Thread Network credentials are then provided to the EFR32 device which will then join the Thread network.
If the LCD is enabled, the LCD on the Silabs WSTK shows a QR Code containing the needed commissioning information for the BLE connection and starting the Rendez-vous procedure.
The EVSE and Water Heater examples are intended to serve both as a means to explore the workings of Matter Energy Management as well as a template for creating real products based on the Silicon Labs platform.
Building#
Download the Simplicity Commander command line tool, and ensure that
commander
is your shell search path. (For Mac OS X,commander
is located insideCommander.app/Contents/MacOS/
.)Download and install a suitable ARM gcc tool chain: GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain 9-2019-q4-major
Install some additional tools (likely already present for CHIP developers):
Linux:
sudo apt-get install git ninja-build
Mac OS X:
brew install ninja
Supported hardware:
For the latest supported hardware please refer to the Hardware Requirements in the Silicon Labs Matter Github Repo
MG24 boards :
BRD2601B / SLWSTK6000B / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@10dBm
BRD2703A / SLWSTK6000B / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@10dBm
BRD4186A / SLWSTK6006A / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@10dBm
BRD4186C / SLWSTK6006A / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@10dBm
BRD4187A / SLWSTK6006A / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@20dBm
BRD4187C / SLWSTK6006A / Wireless Starter Kit / 2.4GHz@20dBm
BRD2703A / MG24 Explorer Kit
BRD2704A / SparkFun Thing Plus MGM240P board
Build the example application:
cd ~/connectedhomeip ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs/ ./out/energy-management-app BRD4187C
To delete generated executable, libraries and object files use:
$ cd ~/connectedhomeip $ rm -rf ./out/
OR use GN/Ninja directly
$ cd ~/connectedhomeip/examples/energy-management-app/silabs $ git submodule update --init $ source third_party/connectedhomeip/scripts/activate.sh $ export SILABS_BOARD=BRD4187C
To build the EVSE example
$ gn gen out/debug $ ninja -C out/debug
To build the Water Heater example you can change the args to gn gen (see BUILD.gn for arg options)
$ gn gen out/debug --args='chip_enable_example_evse_device=false chip_enable_example_water_heater_device=true' $ ninja -C out/debug
To change Device Energy Management feature support (e.g. Power forecast or State forecast reporting), you can change the args to gn gen (see BUILD.gn for arg options)
$ gn gen out/debug --args='chip_dem_support_state_forecast_reporting=true chip_dem_support_power_forecast_reporting=false' $ ninja -C out/debug
To delete generated executable, libraries and object files use:
$ cd ~/connectedhomeip/examples/energy-management-app/silabs $ rm -rf out/
Build the example as Intermittently Connected Device (ICD)
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs/ ./out/energy-management-app_ICD BRD4187C --icd
or use gn as previously mentioned but adding the following arguments:
$ gn gen out/debug '--args=SILABS_BOARD="BRD4187C" enable_sleepy_device=true chip_openthread_ftd=false'
Build the example with pigweed RPC
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh examples/energy-management-app/silabs/ out/energy_management_app_rpc BRD4187C 'import("//with_pw_rpc.gni")'
or use GN/Ninja Directly
$ cd ~/connectedhomeip/examples/energy-management-app/silabs $ git submodule update --init $ source third_party/connectedhomeip/scripts/activate.sh $ export SILABS_BOARD=BRD4187C $ gn gen out/debug --args='import("//with_pw_rpc.gni")' $ ninja -C out/debug
For more build options, help is provided when running the build script without arguments
./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh
Flashing the Application#
On the command line:
$ cd ~/connectedhomeip/examples/energy-management-app/silabs $ python3 out/debug/matter-silabs-energy-management-example.flash.py
Or with the Ozone debugger, just load the .out file.
All EFR32 boards require a bootloader, see Silicon Labs documentation for more info. Pre-built bootloader binaries are available in the Assets section of the Releases page on Silabs Matter Github .
Viewing Logging Output#
The example application is built to use the SEGGER Real Time Transfer (RTT) facility for log output. RTT is a feature built-in to the J-Link Interface MCU on the WSTK development board. It allows bi-directional communication with an embedded application without the need for a dedicated UART.
Using the RTT facility requires downloading and installing the SEGGER J-Link Software and Documentation Pack (web site).
Alternatively, SEGGER Ozone J-Link debugger can be used to view RTT logs too after flashing the .out file.
Download the J-Link installer by navigating to the appropriate URL and agreeing to the license agreement.
Install the J-Link software
$ cd ~/Downloads $ sudo dpkg -i JLink_Linux_V*_x86_64.deb
In Linux, grant the logged in user the ability to talk to the development hardware via the linux tty device (/dev/ttyACMx) by adding them to the dialout group.
$ sudo usermod -a -G dialout ${USER}
Once the above is complete, log output can be viewed using the JLinkExe tool in combination with JLinkRTTClient as follows:
Run the JLinkExe tool with arguments to autoconnect to the WSTK board:
For MG12 use:
$ JLinkExe -device EFR32MG12PXXXF1024 -if JTAG -speed 4000 -autoconnect 1
For MG21 use:
$ JLinkExe -device EFR32MG21AXXXF1024 -if SWD -speed 4000 -autoconnect 1
In a second terminal, run the JLinkRTTClient to view logs:
$ JLinkRTTClient
Running the Complete Example#
It is assumed here that you already have an OpenThread border router configured and running. If not see the following guide Openthread_border_router for more information on how to setup a border router on a raspberryPi.
Take note that the RCP code is available directly through Simplicity Studio 5 under File->New->Project Wizard->Examples->Thread : ot-rcp
User interface : LCD The LCD on Silabs WSTK shows a QR Code. This QR Code is be scanned by the CHIP Tool app For the Rendez-vous procedure over BLE
* On devices that do not have or support the LCD Display like the BRD4166A Thunderboard Sense 2, a URL can be found in the RTT logs. <info > [SVR] Copy/paste the below URL in a browser to see the QR Code: <info > [SVR] https://project-chip.github.io/connectedhomeip/qrcode.html?data=CH%3AI34NM%20-00%200C9SS0
LED 0 shows the overall state of the device and its connectivity. The following states are possible:
- _Short Flash On (50 ms on/950 ms off)_ ; The device is in the unprovisioned (unpaired) state and is waiting for a commissioning application to connect. - _Rapid Even Flashing_ ; (100 ms on/100 ms off)_ — The device is in the unprovisioned state and a commissioning application is connected through Bluetooth LE. - _Short Flash Off_ ; (950ms on/50ms off)_ — The device is fully provisioned, but does not yet have full Thread network or service connectivity. - _Solid On_ ; The device is fully provisioned and has full Thread network and service connectivity.
Push Button 0
- _Press and Release_ : Start, or restart, BLE advertisement in fast mode. It will advertise in this mode for 30 seconds. The device will then switch to a slower interval advertisement. After 15 minutes, the advertisement stops. - _Pressed and hold for 6 s_ : Initiates the factory reset of the device. Releasing the button within the 6-second window cancels the factory reset procedure. **LEDs** blink in unison when the factory reset procedure is initiated.
You can provision and control the Chip device using the python controller, Chip tool standalone, Android or iOS app
You can provision and control the Chip device using the python controller, Chip tool standalone, Android or iOS app
Here is an example with the chip-tool:
$ chip-tool pairing ble-thread 1 hex:<operationalDataset> 20202021 3840
Notes#
Depending on your network settings your router might not provide native ipv6 addresses to your devices (Border router / PC). If this is the case, you need to add a static ipv6 addresses on both device and then an ipv6 route to the border router on your PC
On Border Router:
sudo ip addr add dev <Network interface> 2002::2/64
On PC(Linux):
sudo ip addr add dev <Network interface> 2002::1/64
Add Ipv6 route on PC(Linux)
sudo ip route add <Thread global ipv6 prefix>/64 via 2002::2
Running RPC console#
As part of building the example with RPCs enabled the chip_rpc python interactive console is installed into your venv. The python wheel files are also created in the output folder: out/debug/chip_rpc_console_wheels. To install the wheel files without rebuilding:
pip3 install out/debug/chip_rpc_console_wheels/*.whl
To use the chip-rpc console after it has been installed run:
chip-console --device /dev/tty.<SERIALDEVICE> -b 115200 -o /<YourFolder>/pw_log.out
Then you can simulate a button press or release using the following command where : idx = 0 or 1 for Button PB0 or PB1 action = 0 for PRESSED, 1 for RELEASE Test toggling the LED with
rpcs.chip.rpc.Button.Event(idx=1, pushed=True)
Device Tracing#
Device tracing is available to analyze the device performance. To turn on tracing, build with RPC enabled. See Build the example with pigweed RPC.
Obtain tracing json file.
$ ./{PIGWEED_REPO}/pw_trace_tokenized/py/pw_trace_tokenized/get_trace.py -d {PORT} -o {OUTPUT_FILE} \
-t {ELF_FILE} {PIGWEED_REPO}/pw_trace_tokenized/pw_trace_protos/trace_rpc.proto
Memory settings#
While most of the RAM usage in CHIP is static, allowing easier debugging and
optimization with symbols analysis, we still need some HEAP for the crypto and
OpenThread. Size of the HEAP can be modified by changing the value of the
configTOTAL_HEAP_SIZE
define inside of the FreeRTOSConfig.h file of this
example. Please take note that a HEAP size smaller than 13k can and will cause a
Mbedtls failure during the BLE rendez-vous or CASE session
To track memory usage you can set enable_heap_monitoring = true
either in the
BUILD.gn file or pass it as a build argument to gn. This will print on the RTT
console the RAM usage of each individual task and the number of Memory
allocation and Free. While this is not extensive monitoring you’re welcome to
modify examples/platform/silabs/MemMonitoring.cpp
to add your own memory
tracking code inside the trackAlloc
and trackFree
function
OTA Software Update#
For the description of Software Update process with EFR32 example applications see EFR32 OTA Software Update
Group Communication (Multicast)#
With this Energy Management example you can also use group communication to send Energy Management commands to multiples devices at once. Please refer to the chip-tool documentation Configuring the server side for Group Commands and Using the Client to Send Group (Multicast) Matter Commands
Building options#
All of Silabs’s examples within the Matter repo have all the features enabled by default, as to provide the best end user experience. However some of those features can easily be toggled on or off. Here is a short list of options to be passed to the build scripts.
Disabling logging#
chip_progress_logging, chip_detail_logging, chip_automation_logging
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs ./out/energy-management-app BRD4164A "chip_detail_logging=false chip_automation_logging=false chip_progress_logging=false"
Debug build / release build#
is_debug
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs ./out/energy-management-app BRD4164A "is_debug=false"
Disabling LCD#
show_qr_code
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs ./out/energy-management-app BRD4164A "show_qr_code=false"
KVS maximum entry count#
kvs_max_entries
Set the maximum Kvs entries that can be stored in NVM (Default 75)
Thresholds: 30 <= kvs_max_entries <= 255
$ ./scripts/examples/gn_silabs_example.sh ./examples/energy-management-app/silabs ./out/energy-management-app BRD4164A kvs_max_entries=50