This page gives an overview of getting started with the SP701 Evaluation Kit.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Learn how to rapidly prototype an embedded system using the Spartan-7 FPGA SP701 evaluation kit. , This video demonstrates how to put together a MicroBlaze design and run "Hello World” using the Vivado Design Suite and Vitis Unified Software Platform, as well as a simple Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) application commonly used in controlling the speed of motors, the brightness of lights, and creating efficient power supplies.

Resources

Demonstration Steps

The demonstration video will cover two quick examples of how to build a system from scratch. The first is a Hello World example using MicroBlaze and the second is the PWM application example.

Expand the following section to view the source code for the PWM demo

Hello World with MicroBlaze

• Open Example Project in Vivado

• Target SP701 Evaluation Kit

• Select MicroBlaze Design Preset

• Synthesize and implement

• Export to Vitis

• Select Hello World Template

• Power on the board and set UART communication

• Download application

PWM Application Example

• Update Application Code to Support PWM IP

  • Include header files packages

  • Retrieve Device IDs

  • Capture user input to control Duty Cycle

  • Update and configure PWM

• Power on the board and set UART communication

• Download application

• Use Vivado ILA to monitor PWM signal

Related Links

Collateral

• MicroBlaze Soft Processor Core Product Page

• MicroBlaze Getting Started Wiki Page

• Spartan-7 Product Brief

• White Paper: Spartan-7 Family

• Cost Optimized FPGAs and SoCs

• Unboxing SP701 FPGA Evaluation Kit

• MicroBlaze Quick Start Video

Tutorials and Guides

• Quick Start Guide: MicroBlaze Soft Processor for Vitis 2021.1

• MicroBlaze Processor Reference Guide

• Embedded Processor Hardware Design in Vivado Tutorial

• Creating and Packaging Custom IP in Vivado

Workshops and Training

• No hardware experience? No problem! Xilinx MicroBlaze processors are for everyone.

• Arty-S7 Workshops:

  • Part 1: Learn about Xilinx FPGAs and Embedded Processing

  • Part 2: Building a Custom Microcontroller in Minutes

  • Part 3: Rapid Sensor Prototyping with Digilent Peripheral Modules

• Embedded System Design Training

• Sensor Fusion at the Edge with Spartan-7