VSD_Squadron_FPGA_Projects

This repo contains four FPGA-based projects showcasing real-time UART communication, LED control, and sensor data acquisition. Designed using Verilog, Yosys, and NextPNR, running on the VSD Squadron Mini FPGA board

VSD Squadron Mini FPGA - Project Collection

About the Board

The VSD Squadron Mini FPGA is a beginner-friendly open-source FPGA board designed for rapid prototyping and digital system implementation.

Board Specifications

🔹 FPGA Chip: Lattice UltraPlus ICE40UP5K (5.3K LUTs)
🔹 Memory: 1Mb SPRAM, 120Kb DPRAM, 4MB SPI Flash
🔹 General Purpose I/O (GPIO): 32 accessible pins
🔹 Connectivity: FTDI FT232H USB-to-SPI for programming & debugging
🔹 Multipliers: 8 DSP multipliers for arithmetic operations
View the Datasheet For more details, visit the official website: VSD Official Page

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🔹 Projects Overview

🔹 FPGA Projects Overview

This repository contains five FPGA-based projects, each focusing on different aspects of digital design, communication, and real-time processing using the VSD Squadron Mini FPGA.

	Project Name	Description
1	Blink LED	Basic FPGA LED blink test
2	UART Loopback	Simple UART TX-RX loopback
3	UART Transmitter	Sends serial data from FPGA to an external device
4	UART Sensor-Based Transmitter	Sends sensor data via UART
5	Real-Time Sensor Data Acquisition	Collects and processes sensor data for transmission

Each project has a dedicated README with implementation details, Verilog source files, and simulation outputs.
Click on a project name to explore more details!

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Setup & Installation

Install the required tool chain

sudo apt update

Install synthesis, P&R, bitstream, and debugging tools

sudo apt install -y \
  yosys \
  nextpnr-ice40 \
  icestorm \
  iverilog \
  gtkwave \
  picocom \
  make \
  git

Clone the Repository

After installing the required tools, clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/Skandakm29/vsd_sqaudron_mini_fpga.git

Navigate into the repository:

cd vsd_sqaudron_mini_fpga

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Navigate to the Specific Project

Each project has its own directory. Navigate to the project you want to work on:

Example:

cd VsdSquadron_mini_fpga_uart_loopback

To view available files:

ls

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Clean Previous Builds

Before starting a new build, clean old files using:

sudo make clean

This removes any previous bitstream files.

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Build the FPGA Bitstream

To synthesize the design and generate the bitstream, run:

sudo make build

This will execute:

• Synthesis (Yosys)
• Place & Route (NextPNR)
• Bitstream Generation (IceStorm)

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Flash the FPGA

Once the bitstream is built, upload it to the FPGA using:

    sudo make flash

This command programs the VSD Squadron Mini FPGA board.

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Acknowledgment

I would like to express my gratitude to:

• Kunal Ghosh for his valuable contributions to open-source VLSI education and FPGA learning resources.
• Open-Source Developers who contributed to tools like Yosys, NextPNR, IceStorm, and Icarus Verilog, making FPGA development accessible to everyone.

This project is part of my journey in FPGA & Digital Design, and I deeply appreciate the knowledge and tools provided by the open-source community.

Connect with Me

LinkedIn: K M Skanda
Email: kmskanda29@gmail.com