Heimdall

Remote debugging of embedded systems

Heimdall links the divide in teaching embedded systems development between students and teachers. This work is published in CHI 2019

Team
Mitchell Karchemsky
J.D. Zamfirescu-Pereira
Kuan-Ju Wu
Francois Guimbretiere
Björn Hartmann

My Role
Project Management
Hardware Design
Mechanical Design
System Engineering
Documentation

Methods
Prototyping
Iterative Design
Software Programming
User Research

Abstract

Students and hobbyists build embedded systems that combine sensing, actuation and microcontrollers on solderless breadboards. To help students debug such circuits, experienced teachers apply visual inspection, targeted measurements, and circuit modifications to diagnose and localize the problem(s). However, experienced helpers may not always be available to review student projects in person. To enable remote debugging of circuit problems, we introduce Heimdall, a remote electronics workbench that allows experts to visually inspect a student’s circuit; perform measurements; and to re-wire and inject test signals. These interactions are enabled by an actuated inspection camera; an augmented breadboard that enables flexible configuration of row connectivity and measurement/injection lines; and a web-based UI that teachers can use to perform measurements through interaction with the captured images. We demonstrate that common issues arising in embedded electronics classes can be successfully diagnosed remotely and report on preliminary user feedback from teaching assistants who frequently debug circuits.

This work was awarded an Honorable Mention at CHI-2019

You can read more about the work published here in the ACM Library

Teaching Experience

Courses and Mentorship

Critical Practices

Teaching Assistant

A hands-on, studio design course where students work at the intersection of technological innovation and socially engaged art.

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Design Innovation 22

Teaching Assistant

This introductory design course teaches concepts, skills, and methods required to design, prototype, and fabricate physical objects.

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Invention Lab

Technical Design Mentor

The Invention Lab is a UC Berkeley makerspace focused on helping students, researchers, and faculty to make embedded systems inventions.

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Case Studies

Selected Works

Bifröst

Better Embedded Systems Debugging

Berkeley Institute of Design. How do we better instrument embedded systems for combined software and hardware debugging?

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Dalmatian

How can we make firefighters safer?

Technology startup focused on creating a safer more effective workforce for firefighters through the use of on-person telemetry units.

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Heimdall

Remote debugging of embedded systems

Berkeley Institute of Design. How do we enable remote intuitive debugging for teachers to help beginners design embedded systems projects?

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Wifröst

Wi-Fi Embedded Systems Debugging

Berkeley Institute of Design. How do we use instrumented hardware to better debug network enabled IOT embedded systems?

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Within2

How do we create music we can feel?

Collaboration with Meyer Sound, The Berkeley Center for New Media, and Artist Tarek Atoui. How do we create music for the hearing impaired?

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MakerPass

Hardware and Industrial Design

The MakerPass Authentication system allows for Maker-spaces to grant access to privilaged members in a low-cost, easy to implement solution.

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Doom Sense

How can we feel information?

An experiment in haptic feedback modalities and sensory extension. We improved the performance of a player by delivering curated contextual information

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Drill Sergeant

Hardware and Industrial Design

Berkeley Institute of Design. Drill Sergeant enables new makers to build confidence through self-guided interactive physical feedback driven tutorials.

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Strands

How can we feel information?

An experiment in haptic feedback and sound generation; allowing performers to explore timbre, pitch, and volume through physical interaction

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