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Red Vision Kit for RedBoard Firmware

The SparkFun Red Vision Kit for XRP requires an update to the RedBoard IoT's firmware to run properly. This firmware updates the RedBoard with the right drivers to work with the Vision Kit and also includes all of the MicroPython Red Vision examples. In this section we'll go over where to find this firmware to download and how to upload it to your RedBoard IoT.

Note

We recommend updating the firmware on the RedBoard IoT - RP2350 prior to installing the Red Vision Kit boards onto it as the Touch Display makes it difficult to reach the RESET and BOOT buttons.

Red Vision Kit MiroPython Firmware

First things first, we need to download the Red Vision Kit firmware UF2 file from GitHub. If you're not familiar with what a UF2 file is and want to learn more, read more about them in this Make Code post. The SparkFun Red Vision firmware UF2 file is available for download from the SparkFun MicroPython Firmware Releases on GitHub. The firmware file is named RED_VISION_MICROPYTHON_IOTREDBOARD_RP2350-RED_VISION so you'll need to click the "Show all ## Files" button at the bottom of the list and then scroll down until you find the file. Download the "RED_VISION_MICROPYTHON_IOTREDBOARD_RP2350-RED_VISION" file and take note of where it is saved on your computer.

Entering Boot Mode on the RedBoard IoT

Next, put the RedBoard IoT - RP2350 into Boot Mode using the following steps:

  • Connect the RedBoard IoT to your computer over USB-C.
  • Locate the Reset and Boot buttons.
  • Press and hold the BOOT button down.
  • Press and release the RESET button (while still holding the BOOT button).
  • Release the BOOT button and the RedBoard IoT should open as a removable drive named "RP2350" on your computer.

Screenshot of XRP loaded as removable drive

Uploading Firmware

Backup Your Files

Important! Make sure to back up any files/examples you have saved on your RedBoard IoT as the new firmware will overwrite them.

Now that the RedBoard is in BOOT mode and open as a removable drive all we need to do is place the Red Vison Kit Firmware uF2 file in the RedBoard's drive location. Open the download location for the firmware file and either drag the file over to the RedBoard drive or copy and paste it over. The upload can take about a minute to complete.

Screenshot showing firmware upload in progress

After installing the firmware file, the RedBoard should reset automatically and drop out of BOOT mode and we can move on to using the Red Vision examples included in the firmware.