VIA Technologies ARTiGO A950 User manual

QUICK START GUIDE
VIA ARTiGO A950
Android 10.0 EVK
1.00-03022023

Copyright
Copyright © 2023 VIA Technologies Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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VIA Technologies makes no warranes, implied or otherwise, in regard to this document and to the products described in this document.
The informaon provided in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the publicaon date of this document. However,
VIA Technologies assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the informaon (including use or connecon of extra device/
equipment/add-on card) in this document and for any patent infringements that may arise from the use of this document. The informaon
and product specicaons within this document are subject to change at any me, without noce and without obligaon to nofy any
person of such change.
VIA Technologies, Inc. reserves the right the make changes to the products described in this manual at any me without prior noce.
ii

iii
VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Revision History
Version Date Remarks
1.00 03/02/2023 Inial release

iv
VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Table of Contents
1. Introducon.................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 EVK Package Contents........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Firmware Folder Contents ............................................................................................................. 1
1.1.2 Document Folder Contents............................................................................................................ 1
1.1.3 Tool Folder Contents...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Version Informaon and Supported Features....................................................................................... 2
2. Image Installaon .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Installing with the Fastboot Mode........................................................................................................ 3
3. Hardware Funcons ....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Enabling ADB Debugging ...................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Changing the Kernel Debug Level ......................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Checking the BSP Version.................................................................................................................... 10
3.4 DVFS.................................................................................................................................................... 10
3.5 MTK NeuroPilot AI APU Hardware Acceleraon ................................................................................. 11

1
VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
1. Introducon
This Quick Start Guide provides an overview of how to boot the Android image for the VIA ARTiGO A950 and
congure the supported hardware funcons in the build.
The VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK is developed based on the MediaTek Android 10.0 BSP, and it enables
the hardware features of the VIA ARTiGO A950.
1.1 EVK Package Contents
There are three folders in the package listed as below.
Firmware folder Descripon
VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK.zip Android evaluaon image
Document folder Descripon
VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf Quick Start Guide
Tool folder Descripon
VIA_Android_USB_Driver.zip VIA USB driver
PoseDetector_Image.apk A sample test program
1.1.1 Firmware Folder Contents
VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK.zip: Contains the precompiled Android image for evaluang the VIA
ARTiGO A950.
1.1.2 Document Folder Contents
VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf: This Quick Start Guide provides an overview
on how to boot the Android image for the VIA ARTiGO A950 and congure the supported hardware funcons
in the build.
1.1.3 Tool Folder Contents
VIA_Android_USB_Driver.zip: The VIA driver for ADB-over-USB.
PoseDetector_Image.apk: A sample program to test MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon.

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
1.2 Version Informaon and Supported Features
• Kernel version: 4.14.141
• Evaluaon image: Android 10.0
• Development based on MediaTek Android 10.0 BSP
• Supports eMMC boot
• Supports HDMI display
• Supports HDMI audio output
• Supports two 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports
• Supports MediaTek MT6358 Headphone and Mic-in
• Supports MediaTek MT7668 Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0
• Supports VIA EMIO-2574 (SIM7600JC-H) 4G LTE mobile broadband miniPCIe module
• Supports MediaTek NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
2. Image Installaon
This secon explains the setup procedures for boong from the eMMC.
The precompiled images are provided in the "Firmware" folder.
2.1 Installing with the Fastboot Mode
Follow the steps below to install the Android EVK image:
Step 1
Prepare the "fastboot tool" and install the "VIA Android USB driver" on your Windows 10 host machine.
To get the "fastboot tool" for Windows, please refer to the "SDK Plaorm Tools release notes" chapter on the
Android developer website hps://developer.android.com/studio/releases/plaorm-tools.
To install the "VIA Android USB driver", right-click "android_winusb" and select "Install".
Then click "Install" when the installer opens.
When the installer nishes, it will show a conrmaon message "The operaon completed successfully".
Step 2
Connect the Windows 10 host machine and the VIA ARTiGO A950 through the Micro USB 2.0 port using the
Micro USB cable.
Micro USB OTG
Micro USB 2.0 port diagram

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Step 3
Power o the VIA ARTiGO A950 and dissemble the system chassis by removing the 4 screws located on the top
panel and 1 screw located on the boom panel.
Top panel
Boom panel

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Step 4
Set the two OS image jumpers (J7 and J5) on the board to the Download mode as shown in the diagram below.
OS image jumpers diagram
J5 and J7 Sengs Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 3
Normal mode (default) Open Short Short
Download mode Short Short Open
OS image jumper sengs
Step 5
Plug in the AC-to-DC power adapter to power on the VIA ARTiGO A950.
The VIA ARTiGO A950 will stop at "fastboot: processing commands" as shown in the debug console below.
Fastboot Mode
Note:
Make sure the Windows 10 host machine detects the VIA ARTiGO A950 as an ADB device.
If the EVK image is already installed, skip directly to Step 7.
Step 6
Extract the VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK.zip le on your Windows 10 host machine.
To install the image, use the following command:
D:\VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK>set PATH=D:\platform-tools;%PATH%
D:\VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK>viaash.exe
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
VIAFlash version v1.0.0
(built: Mar 16 2022 18:03:28 UTC)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To let this tool work well, please
ensure the system is at fastboot mode!
If yes, please press any key to continue.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Image OS is "Android"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MBR : OK

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
preloader_tb8788p1_64_wi.bin : OK
logo.bin : OK
vbmeta.img : OK
vbmeta_system.img : OK
vbmeta_vendor.img : OK
md1img.img : OK
spmfw.img : OK
scp.img : OK
sspm.img : OK
cam_vpu1.img : OK
cam_vpu2.img : OK
cam_vpu3.img : OK
lk.img : OK
boot.img : OK
dtbo.img : OK
tee.img : OK
super.img : OK
userdata.img : OK
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
=============================================
Start to ash images --> Android
=============================================
Sending 'preloader_a' (255 KB) OKAY [ 0.032s]
Writing 'preloader_a' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.071s
Erasing 'pgpt' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.024s
Sending 'pgpt' (17 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'pgpt' OKAY [ 0.007s]
Finished. Total time: 0.051s
Sending 'logo' (2801 KB) OKAY [ 0.090s]
Writing 'logo' OKAY [ 0.074s]
Finished. Total time: 0.194s
Sending 'vbmeta_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'vbmeta_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.052s
Sending 'vbmeta_system_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.025s]
Writing 'vbmeta_system_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.053s
Sending 'vbmeta_vendor_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.025s]
Writing 'vbmeta_vendor_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.054s
Sending 'md1img_a' (0 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'md1img_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.051s
Sending 'spmfw_a' (47 KB) OKAY [ 0.027s]
Writing 'spmfw_a' OKAY [ 0.008s]
Finished. Total time: 0.055s
Sending 'scp_a' (608 KB) OKAY [ 0.038s]
Writing 'scp_a' OKAY [ 0.022s]
Finished. Total time: 0.088s
Sending 'sspm_a' (480 KB) OKAY [ 0.036s]
Writing 'sspm_a' OKAY [ 0.019s]
Finished. Total time: 0.077s
Sending 'cam_vpu1_a' (1610 KB) OKAY [ 0.059s]
Writing 'cam_vpu1_a' OKAY [ 0.044s]
Finished. Total time: 0.126s
Sending 'cam_vpu2_a' (9887 KB) OKAY [ 0.242s]
Writing 'cam_vpu2_a' OKAY [ 0.220s]

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Finished. Total time: 0.492s
Sending 'cam_vpu3_a' (135 KB) OKAY [ 0.028s]
Writing 'cam_vpu3_a' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.062s
Sending 'lk_a' (774 KB) OKAY [ 0.041s]
Writing 'lk_a' OKAY [ 0.026s]
Finished. Total time: 0.091s
Sending 'dtbo_a' (8192 KB) OKAY [ 0.200s]
Writing 'dtbo_a' OKAY [ 0.186s]
Finished. Total time: 0.410s
Sending 'tee_a' (139 KB) OKAY [ 0.028s]
Writing 'tee_a' OKAY [ 0.011s]
Finished. Total time: 0.062s
Sending 'userdata' (860 KB) OKAY [ 0.043s]
Writing 'userdata' OKAY [ 0.157s]
Finished. Total time: 0.225s
------------------------------------------------
Platform will be rebooted and continue soon,
please wait for ash completed
------------------------------------------------
Rebooting into bootloader OKAY [ 0.004s]
Finished. Total time: 0.006s
< waiting for any device >
Sending 'boot_a' (33792 KB) OKAY [ 0.905s]
Writing 'boot_a' OKAY [ 0.750s]
Finished. Total time: 1.723s
------------------------------------------------
Platform will be rebooted and continue soon,
please wait for ash completed
------------------------------------------------
Rebooting into bootloader OKAY [ 0.003s]
Finished. Total time: 0.006s
< waiting for any device >
Sending sparse 'super' 1/12 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 3.209s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.036s]
Sending sparse 'super' 2/12 (128270 KB) OKAY [ 2.956s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 4.464s]
Sending sparse 'super' 3/12 (127597 KB) OKAY [ 2.943s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.553s]
Sending sparse 'super' 4/12 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 3.046s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.092s]
Sending sparse 'super' 5/12 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 2.929s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.916s]
Sending sparse 'super' 6/12 (131071 KB) OKAY [ 3.183s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 11.019s]
Sending sparse 'super' 7/12 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 2.979s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.179s]
Sending sparse 'super' 8/12 (125124 KB) OKAY [ 2.920s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.940s]
Sending sparse 'super' 9/12 (118861 KB) OKAY [ 2.806s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.327s]
Sending sparse 'super' 10/12 (125744 KB) OKAY [ 2.847s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.995s]
Sending sparse 'super' 11/12 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 3.032s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.103s]
Sending sparse 'super' 12/12 (73272 KB) OKAY [ 1.712s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 1.783s]
Finished. Total time: 80.451s
=============================================
Finished. Re-Starting system ...
Rebooting OKAY [ 0.003s]

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Finished. Total time: 0.006s
D:\VIA_ARTiGO_A950_Android_10.0_EVK>
Step 7
If the EVK image is installed, use the following command to enter the Fastboot Mode on your Windows 10 host
machine.
E:\platform-tools>adb reboot bootloader
Step 8
Unplug the AC-to-DC power adapter to power o the VIA ARTiGO A950 and set the two OS image jumpers (J7
and J5) back to the Normal mode seng as shown in the diagram below.
OS image jumpers diagram
Step 9
Unplug the Micro USB cable, press the Power Buon for 2 seconds, then release it to power on the VIA ARTiGO
A950.
When the boot process has completed, you will see the Android 10.0 desktop.

9
VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3. Hardware Funcons
This secon explains how to enable and test the hardware funcons precompiled in the Android 10.0 EVK.
3.1 Enabling ADB Debugging
Follow the steps below to enable ADB debugging:
Step 1
Set the two OS image jumpers (J7 and J5) on the board to the Download mode as shown in the diagram below.
OS image jumpers diagram
Step 2
Connect the Windows 10 host machine and the VIA ARTiGO A950 through the Micro USB 2.0 port using the
Micro USB cable.
Micro USB OTG
Micro USB 2.0 port diagram
Step 3
Power on the VIA ARTiGO A950 to iniate the boot process.
Step 4
When the VIA ARTiGO A950 has completed boong, use the following command to open ADB debugging.
E:\platform-tools>adb shell
3.2 Changing the Kernel Debug Level
To disable the kernel messages, modify the debug level using the following command:
console:/ # su
console:/ # echo 3 > /proc/sys/kernel/printk

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3.3 Checking the BSP Version
To check the BSP version, use the following command:
console:/ # cat /proc/version
3.4 DVFS
To verify the DVFS (Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling) funcon and list all the supported features, use the
following commands:
console:/ # ls -l /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/
total 0
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 affected_cpus
-r-------- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_cur_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_max_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_min_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_transition_latency
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 related_cpus
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_available_frequencies
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_available_governors
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_cur_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_driver
-rw-rw---- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_governor
-rw-rw---- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_max_freq
-rw-rw-r-- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_min_freq
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_setspeed
console:/ #
To check the supported and current CPU frequency, use the following commands:
:~# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies
1989000 1924000 1846000 1781000 1716000 1677000 1625000 1586000 1508000 1417000 1326000
1248000 1131000 1014000 910000 793000
:~# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
793000

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VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3.5 MTK NeuroPilot AI APU Hardware Acceleraon
We recommend running the "PoseDetector_Image.apk" sample program for tesng MTK NeuroPilot AI APU
hardware acceleraon. To install the program, follow the steps below:
1. Copy the "PoseDetector_Image.apk" le to a USB drive and connect the USB drive to the VIA ARTiGO
A950 system.
2. Next, navigate to "Files" and click on the USB drive's name to nd "PoseDetector_Image.apk" as shown
below. Double-click the program.
3. When the program opens, it will display a dialog box as shown below. Click "Connue" to conrm.
Aer installaon, double-click "PoseDetector" to run the program.

12
VIA ARTiGO A950 Android 10.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Check the Pose Detecon inference me on the boom le corner of the program:
• If the inference me is less than 200 ms, MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon is enabled and
running correctly.
• If the inference me is greater than 200 ms, MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon is disabled.

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