SHIPv5 Key Features

SHIP Version 5 (SHIPv5) includes an array of exciting new capabilities over SHIPv4:

• Over-the-wire updates (SPI/UART/USB) via built-in bootloader
• Major communications enhancements, including the SHIPBridge Protocol with firmware updates and data movement over USB/SPI/UART
• Larger font support and enhanced text placement with “textframe” objects
• Language translation manager, including MS Excel translation import/export
• Build configuration manager for single project/multiple output
• Improved scripting performance, floating point support, and numerous new functions
• Runtime drawing on “canvas” objects

The SHIPBridge Protocol

• The SHIPBridge Protocol, included in SHIP Version 5 (SHIPv5), is a new protocol developed by Serious for communications between the SIM and attached host. It has the following key features:
• Light, efficient protocol
• Can run over USB, UART, SPI, and in the future, TCP/IP
• Remote file access over-the-wire without a file system stack on the host
• Firmware, cargo, and boot loader updates over-the-wire
• Rich data type exchange over-the-wire
• No cost, portable reference source code to be published for the “host” side

For more information, see the SHIPBridge Protocol.

The SHIPv5 Boot System and Over-the-Wire Updates

Starting in SHIPv5 all SIMs and SCMs now have a multi-stage boot loader process. This enables the modules’s firmware and data to be upgraded in “offline” mode (when the GUI or application is not running) or, in some cases, in “online” mode in the background while the GUI/application is still operating.

The bootloader has three elements/phases: SHIPPaddle, SHIPTug and the application (SHIPEngine in the case of HMI modules).

For more information, see the SHIPv5 Boot System.