Using FIRM - Troubleshooting
This page collects common problems that end users might encounter and suggestions about how to resolve them.
Device Won't Show Up in the Port List
Possible causes:
- USB cable is power-only (try a known good data cable).
- USB-C is flipped the wrong way. Unplug it and replug it rotated 180 degrees. We don't know why this happens, but we're working on a fix.
- Board not powered, physically damaged, or MicroSD card not inserted properly.
Checklist:
- Try a different cable and USB port.
- Make sure you see only a green LED on the board when you first plug it in.
- Check your Device Manager for a new COM port that appears when you plug in the board.
LED Status Codes
The board uses 3 LEDs (Blue, Yellow, Red) to indicate operational status.
Initialization Status
These LEDs will always stay lit up to indicate the initialization status. When FIRM is booting up, you should see all 3 LEDs lit for 0.5 seconds.
| Status | Blue | Yellow | Red |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootup | 🔵 | 🟡 | 🔴 |
| IMU Fail | 🔵 | 🟡 | ⚫ |
| BMP581 Fail | 🔵 | ⚫ | 🔴 |
| MMC5983MA Fail | 🔵 | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| Flash Chip Fail | ⚫ | 🟡 | 🔴 |
| SD Card Fail | ⚫ | 🟡 | ⚫ |
| All Sensors OK | âš« | âš« | âš« |
Interrupt Failures
If a sensor's interrupt is not firing, the LEDs will blink 5 times.
| Status | Blue | Yellow | Red |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed IMU Interrupt | 🔵 | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| Failed BMP Interrupt | ⚫ | 🟡 | ⚫ |
| Failed Magnetometer Interrupt | ⚫ | ⚫ | 🔴 |
Web App Can't Connect via Serial
- Make sure you're using a supported browser (Chrome/Edge work well, don't use Firefox).
- Ensure no other process is holding the serial port (e.g., another terminal, or web app tab).
- If in doubt, unplug and replug the device and restart the browser.
No Data in Logs
TODO: idk about this one, need to test
Data Looks Wrong (e.g., Saturated, Noisy, or Offset)
TODO: merge this with No Data in Logs
When to Ask for Help
If you've gone through the relevant sections, and you're still stuck, contact someone from the FIRM team for help.