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Block Diagram

Requirements List

Mechanical

REQ-1: Form Factor
The PCB shall be as small as reasonably achievable without increasing BOM or manufacturing cost. Final L×W×H shall be optimized during layout, with no special-cost miniaturization processes (e.g., HDI, microvias) required.

REQ-2: Unified Connector
A unified connector shall integrate all power and input/output interfaces into a single cohesive unit. This connector will be engineered for maximum physical compactness. Connections will be implemented using flying leads. The connector will encompass:
- Battery Power Input
- Signal Inputs
- Signal Outputs

Power Requirements

REQ-3: Battery Power Input
The board shall support operation from a removable external battery pack as an alternative power source to the DC input, without requiring on-board battery charging or management.

REQ-4: Battery Type
The design shall consider compatibility with common rechargeable tool battery platforms (e.g., Dewalt, Greenworks).

REQ-5: Input Voltage Range
The board shall accept a DC battery power input ranging from 18 V to 30 V.

Networking & Connectivity

REQ-6: Wi-Fi Connectivity
The board shall include Wi-Fi connectivity as the primary network interface for IP-based communication, with the same features present in the previous version of AutoAdvance Box.

REQ-7: Protocol Support
The firmware shall expose the IP-based Modbus TCP protocol for reading input status and controlling outputs (Compatible with Legacy AutoAdvance Board).

REQ-8: IP Configuration
The board shall support configuring a static IP address, gateway IP address, and subnet mask. DHCP support may be added if aligned with system requirements.

I/Os

REQ-9: Inputs
3 inputs, with the same Digital/Analog features as the previous AutoAdvance Box Version:
- 0/24v Digital Voltage Input
- 4-20mA Analog Current Input

REQ-10: Outputs
3 outputs, with the same Digital/Analog features as the previous AutoAdvance Box Version (except USB keyboard; USB keyboard emulation shall be removed):
- 0/24v Digital Voltage Output (support up to 300mA load)
- 4-20mA Analog Current Outputs

REQ-11: Input/Output Connectors
A unified connector will be used as specified in the mechanical section.

REQ-12: I/O Config Jumpers
Keep the same jumper array for the Inputs and Outputs configuration.

Non-Volatile Memory (NVM)

REQ-13: Non-Volatile Memory
The design shall include non-volatile memory (NVM) to store all device configuration and settings (e.g., network configuration, I/O mapping, operational parameters) so they persist across power-loss events and battery replacement, without requiring reconfiguration by the desktop client.

Expansion Interface (Bluetooth Keyboard Card)

REQ-14: Expansion Connector
The board shall provide an expansion connector/footprint intended for an off-the-shelf Bluetooth keyboard emulation daughter card.

REQ-15: Proposed BLE Card
Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 (Part No: 102010448)

REQ-16: Proposed BLE Dongle
nRF52840 MDK USB Dongle w/Case (Part No: 113990714)

REQ-17: Output Mapping
The BLE keyboard emulation will be available on all three outputs. Each output (Outputs 1–3) can be assigned a different keyboard action through a drop-down selection in the desktop client (e.g., Output 1 – Right Arrow, Output 2 – Left Arrow, Output 3 – Enter). When Input 1 receives a high signal, Output 1 triggers its configured keyboard emulation.

Controller / Firmware

REQ-18: Backward Compatibility
Firmware shall behave the same as a previous version of the AutoAdvance, including all the features for configuration over Desktop Client, Network connectivity, and Modbus I/O commands.

UI / UX Requirements

REQ-19: Status Indicators
The board shall include at least one LED indicator (preferably a single RGB LED) to display device status, including at minimum:
- Wi-Fi connection status
- Normal operational/running status
- Error/fault status

Exact color/state mapping and blink patterns shall be defined in firmware and documented for the user.