Jetson Orin Nano GPIO Pin Output Issues

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with GPIO pin output on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, particularly when attempting to run Python scripts to control LEDs. Symptoms include:

• The code intended to toggle GPIO pins does not produce any output, despite working successfully on the Jetson Nano.
• Users report that specific GPIO pins (7, 15, 29, 31) default to input mode and require configuration changes to function as outputs.
• The issue arises primarily when using JetPack 6, with some users reverting to JetPack 5.1 for successful GPIO functionality.
• The problem is consistent across different users and setups, indicating a broader compatibility or configuration issue.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities: The GPIO pin configuration may differ between the Jetson Nano and Jetson Orin Nano, necessitating adjustments in the pinmux settings.
2. Software Bugs or Conflicts: Issues may arise from changes in library support or deprecated features in JetPack 6 compared to previous versions.
3. Configuration Errors: Users often neglect to modify the pinmux settings required for setting GPIO pins as outputs.
4. Driver Issues: Compatibility issues with the Jetson.GPIO library under different JetPack versions could lead to unexpected behavior.
5. Environmental Factors: Power supply inconsistencies or incorrect wiring can affect GPIO functionality.
6. User Errors: Misconfigurations in the setup process or incorrect pin assignments can lead to failures in expected output.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Pin Configuration:

   • Verify that the desired GPIO pins are correctly configured as outputs in the pinmux spreadsheet. Pins 7, 15, 29, and 31 may need to be explicitly set as outputs.
   • Use the command:

     cat /etc/nv_tegra_release
     

     to check your L4T version.

2. Modify Pinmux Settings:

   • Download and open the pinmux spreadsheet for your Jetson module.
   • Change the direction of the pins from input to output and ensure that E_IO_HV is disabled.
   • Generate new .dtsi files from these settings.

3. Reflash the Device:

   • After modifying the pinmux settings, reflash your device using:

     sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg -c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

   • This will apply your new configurations without affecting existing data.

4. Install Required Libraries:

   • Ensure that you have installed the necessary libraries:

     sudo pip install Jetson.GPIO
     sudo apt install gpiod
     

5. Run Sample Code:

   • Test with simple example scripts provided by Jetson.GPIO or other community resources to confirm basic functionality before running custom scripts.

6. Use Alternative Libraries if Necessary:

   • If issues persist under JetPack 6 with Jetson.GPIO, consider using alternative libraries like libgpiod for GPIO control.

7. Test Different Pins and Configurations:

   • Experiment with other GPIO pins to rule out hardware-specific issues.
   • Check connections and ensure proper wiring of LEDs and other components.

8. Use Multimeter for Verification:

   • Use a multimeter to check voltage levels on GPIO pins during operation to confirm whether they are toggling correctly.

9. Consult Documentation and Community Support:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation on GPIO usage and community forums for additional troubleshooting tips and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

10. Best Practices for Future Use:

    • Always verify pin configurations before running scripts.
    • Keep your development environment updated with the latest libraries and firmware versions.

By following these troubleshooting steps, users should be able to identify and resolve issues related to GPIO output on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit effectively.