1 Pick your Module & Get a Dev Kit
Generation 3 & 4 modules are mature products and not recommended for new projects. We recommend starting with Generation 5 HMI Modules, for example, the SIMx52 or SIMx62 families for new designs.
If you’ve purchased a development kit for a Generation 3 or 4 HMI module, for example, the SIM115, SIM231, or SIM543, and want to get started, you’ve come to the right place.
2 Got your Dev Kit? Power it Up!
For smaller SIMs, such as the SIM115 and SIM231, you can power the whole module from the USB connector.
For larger SIMs, such as the SIM543, the dev kit includes a 110/220VAC to 5V power adapter, a barrel jack adapter, an example JST16 wire harness, and a handy connector wiring card. Connecting all these pieces together will power the unit.
Be sure to connect the power + and – wires correctly according to the wire card or you will damage your unit. Consult the technical reference manual if you have any doubt on the correct connection of the power supply to the unit.
Many SIMs purchased in single unit (-01) packages have a built-in demo installed. If you purchased a production multi-pack (-05 or -10), there may be a (fairly unimpressive!) manufacturing GUI installed. Either way, once the unit is powered, the on-board firmware will execute and any installed GUI should start running and displaying info on the LCD screen.
If there’s a demo installed on the SIM, go ahead and explore it! It was developed using the Serious Human Interface™ Platform (SHIP) rapid GUI development system, including the SHIPTide GUI Development IDE and is less than a few hundred lines of code (really!).
3 Download SHIPtide and Connect
In order to build a GUI and uploaded it to your module, you’ll first need to download the no-cost tools from Serious. SHIPTide is the IDE where you develop your GUIs for downloading into your SIM. SHIPTide also has built-in communications and firmware upgrade capabilities for managing your SIM’s configuration.Download and Install SHIPTide
For the Gen3 and 4 HMI modules, use SHIPTide 5.1 or later, downloadable from the www.mySerious.com portal.
Note: SHIPTide is only supported on Windows 10 64-bit systems.
Download SHIPTide 5.2 and install it on your PC. This download/install not only installs the SHIPTide tool, but also Windows USB custom drivers as well as the SHIPHarborMaster application. SHIPHarborMaster is a separate background app that sits in your Windows toolbar and monitors connect/disconnect events from Serious modules (both SIMs and SCMs) as well as brokers the conversation between the USB subsystem and higher level applications such as SHIPTide.
Run SHIPTide and Connect
You can run SHIPHarborMaster directly – SHIPTide does not need to be running to connect a PC to a SIM – however the easiest way to start is by running SHIPTide which auto-launches the SHIPHarborMaster background task. With the module powered and connected via USB, the drivers will recognize the module and give a Windows 10 notification of the connected unit as shown here. 
Update the SIM’s Firmware
You can easily, within SHIPTide, see what firmware versions are installed on the unit and the Serious Serial Number of the unit: click on Tools>Firmware Update to bring up the Firmware Update panel.
The panel shows the installed firmware versions and the serial number of the unit. It also, if you are connected to the internet, enables you to browse active, retired, and experimental firmware bundles available from Serious. You can, directly from this panel, select, download, and install a new firmware bundle onto your SIM.
If this panel shows a newer firmware release is available for your SIM than currently installed, go ahead and update your SIM now: it will only take a moment. You’ll see the SIM reboot and firmware being installed, then an additional reboot. SHIPTide will show the module disappear and reappear as the module reboots. When complete, you can go back into the Firmware Update panel and see the new firmware revision(s) you installed.
Note there are three firmware objects in every SIM: two boot loaders and the SHIPEngine GUI management firmware. You can learn more about the SHIPv5 boot system here.
3 Build & Run First GUI
We know you’re eager to get your own GUI started! Dive right in. Within SHIPTide, click the Project->New menu and choose your SIM:
Now give it a project name and choose a simple starting template for your GUI:
You’ll now see a very simple GUI in SHIPTide’s workspace. Go ahead! Let’s build this GUI and install it into your SIM! Click Project->Build & Export and SHIPTide will “compile” your project and and prompt you to upload it to the SIM:
4 What’s Next?
Now it’s time to dig deeper into SHIPTide and how to build that rich and modern GUI you’ve always wanted for your product.
Time for a little watching and learning:
- Watch the 4 minute Video Application Note AN0301: Intro to SHIPTide to give you the basic layout of SHIPTide,
- Go through our many training videos in the documentation zone to learn how to use SHIPTide
Serious Documentation Zone
The Serious Documentation area has a wealth of information:
- applications notes
- example projects
- training videos
- reference manuals for SHIP concepts
mySerious.com Portal
The mySerious.com portal contains many downloads for your SIM, including:
- Technical Reference Manual (TRM)
- Mechanical Design Package (MDP), including STEP file models of your SIM
- SHIPTide updates
Don’t Get Stuck!
- There are many ways to get support
- We can help develop your GUI or just get you started with our custom services group
Product Safety
Please follow general Product Safety practices to avoid any situation which could damage your SIM or create hazardous conditions. More detailed information specific to your product will be available in the Technical Reference Manual.
