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WatchDK Production Testing Guide

This guide describes how to run the production test on the ZSWatch Development Kit (WatchDK) to verify that all hardware components are working correctly.

Required Equipment​

  • USB-C cable – for power
  • J-Link debugger or Nordic nRF Dev Kit (e.g., nRF54KL15DK) – for programming the device
  • ZSWatch Development kit (WatchDK) – the device under test
  • Vibration motor – must be connected to the WatchDK
  • Battery – (TBD)

Software Requirements​

Hardware Setup​

  1. Connect the J-Link debugger to the WatchDK debug header
  2. Connect the vibration motor to the designated connector
  3. Connect USB-C cable for power

Production test hardware setup

Flashing the Test Firmware​

Download the pre-built production test firmware or build it from source in production_test/.

Firmware can be downloaded from Github and is part of ci build artifacts: watchdk@1_nrf5340_cpuapp_debug/production_test_watchdk.hex

Flash using nrfjprog:

nrfjprog --recover --coprocessor CP_NETWORK -f nrf53
nrfjprog --recover -f nrf53
nrfjprog --program production_test_watchdk.hex --chiperase --verify --reset -f nrf53

Test Sequence​

The production test runs automatically through the following tests in order. Each interactive test has a 15-second timeout. The UI will guide you, but here is a short summary of what it does.

Video Walkthrough​

Watch a full run of the production test app to see the expected prompts and pacing before you start.

Direct link to video: https://vimeo.com/1141434425

1. Button Test​

  • Action: Press all 4 buttons (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right)
  • Pass criteria: All buttons registered
  • Note: The countdown timer starts after the first button press

2. Vibration Test​

  • Action: The vibration motor pulses repeatedly. Press any button if you feel it vibrating
  • Pass criteria: User confirms vibration by pressing a button

3. Backlight Test​

  • Action: Press any button to start. The display brightness will cycle between low and high
  • Pass criteria: Press any button to confirm the brightness changed visibly

4. Touch Test​

  • Action: Touch the display
  • Pass criteria: Touch input detected

5. Microphone Test​

  • Action: Make some noise (speak, clap, tap near the microphone)
  • Pass criteria: Audio activity detected above threshold

6. Sensor Scan (Automatic)​

The following sensors are checked automatically at boot. Results are shown if any test failed.

7. Final Result​

  • Shows PASS (green) or FAIL (red) summary
  • Displays count of passed vs total tests
  • Press any button to reboot and run tests again

Re-running Tests​

Press any button on the final result screen to reboot and start a fresh test run.

Post Test - Flashing ZSWatch Firmware​

After a successful production test, flash the full ZSWatch firmware:

Step 1: Flash the app core (with QSPI configuration):

nrfjprog --program watchdk@1_nrf5340_cpuapp_debug.hex --chiperase --qspisectorerase --verify --reset --qspiini qspi_mx25u51245.ini --coprocessor CP_APPLICATION -f nrf53

Step 2: Flash the net core:

nrfjprog --program zswatch_nrf5340_CPUNET.hex --chiperase --verify --reset --coprocessor CP_NETWORK -f nrf53

Full Expected Output​

Step 1 - Recover network core:

$ nrfjprog --recover --coprocessor CP_NETWORK -f nrf53
Recovering device. This operation might take 30s.
Erasing user code and UICR flash areas.
Writing image to disable ap protect.

Step 2 - Recover app core:

$ nrfjprog --recover -f nrf53
Recovering device. This operation might take 30s.
Erasing user code and UICR flash areas.
Writing image to disable ap protect.

Step 3 - Flash production test firmware:

Now you would runt he production test sequence.

$ nrfjprog --program production_test_watchdk.hex --chiperase --verify --reset -f nrf53
[ #################### ]   0.352s | Erase file - Done erasing
[ #################### ]   2.994s | Program file - Done programming
[ #################### ]   3.003s | Verify file - Done verifying
Applying system reset.
Run.

Step 1 - Flash net core image:

$ nrfjprog --program zswatch_nrf5340_CPUNET.hex --chiperase --verify --reset --coprocessor CP_NETWORK -f nrf53
[ #################### ]   0.293s | Erase file - Done erasing
[ #################### ]   1.338s | Program file - Done programming
[ #################### ]   1.345s | Verify file - Done verifying
Applying system reset.
Run.

Step 5 - Flash app core image:

$ nrfjprog --program watchdk@1_nrf5340_cpuapp_debug.hex --chiperase --qspisectorerase --verify --reset --qspiini qspi_mx25u51245.ini --coprocessor CP_APPLICATION -f nrf53
[ #################### ]   0.000s | Erasing non-volatile memory - Erase successful
[ #################### ]   1.611s | Erase file - Done erasing
[ #################### ]  11.610s | Program file - Done programming
[ #################### ]  11.506s | Verify file - Done verifying
Applying system reset.
Run.