Acelere IoT Design com Advanced Development Boards da Microchip

IoT design envolve selecionar o microcontrolador (MCU) e protocolo de conectividade certos para a sua aplicação. A Microchip Technology revelou uma suite de full-stack embedded development solutions para simplificar este processo.

Portfólio Abrangente: PIC/AVR a 32-bit MCU Gateways e MPUs

O portfólio da Microchip abrange desde compact PIC e AVR MCUs — ideais para sensores e atuadores — a poderosos 32-bit MCU gateways e MPUs suited para edge computing. Estes dispositivos podem conectar a qualquer core ou cloud via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth ou 5G narrowband, todos underpinned pela Trust Platform's CryptoAuthentication family.

IoT Networks: Three Typical Project Categories

IoT networks interconectam sensores e intelligent devices across homes, transport, wearables e até o corpo humano, permitindo data exchange e autonomous action. Para desbloquear full potential de IoT, workflows devem ser simplificados e modular components leveraged para tackle real-world challenges de software a hardware.

Typical IoT projects caem em três categorias: cloud-connected systems, local-network (intranet) solutions e gateway-based architectures que bridge legacy devices à Internet.

Escolher o Right Development Kit: Decisive First Step

Escolher o right development kit é frequentemente o decisive first step. Building cloud-connected IoT system from scratch pode ser costly e time-consuming, exigindo expertise across engineering disciplines. Hoje developers enfrentam extended development cycles e heightened security risks, tornando prototyping platforms essential para rapid innovation e accessible IoT design.

Microchip Solutions: Fast, Secure, Effortless Connectivity

As embedded development solutions da Microchip permitem fast, secure e effortless connectivity a qualquer cloud via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth ou 5G narrowband, todos reforçados pela robust security foundation da CryptoAuthentication family.

"IoT adoption remains slower than expected," nota Oyvind Strom, Marketing Director na Microchip. "Apesar da abundance de solutions, muitos customers ainda sentem hesitant. O nosso focus em edge nodes e gateways prioriza ease of use."

Combinando proven security hardware com industry-wide partnerships, a Microchip safeguards contra spectrum de threats — desde remote cyberattacks a counterfeit device proliferation. Tais riscos podem incorrer significant deployment, recovery e brand-equity losses across all sectors.

Expanded Rapid-Prototyping Portfolio

A Microchip expandiu o seu rapid-prototyping portfolio com quatro Wi-Fi-based IoT development platforms, duas Bluetooth prototyping boards para PIC e AVR, um IoT gateway que integra AWS IoT Greengrass e Azure, e LTE-M/NB-IoT kits via parceria com Sequans.

Cada plataforma enfatiza ease of use e rapid iteration para industrial, medical, consumer, agricultural e retail applications, com security embedded from the start. As selectable connectivity options, coupled com full spectrum de MCU/MPU performance e peripheral features, tornam estas solutions scalable across markets.

"Customers podem build IoT solutions com ou sem cloud integration," diz Strom. "Cloud computing está booming, com Google, Amazon e Microsoft leading the way. Partnered com all three. As PIC-IoT WA e AVR-IoT WA boards, developed com AWS, permitem native Wi-Fi connection a AWS IoT Core."

PIC/AVR-IoT WA: 30 Seconds to Cloud

Plug o USB da board num PC, e um dedicated web portal guia através de Wi-Fi credential entry. Dentro de 30 segundos, a board stream data para a Amazon cloud, fornecendo rapid path de prototype a production. Construída em cost-efficient microcontrollers, a board demonstra que robust edge-node IoT não requer 32-bit platforms.

As duas boards incluem temperature e light sensor para demonstração. Um microbus expansion socket suporta mais de 300 click boards, permitindo easy integration de additional sensors via Microchip's ecosystem.

Figure 1: PIC/AVR-IoT WA board (Image: Microchip Technology)

SAM-IoT WG: Google Cloud IoT Core com SAM-D21 Cortex-M0+

A SAM-IoT WG board conecta Google Cloud IoT Core com a popular linha SAM-D21 Arm Cortex-M0+ 32-bit Microchip.

Figure 2: SAM-IoT WG board (Image: Microchip Technology)

Azure IoT SAM: Microcontroller-Based Platform com Azure IoT SDK

Azure IoT SAM, microcontroller-based platform, integra Azure IoT SDK e services no ecossistema MPLAB X da Microchip. Entrega superior computing power, permitindo on-board data transmission e AI-driven analysis.

"Predictive maintenance, vision e other high-end applications são ideais para esta platform," explica Strom.

Bluetooth para Industrial Maintenance: PIC-BLE e AVR-BLE

Industrial sectors increasingly rely on Bluetooth para maintenance e repair. Integrated Bluetooth permite technicians retrieve error codes e diagnostics de tablets ou smartphones, eliminando mechanical intervention.

As PIC-BLE e AVR-BLE boards são PIC/AVR-based sensor nodes que conectam a mobile devices via BLE e à cloud através de BLE gateways.

Figure 3: PIC/AVR-BLE board (Image: Microchip Technology)

Um on-board secure element IC estabelece root of trust, assegurando apenas authorized devices link ao embedded system e à cloud. As boards possuem temperature, light e 3-axis accelerometer sensors, com opção de expandir via external click-board sensors e develop custom apps usando LightBlue, disponível no Google Play e App Store.

Figure 4: The LightBlue app (Image: Microchip Technology)

Gateway Solutions: AWS IoT Greengrass com ATSAMA5D27-WLSOM1

Enquanto Wi-Fi é adequate para home routers, closed networks demand gateway solutions. O AWS IoT Greengrass gateway da Microchip aproveita o ATSAMA5D27-WLSOM1 SoM, combinando SAMA5D2 MPU, WILC3000 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo e MCP16502 power management.

"Os nossos Greengrass-certified solutions trazem cloud computing to the edge," nota Strom. "Oferecem near-real-time responses e continued operation mesmo quando internet connectivity é lost."

LTE-M/NB-IoT Development Kit com Sequans

A Microchip também revelou LTE-M/NB-IoT Development Kit com Sequans. O kit emprega Monarch chips da Sequans, entregando low-power 5G cellular connectivity ideal para direct cloud transmission, bypassing gateway layers.

Service providers estão a roll out 5G networks, poised para carry massive IoT traffic. A escolha entre LTE-M e NB-IoT varia globalmente, com differing regional standards.

Sequans' 5G tech suporta Americas, Europe, Japan e China, permitindo Microchip servir customers worldwide com LTE-M/NB-IoT connectivity across major networks.

Figure 5: LTE-M ou NB-IoT development kit (Image: Microchip Technology)

MPLAB X Ecosystem: Code Generators e Harmony Libraries

As IoT solutions da Microchip estão rooted no seu extensive development ecosystem centered em MPLAB X IDE. Code generators como MPLAB X Code Configurator (MCC) aceleram code creation para PIC e AVR, enquanto Harmony libraries suportam all 32-bit MCU/MPU solutions.

>>> Este artigo foi originalmente publicado no nosso site irmão, EE Times Europe.