U-BRAIN MicroSmart is a Tiny “15-Axis” Sensor Module with Bluetooth or Zigbee Connectivity

Usuda Research Institute & Systems Corporation has just announced U-BRAIN MicroSmart, a tiny and lightweight 3D modules module with a “15-axis” sensor, 5 GPIOS, as well as optional Zigbee and Bluetooth connectivity allowing up to 100 meter range. The module targets wearable devices used for fitness and health applications. U-BRAIN MicroSmart (UBN-MS8) Specifications: Processor –  MCU + DSP Sensors – 6-axis position sensors, 3-axis posture sensor, 3-axis direction sensor, 1 temperature sensor, 1 audio sensor, and 1 light sensor. Connectivity – Optional? Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR or ZigBee with up to 100 meter range. GPIO – 5 GPIOS, TTL. Power Consumption – 10 mA max during use, 100 uA max in sleep mode Power – Via microUSB port Dimensions – 20 x 19 x 3.8 mm Weight – 2g to 5g depending on presence and selection of communication module The module will support Windows XP/Vista/7/9.0/8.1, Android 2.3 and greater, iOS, […]

The Internet of Insects Is Coming to You Powered by Fuel Cells

Connected_Coackroach

We’ve had the Internet for a few decades, and recently terms such as the Internet of Things, previously as (connected) embedded systems, and the Internet of Everything have started to become a common features of tech speak. But following research from Osaka University and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), we may soon start to talk about the Internet of Insects. Japanese researchers have developed a fuel cell that can be mounted on an insect, and generate powered from sugar (trehalose) found in the insect’s body fluid (blood lymph). The fuel cell consists of electrodes, a tank of body fluid and a pipe to be inserted into the insect. Then some chemical “magic” occurs. There’s already a prototype, which has been unveiled at IEEE MEMS 2014, an academic conference that tool place on January 26-30, 2014, in San Francisco. The prototype has been 3D printed, measures about approximately 20 […]

GPS/GSM Yon Bike Lamp Let You Track Your Bicycle

Everything is getting smart these days. We’ve got smart phones, smart watches, smart homes, etc…, and now we’ve got smart bicycles thanks to products such as Yon Bike Lamp by Nastek Tecnologia, a Brazilian company, that can track and report your bicycle location for riding statistics and/or in case of theft. There are not that many technical details, but we do know the bicycle taillight features Telit GL865-QUAD GSM/GPRS module supporting 4 GSM bands: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, compliant with eCall European directive, and that’s control using Python scripts. The chip most probably helps with location tracking thanks to m2mLOCATE service which accesses a database of over 40 million cell-IDs. The light gets its location via GPS, and connects to the outside via GSM/GPRS and SMS. You can either login to a website or via an Android or iOS app in order to access the light […]

9.99 Euros Arietta G25 Board Features Atmel SAM9G25 (ARM9) Processor

Acme Systems Aria G25 is a tiny system-on-module (SoM) based on Atmel SAM9G25  that sells for as low as 24 Euros. The company is now working on an smaller and lower cost ARM Linux module based on the same processor called Arietta G25. The board targets the hobbyist market and IoT (Internet of Things) applications. Arietta G25 specifications: CPU –  Atmel AT91SAM9G25 ARM9 @ 400Mhz System Memory – 128 MB DDR2 Storage – MicroSD Socket for up to 32GB bootable Linux microSD (not included) I/Os and other available pins (via 2.54mm though holes): USB – 1x USB 2.0 host/device (High Speed), 1x USB 2.0 host(HS), 1x USB 2.0 host (FS) Serial – 1x UART (RXD,TXD,RTS,CTS), 1x I2C, 1x SPI bus  1 with 2 chip select (5 to 50 MHz) 4x PWM 4x 10-bit A/D converters 1-wire bus 5V, 3.3V, GND, VBATT signals Header for Wi-Fi module Power – Single 3.3 […]

Amaryllo iCam HD is a Smart Wireless IP Camera Controllable via Skype

Amaryllo iCam HD is a Linux based smart network HD (720p) Camera with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + WPS connectivity, infra-red vision, 100 degrees view angle, and 360 degrees view possible via remote pan-and-tilt, a microphone, a speaker, a micro SD card slot for video recording, a motion sensor, and a micro USB port for power via a standard USB power adapter or a USB power bank. On top of that, you can easily remotely access the camera via Skype by calling from your computer or your smartphone just like you would do to call a friend or family member. The camera can be used to watch after your loved ones: babies, aging parents, pets…, and for home security.  I could also envision using it with people who are close to you that are not comfortable with computers. You could just set it up for them, and call them directly without […]

eConais WiSmart EC19D is an 8x8mm Wi-Fi Module for the Internet of Things

eConais, a company specializing in ultra low power embedded Wi-Fi modules, has recently announced WiSmart EC19D Wi-Fi module which it claims to be “the world’s smallest, most easily integrated, and lowest standby power single chip 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi System In Package (SiP) modules for the Internet of Things”. This Wi-Fi module comes with the following features: Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n,Wi-Fi Direct, WPS, Wi-Fi Client Mode, Wi-Fi SoftAP Mode Security – WPA/WPA2 support ProbMe Configuration – Proprietary configuration method which enables any Wi-Fi device to configure the EC19D module without the need of any application Protocol – TCP/UDP sockets, HTTPS/SSL, DHCP Client/Server MCU I/F – Serial Cloud Service Support (Xively) Concurrent DLNA Renderer & Server (Q1 2014) OTA FW Upgrade (Q1 2014) Dimensions – 8x8mm Certifications – FCC, IC, and EC There’s no data about standby power consumption, so it’s difficult to verify the company claim, however at 8x8mm, it could well […]

Intel Unveils Edison Board for Wearables at CES 2014 Keynote

After an earlier Intel presentation about Intel RealSense Technology by Mooly Eden, Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager, the newly appointed Intel CEO, Brian Krzanich, officially opened CES 2014 with the pre-show keynote. This time there was nothing about processors for PCs, and the announcement the most interesting and relevant to this blog was Intel Edison, a tiny SD-card sized board powered by a dual core Quark SoC. Specifications: SoC – Unnamed and new dual core Intel Quark SoC @ 400MHz manufactured with 22nm process technology. MCU – Unnamed Intel MCU (MCS 51??) to manage I/Os and other baseline functions. System Memory – LPDDR2 Storage – NAND Flash Connectivity – Wi-Fi and Blutooth 4.0 LE Dimensions – Just like an SD card The board will support Linux, and common open source tools used by the marker community. It will also support Wolfgram language and Mathematica. There will also be […]

Freescale Announces WaRP (Wearables Reference Platform) Powered by Freescale i.MX 6SoloLite

We’ve seen more and more wearable products recently, be it smartwaches, smart rings, fitness bands, etc.., and we can expect several announcements at CES 2014 for wearables. Freescale has just launched their Wearable Reference Platform (WaRP), comprised of the WaRPboard, a tiny board based on Freescale i.MX 6SoloLite running Android, and a daughter board with KL16 Cortex M0+ MCU and several sensors. The main chips and corresponding features on the board are as follows: Freescale i.MX 6SoloLite Cortex A9 processor @ 1GHz with 2D graphics Vivante GC355 and  GC320 GPUs. KL16 Sub-Family General Purpose Cortex M0+ MCU. Xtrinsic FXOS8700CQ, 6-Axis Sensor with Integrated Linear Accelerometer and Magnetometer. Xtrinsic MMA955xL Intelligent Motion-Sensing Platform. It cane be programmed to provide freefall detection, tilt and 3-D orientation detection, tap and double tap detection, dead reckoning, shock, vibration and sudden motion detection and power management. The company expect WaRP to be used in devices such as […]

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