SparkFun has recently released the Digi X-ON LoRaWAN development kit an all-in-one IoT development kit designed to simplify the setup and deployment of LoRa-based IoT systems. It includes the Digi HX15 Gateway, SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN, and the ENS160/BME280 environmental sensor, enabling rapid prototyping and connectivity with the help of the Digi X-ON cloud platform. The SparkFun IoT Node is built around the Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller, which features 16MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, multiple GPIOs, LiPo battery support, microSD storage, and USB-C connectivity. It also integrates the Digi XBee LR module for long-range LoRaWAN communication with pre-activated cloud connectivity. With an onboard Qwiic connector and Arduino support, this development kit is ideal for applications like industrial monitoring, environmental sensing, smart agriculture, remote data collection, and more. Digi HX15 gateway specifications Microprocessor – STMicro STM32MP157C MPU with dual-core Cortex A7 @ 650 MHz, Cortex-M4 @ 209 MHz with FPU/MPU, 3D […]
Home Assistant-compatible 60GHz mmWave radar sensor features a built-in IR blaster (Crowdfunding)
The eMotion Ultra is a Home Assistant-compatible 60GHz mmWave radar presence sensor with a built-in IR blaster with a 15-meter range, a brightness sensor, and a temperature/humidity sensor. It is powered by an Armv8-M KM4 microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and is targeted at simplifying complex smart home setups. The eMotion Ultra 60GHz mmWave radar presence sensor module is reported to be able to “cover up to 40 square meters (430 square feet) using just one device.” It can be configured for up to 4 zones with personalized automations for each zone. The exact Armv8-M KM4 module used isn’t named but is likely based on a Realtek RTL8720CM wireless SoC or other Realtek Ameba microcontroller. Potential applications include security management, lighting automation, home climate control, energy management, and rental property management. We have seen similar presence sensors such as the RoomSense IQ, Seeed Studio’s mmWave fall detection kit, SONOFF SNZB-06P, […]
Ditronix’s IPEM PiHat turns your Raspberry Pi into a mains power energy monitor (Crowdfunding)
The IPEM PiHat is a HAT (Hardware Attached on Top) board for the Raspberry Pi that turns the single-board computer into a mains power energy monitor with four CT clamps. It provides an accurate way to track energy usage in home, office, and solar energy systems and is compatible with single-phase, two-phase, and three-phase electrical systems. The Raspberry Pi-based power energy monitor uses CT (current transformer) cable clamps to sample and measure data which can be used to report and analyze electric energy usage. This data can be used to save and divert energy to reduce costs and inefficiencies. The system is easy to set up and does not require a professional electrician. It uses a CT current clamp clipped over the building’s main power cables and connected to the local mains circuit for voltage and frequency measurement. The add-on board comes in two variants: IPEM PiHat and IPEM PiHat […]
ZigEasy GEX is a series of ZigBee 3 & DigiMesh coordinators powered by the XBee 3 and XBee SX 868 modules
The ZigEasy GEX series is a lineup of Zigbee / DigiMesh coordinators and Ethernet gateways based on Digi International’s XBee 3 and XBee SX 868 modules. These devices connect a ZigBee or DigiMesh network to a local Ethernet network or the internet. This makes it easier to create a robust Zigbee/DigiMesh network that can send and receive data from servers. The GEX2400 and GEX2400S devices integrate the Digi XBee3 module which supports Zigbee, 802.15.4, DigiMesh, and BLE and is configured directly with the XCTU software (USB or TCP/IP). The Digi SX 868 module on the GEX868 and GEX868S coordinators only supports DigiMesh. The “S” models include TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption for secure internet communication and are ideal for use cases that require internet access. These ZigEasy GEX Zigbee / DigiMesh coordinators can be used in mesh networks for smart homes, monitoring weather conditions, and tracking agricultural data. They can […]
reComputer R1000 Raspberry Pi CM4-powered IoT Gateway runs open-source software for Edge AI applications (Sponsored)
Seeed Studio is a Raspberry Pi-approved reseller and device designer. In May 2024, Seeed released their first edge IoT Raspberry Pi-powered gateway and controller, reComputer R1000. It is Raspberry Pi CM4-powered, with AI capabilities when equipped with Hailo NPU. It comes with all the necessary features that a robust and reliable industrial edge IoT device needs, along with rich and versatile interfaces like three RS485 ports, dual Ethernet, and flexible IoT wireless communication (4G, LoRa, Wi-Fi/BLE, Zigbee) and essential functional modules (GPS, UPS, TPM2.0, PoE, SSD, etc.). With Modbus and BACnet supported, it’s a perfect fit for remote access control, especially BMS, BAS, and iBMS. You’ll find more technical details in our previous article about the reComputer R1025, and on Seeed Studio’s product page where you can also purchase the AIoT gateway. As a powerful edge IoT controller and gateway with AI capabilities, it embraces the Raspberry Pi community, is […]
SONOFF ZBMINIR2 tiny Zigbee 3.0 switch also works as a Zigbee router with up to 64 sub-devices
SONOFF ZBMINIR2 is a tiny Zigbee smart switch that looks very similar to the SONOFF Zigbee Extreme (ZBMINIL2) but requires a neutral wire and can act as a Zigbee router with up to 64 sub-devices. It also supports new features such as “Turbo mode” for extended range and “detach relay” mode where the states of external switches and relay are separated, so operating the external switch button won’t affect the relay state. The tiny wireless switch can fit into the smallest EU-type/86-type/120-type mounting boxes and works with gateways supporting the Zigbee 3.0 protocol such as ZBBridge Pro, NSPanel Pro, and other compatible Zigbee 3.0 hubs. It also supports external switches (momentary, door, SPDT, and rocker), voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and like other SONOFF devices is designed to be controlled through the eWelink mobile app by default. SONOFF ZBMINIR2 specifications: MCU – Unspecified – Potentially the same […]
AAEON introduces NXP i.MX 8M Plus Pico-ITX SBC and mini PC designed for Edge AI industrial applications
AAEON PICO-IMX8PL is a Pico-ITX SBC built around the NXP i.MX 8M Plus Edge AI processor which the company has also released in an enclosed form as the SRG-IMX8PL mini-PC. Both are designed for industrial AIoT/IoT applications. The SBC features various connectivity options including dual Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, 4G LTE, CAN-FD, Audio, LVDS, and support for popular protocols like Modbus, MQTT, and OPCUA. Whereas the mini PC sacrifices some I/O interfaces and the LVDS display output to enable wall or DIN rail mounting. Both products have wide operating temperature ranges, fanless designs, and compact form factors making them ideal for deployment in harsh industrial environments. All these features make this device useful for industrial automation, transportation, and digital signage. AAEON PICO-IMX8PL Pico-ITX SBC and RG-IMX8PL mini-PC specifications SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Plus AI SoC CPU Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor @ up to 1.6 GHz Arm Cortex-M7 real-time core @ 800 […]
RoomSense IQ – An ESP32-S3 modular room monitor with mmWave radar presence detection (Crowdfunding)
RoomSense IQ is a modular room monitor for presence-based home automation based on the ESP32-S3 module with Bluetooth Wi-Fi connectivity. It uses physical presence detection to automate your smart home devices. It comes with multiple sensors that can be used to detect human activity and track ambient light, temperature, and humidity levels. It uses mmWave radar technology to determine when rooms are empty and when they are occupied. It also features built-in temperature, humidity, and light sensors for indoor climate monitoring and control. Rather than relying on schedules, or voice detection, RoomSense IQ triggers automations or alerts based on whether people are in a room or not. It is therefore possible to set it to automatically turn off lights or air conditioning in rooms that are empty to save on energy. In addition, the device offers distance to target measurement that can be adjusted to trigger certain actions. RoomSense IQ […]