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January 8, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Arduino Portenta Proto Kit ME aims to ease prototyping for professionals

Arduino has introduced the Portenta Proto Kit ME (Motion Environment) at CES 2025 with the kit designed to allow engineers, designers, and innovators to turn ideas into functional prototypes quickly. The kit does not include new hardware, but it is based on the Arduino Portenta H7, Mid Carrier, and Nicla Sense ME module, as well as other off-the-shelf parts such as a 4G LTE and GNSS module and some Modulino modules, plus three months of Arduino Cloud access. The company expects the prototyping kit to be used for predictive maintenance, environmental sensing, and industrial automation prototypes. Arduino Portenta Proto Kit ME kit content: Portenta H7 board based on STMicro STM32H747 Arm Cortex-M7 @ 480 MHz + M4 @ 200 MHz MCU capable of handling ML workloads and advanced processing Portenta Mid Carrier with gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 port, MIPI CSI and Arduino camera connectors, CAN Bus, mPCIe socket, GPIO header, […]

December 24, 2024December 24, 2024 by Debashis Das - 4 Comments

RootMaster is a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W-based hydroponic automation system with STM32G4 MCU, CAN Bus, sensors

The RootMaster is a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W-based hydroponic automation system designed to precisely manage water and environmental conditions. The solution also integrates an STM32G4 microcontroller to handle real-time operations such as controlling pumps and peripherals, managing sensors, and processing data from external sensors like water level indicators. It also generates PWM signals to control the power of connected devices and handles communication with external modules through a CAN FD interface. While STM32 handles hardware-level tasks, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W manages high-level control and user interaction. The RootMaster can be programmed with Python, C, C++, or other programming languages and is useful for applications like Hydroponics automation, water circulation, and environmental control. RootMaster specifications MCU – STMicro STM32G473 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller @ 170 MHz for real-time operations Main controller – Compatible with Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH for GUI and other interfaces Sensors pH sensor for nutrient solution […]

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Sensy32 Board is an ESP32-S3 sensor platform with up to six sensors for environmental monitoring in IoT applications

The Sensy32 Board is a compact sensor platform powered by Espressif’s flagship ESP32-S3 WiFi and Bluetooth microcontroller. The development board brings different monitoring devices together on the same PCB for easier integration into IoT ecosystems. It is a multipurpose device with several sensors bundled to measure and monitor ultraviolet light intensity, altitude, pressure, orientation, humidity, temperature, motion, and human presence. It includes a 9-degree-of-freedom inertial measurement unit (IMU) for 3D space orientation, while the built-in MEMS microphone can be used for audio input in voice detection and noise measurement applications. The onboard ESP32-S3 microcontroller powers the array of features and also offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity. The Sensy32 ESP32-S3 sensor platform also integrates an LCD screen for immediate feedback and real-time monitoring. We have covered other ESP32-based environment sensors such as the Qsen-07 multi-sensor board, AirGradient ONE, MoreSense MS-06, and Studio LUFF’s Air Quality Sensor. Sensy32 specifications: MCU […]

December 15, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy - 1 Comment

Nordic Thingy:91 X multi-sensor cellular IoT platform combines nRF9151 LTE IoT SiP, nRF5340 BLE SoC, and nRF7002 WiFi 6 IC

Nordic Semiconductor introduced the Nordic Thingy:91 in mid-2019, a cellular IoT prototyping platform built around the Nordic nRF9160 system-in-package (SiP). It supports LTE-M, NB-IoT, and GPS, and includes features like an Arm Cortex-M33 core, Arm TrustZone security, and flash memory. The platform is ideal for creating IoT Proof-of-Concepts, demos, and prototypes, making it easy to test and deploy IoT applications. The upgraded Nordic Thingy:91 X features the new Nordic nRF9151 SiP, offering support for LTE-M, NB-IoT, GNSS, and DECT NR+ for global connectivity, integrates the nRF5340 SoC for USB and Bluetooth LE, and the nRF7002 IC for Wi-Fi locations. The platform includes sensors for environmental and motion sensing, one expansion connector for Qwiic/STEMMA QT and Grove modules, and antennas for LTE, GNSS, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, the kit also features a Nano/4FF SIM slot, two SIM cards, and a 1,350 mAh Li-Po battery managed by nPM6001 and nPM1300 PMICs, to support field […]

November 26, 2024November 25, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Renesas RRH47000-EVK board integrates RRH47000 CO2 sensor with ±75 ppm accuracy, relative humidity and temperature sensors

Renesas has recently released the RRH47000-EVK evaluation board based on the RRH47000 CO2 sensor using non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology to measure CO2 levels accurately (±75 ppm typical) within the 0-5000 ppm range. The sensor also includes built-in sensors for relative humidity and temperature, operates at low power, and supports either UART or I2C interface to the host. These features make this device useful for applications like HVAC systems, industrial automation, building control, air quality monitors, home appliances, IoT devices, and agriculture. Previously we have written about the Sensirion SCD40 CO2 sensor which also uses NDIR to measure CO2 levels very accurately, while the Infineon PASCO2V15 CO2 sensor relies on photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) to detect CO2 levels. The Sensirion sensor can also measure humidity and temperature, but the Infineon sensor is designed to measure CO2 only. Renesas RRH47000 specifications: CO2 sensor Measurement range – 0 ppm to 5000 ppm Accuracy – […]

November 23, 2024November 23, 2024 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

Waveshare RoArm-M2 ESP32 robotic arms offer four degrees of freedom, various servo options

Waveshare has recently launched the RoArm-M2-S and RoArm-M2-Pro ESP32 robotic arms with four degrees of freedom, or 4-DOF for short. The main difference is that the RoArm-M2-S is equipped with standard servos, while the RoArm-M2-Pro features all-metal ST3235 bus servos, adding more durability and performance. Designed for educational and robotics applications, the 4-DOF RoArm-M2 is sturdy yet lightweight, built using carbon fiber and aluminum alloy. It can handle payloads up to 0.5kg and has a workspace diameter of 1 meter. The arm offers high precision with a 12-bit magnetic encoder and dual-drive technology for improved torque and stability. On top of that, it features a 12-bit magnetic encoder and dual-drive technology for improved torque and stability. Other features include a 360° omnidirectional base and support for both wireless (WiFi, ESP-NOW) and wired (USB) control. These features make this device suitable for various applications including industrial automation, education, research, and DIY robotics projects. Waveshare […]

November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

STMicro’s low-power ST1VAFE3BX AI biosensor integrates biopotential signal monitoring and motion tracking

STMicroelectronics (STMicro) has announced the ST1VAFE3BX biosensor, a highly integrated chip that combines “cardio and neurological sensing with motion tracking and embedded AI functionalities,” and is targeted at healthcare and fitness wearables. The ST1VAFE3BX biosensor chip integrates biopotential inputs with an accelerometer and a machine learning core for reduced power consumption. It features a complete vertical analog front end (vAFE) for simplified detection of vital signs in electrocardiography, electroencephalography, and other healthcare monitoring applications. Inertial sensing by the accelerometer is synchronized with biopotential sensing “to infer any link between measured signals and physical activity.” The integrated machine-learning core (MLC) and finite state machine (FSM) allow for ultra-low-power and accurate biopotential input recognition at a degree of responsiveness that is reportedly faster than the current industry standard. The ST1VAFE3BX is aimed at applications in healthcare and fitness wearables such as smartwatches, smart patches, sports bands, connected rings, and smart glasses. It […]

October 29, 2024October 28, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy - No Comments

Orbbec Gemini 335Lg 3D depth and RGB camera features MX6800 ASIC, GMSL2/FAKRA connector for multi-device sync on NVIDIA Jetson Platforms

The Orbbec Gemini 335Lg is a 3D Depth and RGB camera in the Gemini 330 series, built with a GMSL2/FAKRA connector to support the connectivity needs of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and robotic arms in demanding environments. As an enhancement of the Gemini 335L, the 335Lg features a GMSL2 serializer and FAKRA-Z connector ensuring reliable performance in industrial applications requiring high mobility and precision. The Gemini 335Lg integrates with the Orbbec SDK, enabling flexible platform support across deserialization chips, carrier boards, and computing boxes, including NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Orin and AGX Xavier. The device can operate in both USB and GMSL (MIPI) modes, which can be toggled via a switch next to the 8-pin sync port, with GMSL as the default. The GMSL2/FAKRA connection provides high-quality streaming with synchronized multi-device capability, enhancing adaptability for complex setups. Previously, we covered several 3D cameras from Orbbec, including the Orbbec Femto Mega 3D […]