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November 23, 2024November 23, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

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 20, 2024November 20, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

SolidRun unveils HummingBoard i.MX8M IIOT SBC and the IIOT-200-8M Gateway for Edge AI and industrial IoT applications

SolidRun has recently introduced HummingBoard i.MX8M IIOT SBC and IIOT-200-8M Gateway built around the NXP i.MX 8M Plus Edge AI processor. Designed for IIoT and HMI applications the SBC hosts the NXP i.MX 8M Plus SOM which gives access to various connectivity options, including dual Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, CAN-FD, RS232/RS485, and audio. Additionally, it has support for industrial protocols such as Modbus and MQTT, making it suitable for factory automation and smart energy projects. Based on the HummingBoard i.MX8M IIOT SBC, the IIOT-200-8M Gateway features a DIN-rail mountable design, which sacrifices some I/O interfaces to meet the demands of harsh deployment environments. Both products support Industrial temperature ranges, fanless construction, and compact dimensions, making them reliable choices for demanding applications like industrial automation, predictive maintenance, and remote monitoring. HummingBoard i.MX8M IIOT SBC Specifications SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Plus AI SoC CPU Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor @ up to 1.6 GHz […]

November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy - 1 Comment

EDATEC ED-GWL1010: Amlogic S905X4-based PoE-enabled LoRaWAN gateway targets Smart Buildings and IoT applications

The AMLogic S905X4 SoC is typically found in TV boxes, but EDATEC has integrated the quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC into its ED-GWL1010 LoRaWAN IoT gateway designed for smart buildings and industrial IoT networks requiring long-range, low-power connectivity. The ED-GWL1010 is built around the ED-REIMEI1 single-board computer, combining a mainboard and an expansion board. It integrates Semtech’s latest SX1302/SX103 baseband chip and a Microchip ATECC608 security chip for enhanced protection. The gateway offers up to 8GB LPDDR4 and 32GB of eMMC storage. For connectivity, it supports dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 10/100Mbps Ethernet with PoE, and a mini PCIe slot for a LoRa module compatible with both American and European LoRa frequencies (US915, AU915, AS923, EU868). It also features USB 3.0, an RGB LED indicator, a user button, and flexible power options through a 7-18V DC input or PoE. The ED-GWL1010 operates reliably in temperatures ranging from -25°C to 50°C and is housed […]

November 13, 2024November 13, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Graperain G3562 – A Rockchip RK3562 system-on-module and development board

Graperain G3562 is a Rockchip RK3562 quad-core Cortex-A53 system-on-module (SoM) with up to 8GB LPDDR4, up to 128GB eMMC flash suitable for Edge AI, IoT, automation, and consumer electronic applications. The company also provides the G3562 development board for the SoM with an M.2 socket for NVMe SSD, dual Ethernet, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, and optional 4G LTE/3G cellular connectivity, plus a MIPI DSI/LVDS display connector, two MIPI CSI camera connectors, three USB 2.0 ports, audio interfaces, and expansion through a 30-pin GPIO header and UART connector. Graperain G3562 SoM GrapeRain G3562 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3562 CPU – Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 quad-core @ 2.0 GHz GPU – Mali-G52-2EE with support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.0/1.1 AI accelerator – 1 TOPS (INT8) NPU VPU Encoder – H.264 1920×1080 @ 60fps Decoder – H.265/VP9 4096×2304 @ 30fps; H.264 1920×1080 @ 60fps RAM – 2GB LPDDR4 by default […]

October 24, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Renesas RX260 and RX261 64 MHz RXv3 MCUs target power-efficient touch applications

Renesas RX260 RX261 RXv3 microcontrollers

The Renesas RX260 and RX261 two new 64 MHz microcontrollers part of the high-performance, high-efficiency RX product family with integrated capacitive touch-sensing and high power efficiency in both active and standby modes. The microcontrollers are based on the RXv3 core with a performance score of 355 CoreMark @ 64MHz, which is “2.5 times higher than competing 64 MHz class MCUs.” The chips are also power-efficient, with a consumption rate of 69μA/MHz during active operation and 1μA only in standby mode. According to Renesas, the chips are up to 25% more efficient in active mode and 87% more efficient in standby mode than other 64 MHz class MCUs. Another competing factor is the onboard 8KB of data flash, eliminating the need for external EEPROM. The RX260 and RX261 Group MCUs support noise- and water-resistant capacitive touch via Renesas’ third-generation capacitive touch IP (CTSU2SL). They also integrate an “automatic judgment function” that […]

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Renesas CCE4511 IO-Link master IC and ZSSC3286 IO-Link sensor signal conditioner IC are designed for industrial sensors and actuators

Renesas CCE4511 and ZSSC3286 IO Link ICs

Renesas has recently introduced the CCE4511 four-channel IO-Link master IC and the ZSSC3286 IO-Link-ready dual-channel sensor signal conditioner IC along with their development boards designed for harsh industrial environments. The CCE4511 master IC supports four channels with 500mA driving current, overvoltage detection, and overcurrent protection, Additionally, it has an integrated IO-Link Frame Handler that reduces microcontroller load. The ZSSC3286on is the first sensor signal conditioner with an integrated IO-Link compliant stack, meaning you don’t need a separate microcontroller for signal handling. Additionally, it features 24-bit ADCs and advanced diagnostic functions for advanced tasks. Both products are optimized for industrial automation, offering energy efficiency, smaller PCB sizes, and robust system diagnostics. CCE4511 IO-Link master and ZSSC3286 sensor signal conditioner IC Specifications CCE4511 IO-Link master Main Chip – CCE4511 4-Channel IO-Link Master PHY with integrated Frame Handler Number of Channels – 4 IO-Link master channels Frame Handler – Hardware frame handler for […]

October 19, 2024October 20, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy - No Comments

DALI2 expansion module for ESP32-C6-Pico and ESP32-S3-Pico boards facilitates Smart Lighting integration

Waveshare has recently launched the Pico-DALI2 expansion module for ESP32-Pico series boards designed to enable DALI communication for customized control of multiple lighting groups. It is compatible with development boards such as the ESP32-C6-Pico and ESP32-S3-Pico and includes a DALI communication screw terminal for connecting external DALI devices. DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a standardized protocol used for lighting control in building automation systems. The latest version of the DALI2 protocol is better than the old one in that it offers enhanced interoperability, additional features like multi-master configurations, and better energy management capabilities. DALI2 devices can communicate bidirectionally, meaning controllers can send commands and also receive status feedback from lighting devices, allowing for more complex automation and diagnostics. We can get more information about DALI from Wikipedia. We have previously seen the uses of DALI in Texas Instruments MSPM0 Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers as an interface and in Acme CM3-Home […]

October 12, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Arduino Nicla Sense Env module features temperature, humidity, and gas sensors from Renesas

Arduino Nicla Sense Env is a new sensor module with temperature, humidity, and gas (TVOC, NO2, O3) sensing that follows the launch of the Arduino Nicla Sense ME (Motion & Environment) module over three years ago (2021). The implementation of the new module is quite different since the ME module relies on Nordic Semi nRF52832 Cortex-M4 microcontroller and Bosch SensorTech motion and environmental sensor, but the new Nicla Sense Env module is made of parts from Renesas namely the RA2E1 Cortex-M23 microcontroller, the HS4001 humidity and temperature sensor, the ZMOD4410 gas sensor for TVOC and indoor air quality, and the ZMOD4510 gas sensor for NO2, O3, and outdoor air quality. Arduino Nicla Sense Env (ABX00089) specifications: MCU – Renesas RA2E1 Arm Cortex-M23 entry-line microcontroller (not accessible or programmable by the user) CPU core – Arm Cortex-M23 core up to 48 MHz Memory – 16KB SRAM Storage – 128KB flash Sensors […]