Renesas Synergy delivers dev kit to speed LTE IoT connectivity
Hardware and software make up the Renesas Synergy AE-Cloud2 kit, which allows embedded developers to quickly evaluate cellular connectivity options and build low power wide area (LPWA) cellular internet of things (IoT) applications.
According to Renesas, the AE-Cloud2 kit, used with the new Synergy Software Package (SSP) version 1.5.0 simplifies connecting IoT sensor devices to enterprise cloud services using 4G/LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1, also called NB-IoT, with backwards compatability to 2G/EGPRS cellular networks. The kit’s functionality is claimed to accelerate prototyping cellular-enabled IoT devices for asset tracking, retail and agriculture monitoring, smart cities/utilities, mobile healthcare, and industrial automation.
Each AE-Cloud2 hardware kit includes a Synergy S5D9 microcontroller baseboard, tri-mode cellular modem with cellular and GPS antennae, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and a variety of sensors such as lighting, microphone, temperature, humidity, pressure, air quality, geomagnetic, accelerometer, and gyroscope.
For cellular access, developers insert a SIM card with a data plan purchased from a local cellular carrier. The hardware kit’s software allows developers to provision the kit to connect to a 4G/LTE IoT cellular network and their preferred cloud service provider. Users can visualise their sensor data on a customisable, password-protected dashboard.
The AE-Cloud2 hardware kit has passed global RF emissions tests for EMC performance. The kit also complies with global regulatory certifications for FCC, CE, RoHs, WEEE and Japan MIC. The optimised hardware/software saves developers months of design time and resources, says Renesas, as it allows them to create a scalable, energy efficient and secure end-to-end LPWA cellular IoT application that can be used anywhere in the world.
Renesas is demonstrating the AE-Cloud2 kit at Arm TechCon (17 and 18 October, 2018, San Jose Convention Center, booth 727).
The AE-Cloud2 kit is available now from Renesas Electronics’ distributors around the world. The SSP version 1.5.0 can be downloaded, free of charge, from the company website.
