Development kits simplify cellular-to-cloud connections
STMicroelectronics has configured two STM32 Discovery Packs for fast connections of IoT devices to cloud services over 2G/3G or LTE Cat M1/NB1 networks.
Each pack contains an STM32L496 Discovery board and STMod+ Cellular expansion board featuring a Quectel cellular modem. The software includes the Espruino embedded JavaScript engine ported to the STM32L496 low power microcontroller and an expansion package, the X-Cube-CLD-Gen, and is compatible with the STM32Cube ecosystem.
The hardware is ready to use, out-of-the-box, says STMicro, and developers can quickly start running and customising sample scripts on the JavaScript engine with no additional investment. The X-Cube-CLD-Gen expansion package, is supported by STM32Cube software tools, libraries, middleware, and code examples, to help accelerate development of C code, adds STMicro.
The kits have access to cloud services from partners, who offer users the opportunity to try any of the associated partner services for creating, testing, deploying and managing their devices and data, free of charge. STMicro has established links with providers to address IoT-device needs, including EMnify cellular IoT connectivity and programmable SIM management solution, Grovestreams cloud data-analytics platform, Exosite cloud IoT connectivity, AVSystem Anjay LwM2M software development kit and AVSystem Coiote cloud device management, Aimagin Matlab Blockset with Thingspeak Cloud support, and the Ubidots IoT-application builder. The ST incard embedded SIM solution, based on the ST33 secure microcontroller and built on STMod+ expansion board, contains an EMnify profile that provides data and SMS connectivity in 133 countries.
Amarisoft LTE software suite was instrumental for testing the LTE Pack while LTE Cat M1/NB1 networks are being deployed by telecomms operators.
There are two pack configurations. The P-L496G-CELL01 kit has a Quectel UG96 modem for connecting to current worldwide 2G/3G networks. The P-L496G-CELL02 supports the emerging LTE Cat M1/NB1 (NB-IoT) standards, with 2G fallback by using the BG96 modem. More packs will be introduced, promises STMicro.
