Microchip introduces 5G connection in new 8-bit MCU board 

Microchip Technology Inc, a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, has designed a new AVR-IoT cellular development board to help designers who need the ultimate in location flexibility, low-power consumption, and deployment simplicity. The board, which is based on the AVR128DB48 8-bit microcontroller (MCU), offers a robust platform to start building sensor and actuator nodes on 5G narrowband IoT networks.

“Microchip continues to expand its family of AVR® 8-bit MCUs for developers to implement a variety of embedded designs with ease and flexibility,” said Greg Robinson, VP marketing for the company’s 8-bit MCU business unit. “The ability to connect remote and mobile devices to a 5G narrowband network with an 8-bit MCU opens up new opportunities for battery-operated devices because of key factors such as low power combined with high-quality analog peripherals.”

The mini development board has a small form factor that makes it ideal for users who want to connect IoT to any available 5G network. This feature is particularly important for devices in areas with limited availability of Long Range or Low Power Wide Area Network Solutions.

It also offers functionality that covers the core requirements of many applications such as building automation and remote monitoring, alarm systems, transport systems, and other applications in the agricultural, industrial, and energy sectors. It comes with the ability to send data from on-board light and temperature sensors to the cloud, and be viewed via the company’s sandbox portal.

The company partnered with Sequans to include its Monarch 2 GM02S single-chip radio equipped with 5G LTE-M and narrowband IoT. It also collaborated with Truphone to provide the SIM card that would be used for cellular service, one with reliable coverage across the globe. All these attempts to provide an efficient and more cost-effective solution connecting IoT devices to 5G using the AVR128DB48 MCU.

“The Monarch 2 GM02S is a 5G-ready LTE-M and narrowband-IoT solution on a single-chip, which we designed specifically for narrowband IoT applications, including sensors, wearables and other low-data, low-power devices,” said Didier Dutronc, Executive VP of Partnership Strategy at Sequans.

The AVR-IoT Cellular mini development board fits the Adafruit feather form factor and is Arduino compatible. The AVR-IoT cellular mini development board is available and currently sells at $60. Other useful details can be found on Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services Website, or just contact their sales rep. Microchip‘s sandbox page also has a tutorial on how to get started and establish a connection with the cellular mini development board.

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