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SparkFun Pro Micro-RP2350: Dual-Core Cortex-M33 and RISC-V Microcontroller Development Board

Posted on 31 August, 202431 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The RP2350 is a dual-core microcontroller featuring two ARM Cortex M33 and two Hazard3 RISC-V processors, with a selectable boot option for any two cores. It operates at 150 MHz, has 520 kB SRAM in 10 banks, and includes peripherals like two UARTs, two SPI controllers, two I2C controllers, and a USB 1.1 controller for host/device support.

The SparkFun RP2350 Pro Micro is a compact development board built around the RP2350 microcontroller from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It features a USB-C connector, Qwiic connector, WS2812B RGB LED, Boot and Reset buttons, a resettable PTC fuse, and PTH and castellated solder pads. It uses the updated Pro Micro form factor.

Previously we have written about Raspberry Pi Pico 2, which is also built around theRP2350 Microcontroller. This board will feature dual Cortex-M33 or Hazard3 processors, increased SRAM and flash memory, and advanced security features like anti-fuse OTP for key storage, Secure boot, and Fast glitch detectors. Feel free to check those out if you are interested in this type of product.

SparkFun Pro Micro – RP2350 specifications:

Microcontroller: Raspberry Pi RP2350A MCU
- Processor: Dual Arm Cortex-M33 and dual Hazard3 RISC-V processors @ 150MHz (User-selectable for dual-cores)
- Memory: 520kB integrated SRAM in 10 banks
- 3.3V-tolerant GPIO
- Security Features:
  - Optional boot signing, enforced by on-chip mask ROM
  - Key fingerprint stored in OTP
  - Protected OTP storage for optional boot decryption key
  - Global bus filtering based on Arm or RISC-V security/privilege levels
  - Peripherals, GPIOs, and DMA channels individually assignable to security domains
  - Hardware mitigations for fault injection attacks
  - Hardware SHA-256 accelerator
Memory: 8MB external PSRAM
Storage: 16MB W25Q128 Flash via QSPI
Peripherals and GPIO:
- 2x 12-pin headers with 2x UART, 1x SPI, 10x GPIO (4x used for UART1 and UART0), 4x ADC, I2C, 3.3V and GND
- Qwiic Connector with I2C connected to GPIO 16 (SCL) and GPIO 17 (SDA) with 3.3V pull-up resistors
LEDs:
- WS2812 Addressable RGB LED
- Red Power LED
- Solder pad for daisy-chaining
Buttons: Two push buttons switch for Reset and Boot
USB: Type-C connector for primary power and programming
Solder Jumpers:
- PWR: Controls Power LED circuit
- SHLD: Connects USB-C shield to board ground
Power Supply:
- 5V input via Type-C USB
- RAW PTH pin (max 5.3V input)
Dimension: 33.02 x 17.78mm

The Pro Micro – RP2350 uses a UF2 bootloader for easy code flashing, showing up as a USB storage device on Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux without needing drivers. This bootloader supports both Pico C/C++ and MicroPython SDKs. The RP2350 is also compatible with ArduCAM, with a demo code available that shows how to set up and use PSRAM on the Pro Micro – RP2350 with the Pico SDK for image processing and USB image transmission.

Like most SparkFun products, the Pro Micro RP2350 is open-source, with schematics, Gerber files, firmware, and other documentation published on the product page the Hookup Guide page, and GitHub.

The SparkFun Pro Micro – RP2350 development board is available at SparkFun’s official store for $14.95.

RP2040-Touch-LCD-1.69: Featuring RP2040, QMI8658 6-Axis Sensor, and ETA6096 Li-Ion Recharge Circuit

Posted on 31 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

Waveshare’s RP2040-Touch-LCD-1.69 is a compact MCU board built around Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 microcontroller. It features a dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor running up to 133 MHz, with 264KB of SRAM and 16MB of Flash memory. The board includes a 1.69-inch capacitive touch display, a QMI8658 6-axis sensor (combining a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope), an RTC PCF85063A for precise timing, and a buzzer for audio output. Additionally, it supports a Li-ion battery recharge circuit using the ETA6096, making it well-suited for integration into embedded systems.

RP2040-Touch-LCD is equipped with a Type-C connector for modern connectivity. The Touch-LCD also supports low-power sleep modes and drag-and-drop programming via USB. Its combination of a responsive touch display, onboard sensors, accurate RTC, and battery support makes it an excellent choice for mobile devices and projects requiring reliable timing, sound feedback, and easy USB programming. This board offers a streamlined solution for various embedded applications.

Raspberry Pi RP2040 Touch-LCD-1.69 specification:

MCU: Raspberry Pi RP2040
- Core: dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU @ 133 MHz
- Flash memory: 4MB
- SRAM: 264KB
IMU Sensor: QMI8658 6-axis sensor
- Accelerometer Resolution: 16 bits
- Accelerometer Ranges: ±2, ±4, ±8 ±16g
- Gyro Resolution: 16 bits
- Gyro Range: ±16, ±32, ±64, ±128, ±256, ±512, ±1024, ±2048°/sec
Display:
- 1.69-inch semi-round IPS Touch LCD.
- Resolution: 240(H)RGB x 280(V) Pixel
- Pixel Pitch: 0.11655mm × 0.11655mm
- 262K color
- Display controller: ST7789V2 display driver and CST816T capacitive touch chip, using SPI and I2C.
- Display Size: 27.972mm × 32.634mm
GPIO: 4 x multi-function GPIO with I2C and UART.
Other Features:
- PCF85063 RTC chip with reserved SH1.0 RTC battery header (supports charging)
- Buzzer
- Solderable GPIO, I2C, and UART pads onboard.
- Supports low power consumption modes.
- BOOT and RESET buttons.
- PWR Button with single-press, double-press, multi-press, and long-press operations.
Power:
- Onboard MX1.25 battery header with ETA6096 lithium battery recharge/discharge management chip.
- USB Type-C connector for charging and data.

The Waveshare RP2040 Touch LCD-1.69 development board is compatible with CircuitPython and MicroPython, as well as C/C++ programming using Arduino. Users can easily download the MicroPython firmware and find additional resources on the Waveshare Wiki page to get started.

Previously, we wrote about the Waveshare RP2040-LCD-1.28, which features a 1.28-inch round LCD display. We also covered another Waveshare touchscreen development board, the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4.3B, which includes RS485, CAN Bus, I2C, and isolated DIO interfaces via terminal block. Feel free to check them out if you’re interested.

The RP2040 Touch LCD touch display development board is available on Amazon for $29.99 with shipping included, at least to the US. Alternatively, the development board can be purchased on Aliexpress for $23.99 excluding shipping, or directly on the Waveshare store for $21.99 plus shipping.

MOTION 2350 Pro: The Ultimate Beginner-Friendly Robotics Controller with Advanced Capabilities

Posted on 31 August, 2024 by Debashis Das

Cytron has recently launched the Motion 2350 Pro an advanced robotic controller powered by the Raspberry Pi for building advanced robots with less effort. It has the latest upgraded RP2350 processor, which is the successor of RP2340.

The controller also has an advanced DC motor driver, which can control up to 4 brushed DC motors (3A Max each channel) with 3.6V to 16V voltage ratings. You can build powerful robots using a robust 4 channel driver. You can connect different types of components and sensors with 8-channel 5V servo ports, 8-channel GPIO breakouts, and 3 Maker Ports. Additionally, it comes with a USB host, which can be used as a USB joystick or USB gamepad.

One of its special features is the ‘Maker’ feature, which is a signature feature of Cryton products. The printed GPIO references and colored headers help beginners use this controller correctly. You can test the motor driver with its built-in quick test buttons and motor output LEDs without any code. Additionally, it has LED indicators for each Digitial IO pin so that you can easily handle it with simple commands using the test buttons and piezo buzzer.

Additional features that the company shares on its product page are described below:

Apart from these features, the Motion 2350 Pro combines the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, which is an advanced robot controller.
Having a simple and user-friendly interface for beginners to understand robotics or programming.
A quick set-up instruction guide is available.
Compatible with various types of motors like DC, servo, and stepper.
Pre-loaded software, firmware, libraries, and resources for different types of users.
Equipped with sensors for obstacle detection, line following, etc.
Supports multiple programming languages such as Python, C, C++, and Arduino IDE (coming soon).
Additional modules and sensors allow beginners to expand their projects and gain experience.

Motion 2350 Pro Specifications

Processor
- Raspberry Pi RP2350, Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33
RAM
- 520 KB
Clock speed
- 150 MHz with 2 MB Flash
Robot Controller Board
- 4 x DC Motor Driver (with quick test buttons)
- 8 x Servo Motor
- 8 x 3V GPIO Breakout
Input power
- VIN Terminal: 3.6V – 16V
- USB Type-C: 5V
Maximum DC Motor Current, each channel
- Continuous: 3A
- Peak: 5A
24 x Status indicator LEDs
- 8 x for Servo Port
- 8 x for 3V GPIO Breakout
- 8 x for DC Motor Driver
12 x Push Button
- 8 x Quick Test Button for DC Motor
- 2 x User Button
- 1 x BOOT Button
- 1 x RST Button, for reset
3 x Maker Port
2 x RGB LED (Neopixel Compatible)
1 x USB Host
1 x Piezo Buzzer (with mute switch)
1 x On/Off Switch (with MOSFET Shock-Proof Circuit)
Programming Language
- Python
- C
- C++
- Arduino (coming soon)

Board Dimension: 95.2 x 57.2 x 8 (height) mm
Weight: 120g
Operating Temperature: -20°C to 85°C

What’s inside the box?

1 x MOTION 2350 Pro
1 x STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable with Female Sockets (150mm)
2 x Grove to JST-SH Cable (200mm)
1 x Set of Silicone Bumper
4 x Building Block Friction Pin
1 x Mini Screwdrive

The Motion 2350 Pro – Advance robotic controller is perfect for beginners. It is very simple and easy to use for various types of projects. You can easily start building and programming your own robot using the Motion 2350 Pro. If you are a beginner, then you can learn more with this robotic controller.

The Motion 2350 Pro is available on platforms like The PiHut and the official Cytron store, with a price of $19.92.

ASUS N97T-IM-A Thin Mini-ITX Motherboard with Intel Alder Lake-N N97, DDR5, Dual LAN, and Multiple Display Support

Posted on 31 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The ASUS N97T-IM-A is a Thin Mini-ITX motherboard built for industrial and embedded applications, powered by the Intel Alder Lake-N N97 processor with 4 cores (2.0-3.6 GHz). It supports up to 16GB of DDR5 memory at 4800 MHz and features dual LAN ports with Realtek RTL8111H controllers for reliable networking. The board offers extensive I/O options, including two SATA 6Gb/s ports, a PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 slot, and dual M.2 slots for NVMe and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. For display, it supports HDMI 2.0, DP++, and LVDS, with optional eDP, allowing resolutions up to 4K at 60 Hz. Designed for tough environments, the N97T-IM-A comes with a seven-year product lifecycle for long-term durability.

Previously we covered many powerful SBCs like the Jetway F35-ADN1, AAEON GENE-EHL7, iBASE IB961, Banana Pi BPI-M7, Hummingbird 8P Edge Ai and many other SBCs feel free to check those out if you are interested in the topic.

Asus N97T-IM-A thin mini-ITX motherboard specification:

CPU: Onboard Intel N97 Processor (Alder Lake N)
CPU TDP: 12W
Chipset: Integrated with Intel SoC
Memory: Up to 16GB DDR5 @ 4800MHz with In-Band ECC (IBECC)
Storage:
- M.2 Key-M slot for SATA 3.0
- 2x SATA Gen 3.0, Up to 6Gb/s (If an M.2 SSD in SATA mode is installed in the M.2 M key slot, SATA port 2 will be disabled)
Display:
- HDMI 2.0, up to 4096×2160 @ 60 Hz
- DP++ 1.2, up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz
- LVDS up to 1920×1200 @ 60Hz
- DP++ 1.4, up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz (colay with HDMI, optional upon request)
- eDP up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz (colay with LVDS)
- Tripple displays support (HDMI + DP+ LVDS, or HDMI + DP + eDP, DP + DP + LVDS, DP + DP + eDP)
Audio:
- Codec: Realtek ALC897
- Audio Interface: Default Line-out, switch to line-in by retasking
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Front panel audio header
- Speaker header
- 2x internal stereo speaker headers (2-pin, supporting 3 watts per channel)
Networking: 2x gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports via Realtek RTL8111H controllers; WOL/PXE support
USB:
- 2x USB3.2 Gen1
- 2x USB 2.0
- 3x internal USB 2.0 headers
Serial Port:
- 4x RS232
- 1x RS232 with Ring/5V/12V select via jumper
- 1x RS232/422/485 with Ring/5V/12V select via jumper
Expansion:
- 1x PCIe 3.0/2.0 slot
- 1x M.2 E-key socket, type 2230 for WiFi/Bluetooth devices, supporting PCIe x1 & USB 2.0 & CNVI
- 1x M.2 M-key socket, type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIe x2/ SATA mode) supports NVMe
- 8-Bit GPIO
- I2C header
Security: SPI TPM header
Others:
- Watchdog Timer
- 1x Chassis Fan header (PWM Mode)
- System Panel Header for HDD LED, PWR LED, Power Button, Reset
- 1x PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse header
- RTC with lithium CMOS battery
- 1x Chassis Intrusion
- Large heatsink for fanless cooling
Power: 9V-36V DC-in via DC Jack or 4-pin ATX power connector
Dimension: 170 x 170mm
Environment & Certification:
- Operating Temperature: 0°C ~ 60°C (32°F ~ 140°F)
- Storage Temperature: -40°C ~ 85°C (-40°F ~ 185°F)
- Operating Humidity: 10% ~ 90% RH, non-condensing
- Certification:
  - EMC: CE, FCC, VCCI, BSMI, RCM
  - Safety: CE-LVD

Asus N97T-IM-A Mini ITX Motherboard Block Diagram

The thin mini-ITX N97T-IM-A motherboard supports Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, and Linux distributions like Ubuntu, RedHat Enterprise, and OpenSUSE. It includes the ASUS IoT Suite with features like HW Monitor, Power Scheduling, Fan Control, Watch Dog Timer, and GPIO control. The suite provides both API and GUI options for managing system functions. The company provides all the details about drivers, tools, BIOS, and firmware on the product page.

The company provides two IO shields, one SATA 6G cable, two SATA power cables, and two numbers of M.2 screw packs along with the motherboard. These items are for setting up storage connections, securing the M.2 modules, and installing the motherboard properly.

The ASUS N97T-IM-A thin mini-ITX motherboard is available for $234 including shipping in the official ASUS store. ASUS offers a seven-year product lifecycle for long-term support and availability, along with a three-year manufacturer warranty.

HACS, Music Assistant, and microWakeWord Join Forces with Open Home Foundation

Posted on 31 August, 2024 by Debashis Das

The Open Home Foundation is working with more partners like HACS, Music Assistant, and microWakeWord to make smart homes better. They’re focused on keeping things private and letting users decide how their smart homes work. They want to ensure Home Assistant stays free and can’t be controlled by investors. The latest update adds new features, and they’re even working on making energy more efficient.

The HACS, microWakeWord, and Music Assistant projects will not operate directly under the Open Home Foundation’s umbrella. Still, they are external projects that the foundation collaborates on since it believes they are worth investing in to develop the Smart Home ecosystem further.

HACS is a widely used tool that is built for Home Assistant users to modify their setups with custom integrations, cards, and themes. Music Assistant provides centralized control over media players and audio files, enabling playback of both local and streaming music throughout your home. microWakeWord, an on-device wake word engine designed for microcontrollers like the ESP32, enables onboard wake word capabilities for local and open-source voice assistants. Compatible with TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers, microWakeWord is also integrated into ESPHome. One hardware option well-suited for this project is the compact M5Stack Atom Echo speaker.

The Open Home Foundation shared their collaborations with these new projects in their newsletter, where they also emphasized the potential risks of relying solely on commercial smart home solutions. This concern was highlighted by LG’s recent acquisition of a majority stake in Athom, the creators of Homey. The newsletter also covered the latest release of Home Assistant 2024.07, which introduces new features like support for voice assistants, scripting capabilities for language models, and over-the-air updates for ESPHome devices.

Thanks to cnx-software

LILYGO T-ETH-Elite: An ESP32-S3 Board with Stackable LoRaWAN and Cellular Expansion Modules

Posted on 26 August, 202426 August, 2024 by Aditi Ambadkar

LILYGO has introduced the T-ETH-Elite, an ESP32-S3-powered IoT board featuring an Ethernet RJ45 port with Power over Ethernet (PoE) support and a 40-pin GPIO header for stackable shields. This board is designed for building IoT gateways with versatile connectivity options, including Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, GNSS, LoRaWAN, and cellular (2G, NB-IoT, 4G LTE) technologies.

At the core of the T-ETH-Elite is the Espressif ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 module, which is powered by the ESP32-S3R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller running at up to 240 MHz, with 512KB SRAM and up to 8MB PSRAM. The board offers 16MB of flash storage and comes equipped with a MicroSD card slot for additional storage. In terms of connectivity, it supports WiFi 4, Bluetooth LE 5, and has a PCB antenna. The 10/100Mbps Ethernet RJ45 port is facilitated by a W5500 SPI to Ethernet chip.

The board includes a USB Type-C port for power and programming and features a 40-pin GPIO header that is compatible with Raspberry Pi shields. This header supports up to 23 GPIOs, USB 2.0, UART, 5V, 3.3V, and GND connections. Additional features include reset and boot buttons, user and power LEDs, and a USB OTG switch. The board can be powered through the USB-C port (5V/500mA) or via PoE (802.3af), ranging from 36V to 57V.

One of the key features of the T-ETH-Elite board is its support for stackable expansion boards, which connect via the 40-pin GPIO header.

Available expansion options include:

LTE Shield: Features an L76K GPS module and a T-PCIe expansion for cellular mPCIe modules, supporting various models from the company like T-PCIE SIM7000X (2G NB-IoT), T-PCIE SIM7020X (NB-IoT), T-PCIE SIM7600X (4G LTE Cat 4), T-PCIE A7608X-H (4G LTE Cat 4), and T-PCIE A7670X (4G LTE Cat 1).
Gateway Shield: Includes an L76K GPS module and an mPCIe SX1302 LoRa gateway module. It is similar to the LTE Shield but lacks a SIM card slot, microphone, and speaker connectors, and has a simpler DIP switch configuration.
LoRa Shield: Comes with an L76K GPS module and offers options for soldering LoRa modules such as LR1121, SX1262, SX1276, or SX1280. Unlike the other shields, it cannot be stacked with the Gateway Shield and can only be used directly with the T-ETH-Elite board.

This is not LILYGO’s first foray into ESP32 Ethernet boards with PoE, as the company has previously released models like the T-Internet-POE and T-ETH-Lite ESP32-S3. The T-ETH-Elite and its associated shields share the same GitHub repository that includes a comprehensive set of PlatformIO/Arduino examples, covering client/server setups, WebSockets, I2C, SPI, and more. Recent updates have added code samples specific to the T-ETH-Elite board and its shields, including examples for LoRa Shield, Gateway Shield, and LTE Shield.

LILYGO T-ETH-Elite ESP32-S3 board can be purchased at the company’s eshop.

You’ll also find the Gateway Shield ($13.98), SX1302 concentrator module with antenna ($59.98), and LTE Shield ($16.98) on that page. You’ll find the T-PCIe cellular modules on a separate page with prices going from $10.98 to $39.98.

WP-UT5 Adapter with Realtek RTL8157: High-Efficiency 5Gbps USB 3.2 Networking Solution

Posted on 26 August, 202426 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The WP-UT5 adapter, featuring the Realtek RTL8157 chip, supports network speeds from 10 Mbps up to 5 Gbps while consuming less than 1.5W. It’s compatible with USB 3.2 Gen1/2 and works with Windows, Linux, and macOS. The adapter adheres to IEEE 802.3bz (5G Base-T), supports VLAN tagging, an energy-efficient Ethernet, and includes A-C and C-C cables for versatile connectivity. Perfect for upgrading NAS, laptops, or desktops, it offers a range of advanced networking features like CRC, jumbo frames, and power management.

This adapter supports USB 3.2 Gen1/2 and USB 2.0, enabling 5G Lite (2.5G), 2.5G Lite (1G), and GIGA Lite (500M) modes. It features Auto-Negotiation with Extended Next Page (XNP) capability and is compatible with NBASE-T Alliance PHY specifications. The adapter includes pair swap/polarity/skew correction, crossover detection, and auto-correction. It also supports CDC-ECM, CDC-NCM, hardware CRC, and ECMA-393 ProxZzzy Standard for power-efficient operation in sleeping hosts.

WisdPi WP-UT5 specifications:

Chip: Realtek RTL8157
Networking Capabilities
- Hyper Fast 5Gbps Networking for stable connections
- Supports 5G Lite (2.5G data rate) mode, 2.5G Lite (1G data rate), and GIGA Lite (500M data rate)
- Auto-negotiation with Extended Next Page (XNP) capability
- Compatible with NBASE-T TM Alliance PHY Specification
- Pair swap, polarity, and skew correction support
- Crossover detection and auto-correction
- IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3az, and 802.3bz compliant
- IEEE 802.1P Layer 2 Priority Encoding and IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging support
- Full duplex flow control (IEEE 802.3x)
USB:
- USB 3.2 Gen1/Gen2 and USB 2.0 support
- Compatible with CDC-ECM and CDC-NCM
Software Offload and Power Management:
- Microsoft NDIS5, NDIS6 Checksum Offload, and Segmentation Task Offload support
- Large send v1 and Large send v2 offload support
- Supports jumbo frame to 16k bytes
- Supports Protocol Offload (ARP & NS)
- Microsoft AOAC (Always On Always Connected)/Modern Standby
- Supports 32-set 128-byte Wake-Up Frame pattern exact matching
- Supports link change wake-up
- Supports Microsoft WPD (Wake Packet Detection)
- Intel CPPM (Converged Platform Power Management)
- Supports L1 with 3ms BESL (USB 2.0)
- Dynamic LTM messaging (USB 3.2Gen1/2)
- Supports U1/U2/U3 (USB 3.2 Gen1/2)
- Supports selective suspend
Power Consumption: Up to 1.5 Watts (for reference, 2.5GbE consumes about 700 mW)
Dimensions: 82 x 27.4 x 15.2mm
Design:
- Compact and lightweight, it is ideal for travel and business use
- Stylish aluminum case for corrosion protection
- High-quality nylon-braided cable prevents tearing and fraying
- Split cable design (A-C and C-C) for compatibility with all USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
Operating Temperature:
- Ambient Operating Temperature: up to 70°C
- Storage Temperature: -55°C to +125°C

Previously, we covered the RealTek RTL8126, a 5Gbps Ethernet controller IC for high-speed networking. It’s a low-power, cost-effective solution that adds 5Gbps Ethernet to desktops, laptops, and servers. If you’re interested, you can check out this product.

The WP-UT5 supports Windows, Linux, and MacOS 10.7 or greater operating systems. The USB 3.2 to 5Gbps Ethernet adapter comes with the adapter, a 15cm USB 3.2 Type-C to Type-C cable, a 16cm USB 3.2 Type-C to Type-A cable, and a user manual. If needed, the driver can be downloaded from the Realtek website.

The Realtek RTL8157 is available on its official Wisdpi store for $34.99 + shipping charges. You can also purchase it from AliExpress for $35.02 + shipping charges.

NBIOT/LTE-M1 Air Monitor: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 and SIM7080G with GNSS for Greenhouse Monitoring

Posted on 25 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The NBIOT/LTE-M1 Air Monitor uses an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 controller and a SIM7080G module for cellular data transmission. It monitors temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, TVOC, and light intensity. The device is powered by an internal 18650 LiPo battery, charged by a solar panel with MPPT CN3791 for efficient power management. Designed for greenhouse monitoring, it uses low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology for long battery life and reliable data transmission.

The Air Monitor uses the SIMCom SIM7080G module for cellular connectivity, offering LTE Cat M1/NB-IoT with integrated GNSS. It supports various Cat-M and NB-IoT bands. Data rates reach up to 589 Kbps uplink and 1,119 Kbps downlink for LTE Cat-M1, and 136 Kbps uplink and 150 Kbps downlink for LTE Cat-NB2. It also provides GNSS positioning with GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo, and includes a SIM card socket.

Previously we have written about similar environment monitor devices like OpenAirMonitor which is an outdoor air quality monitor that is powered by solar energy and sends data over LoRaWAN and Bluetooth LE. And modules like ENS160, and Indoor Air Quality Monitoring System are for environment monitor applications. Feel free to check those out if you are interested in this type of product.

The NBIOT/LTE-M1 Air Monitor specification:

Wireless Module: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8
- Dual-core Tensilica LX7 @ up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration, 512KB RAM, 8MB PSRAM
- Storage: 16 MB flash
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth
- PCB Antenna
Cellular connectivity: SIMCom SIM7080G LTE Cat M1/NB-IoT module with GNSS
- Data Rates:
  - LTE Cat-M1: Uplink 589Kbps, Downlink 1119Kbps
  - LTE Cat-NB2: Uplink 136Kbps, Downlink 150Kbps
- GNSS Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo
- SIM slot
Antennas:
- PCB antenna on ESP32-S3 module for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- External NBIOT/LTE-M, LTE and GPS antenna
Environmental Monitoring Sensors:
- ASAIR ATH10 Temperature and humidity sensor
  - Humidity Measurement Range: 0 – 100% RH
  - Temperature Measurement Range: -40°C – 85°C
- SENSIRION SGP30 TVOC and CO2eq Measurements Sensor
  - TVOC signal Range: 0 to 60000 ppb
  - CO2eq signal Range: 400~60000ppm
- ROHM BH1750 Ambient Light Sensor with 1 – 65535 lx intensity range
Miscellaneous:
- On/off switch
- Flash, WiFi, RST, PWK, and Boot buttons
Power Management:
- BMS: DW06 one-cell battery protection IC
  - Protection of charger reverse connection
  - Protection of battery cell reverse connection
- MPPT: CN3791 for solar maximum power tracking charging management
Power Supply:
- Input Voltage: 4.5 to 28V for solar panel input
- Internal 18650 LiPo battery socket
Temperature Range: -40°C to +85°C

The NBIOT/LTE-M Air Monitor uses the SIMCom SIM7080G module for cellular connectivity and an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 controller for data handling. To program the device, plug the USB2UART CH340K module into the “P1” header, which includes pins for RST, BOOT, TXD, RXD, GND, and VOUT. The monitor is powered by an internal 18650 battery and a solar panel, allowing for long-term operation. For email setup with the Sim module, integrating with ThingSpeak, and configuring the Arduino IDE, follow the provided instructions. Detailed hardware and software information is available on the wiki and GitHub pages.

Thinkspeak Air Monitor Data — ThingSpeak Data

The NBIOT/LTE-M Air Monitor is available on its official Makerfabs store for $68.80 plus shipping. The additional ESP32 Programmer board (USB2UART CH340K) is also available in the same store at $3.90.

ReSpeaker Lite Voice Assistant Kit: XMOS XU316 and XIAO ESP32S3 Integration for Voice Recognition and Home Automation

Posted on 25 August, 202425 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The Seeed Studio’s ReSpeaker Lite Voice Assistant Kit by Seeed Studio features the XMOS XU316 AI sound chip and XIAO ESP32S3 processor. It includes dual-microphone far-field voice capture, noise cancellation, and advanced voice processing. The kit works with Home Assistant via ESPHome and supports voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making it suitable for smart voice assistant and home automation projects.

The XMOS XU316 AI sound chip is a multicore microcontroller with an advanced RISC architecture. It has 16 logical cores across 2 xCORE tiles, delivering up to 2400 MIPS and 1200 MFLOPS. It includes one MB single-cycle SRAM, USB 2.0 compliance, programmable I/O, and security features like an AES bootloader and programming lock, making it ideal for high-performance, real-time processing.

The kit combines the ReSpeaker Lite dual-microphone array with the XIAO ESP32S3 module, providing voice recognition, noise reduction, and processing. It supports WiFi, BLE 5.0, and includes a 2.4GHz rod antenna. It also offers I2S and USB connectivity for use with microcontrollers and SBCs, making it ideal for smart voice assistants and home automation.

Seeed Studio’s ReSpeaker Lite specification:

Wireless Module: XIAO ESP32S3 processor
- MCU: Espressif Systems ESP32-S3R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ 240 MHz, 512KB RAM, 8MB PSRAM
- Storage: 8MB SPI flash
- Wireless: 2.4 GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth mesh
- Antenna: External 2.4GHz rod antenna
Audio:
- Controller: XMOS XU-316 AI sound and audio chip
  - Sampling Rate: 16KHz maximum
  - Automatic Speech Recognition Algorithms: Interference Cancellation, Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Noise Suppression, Voice-to-Noise Ratio (VNR), and Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
- Microphone: 2x Digital PDM MEMS microphones
  - Sensitivity: -26 dBFS
  - Acoustic Overload Point: 120 dBL
  - SNR: 64 dBA
  - Far-Field Voice Capture: Up to 3m with Advanced noise-cancellation
- Speaker: 5W Mono Enclosed Speaker with 4ohm±15% impedance
- Audio Output: Speaker Connector and 3.5mm Headphone Jack
USB: USB Type-C Port for power and data transmission.
Interfaces: I2S and USB
Miscellaneous:
- Programmable WS2812 RGB LED provides visual feedback
- Power LED and Mute LED
- Buttons for User and Mute
Power Supply: 5V via Type-C USB port or external 5V
Dimensions: 95 x 92 x 42mm

The ReSpeaker Lite Series is open-source hardware compatible with Arduino, PlatformIO, MicroPython, and CircuitPython, allowing for further development. It supports popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, and integrates with Home Assistant via ESPHome. The kit enables building custom natural language processors and includes resources for various applications such as I2S Test, Streams Generator, CSV Converter, MP3 Player, Keyword Spotting, and MQTT Audio Streaming. Detailed guides are available to get started and build voice assistants with custom wake words on the wiki page.

In our previous post, we covered the Home Assistant Yellow board, a home automation hub using the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. It integrates Silicon Labs Zigbee and Matter for smart devices, includes NVMe SSD expansion, a GPIO options, and supports Power-over-Ethernet for flexible installation. We’ve also written about another ReSpeaker Core v2.0 smart assistance board. Feel free to check if you are interested in this product.

The Seeed Studio’s ReSpeaker Lite Voice Assistant Kit with black acrylic enclosure is now available for $33.91 on the Seeed Studio store, and you’ll find the ReSpeaker Lite board only for $24.90 and the ReSpeaker 2-mic Voice Assistant Kit for $29.91 in the same store.

Vecow TGS-1000 Series: Compact, Fanless Embedded PCs with Intel Core Ultra, 96GB DDR5, 5 Displays, Modular Expansion

Posted on 25 August, 2024 by Sayantan Nandy

The Vecow TGS-1000 Series, including the TGS-1000 and TGS-1500 models, is a compact, fanless embedded computer with Intel Core Ultra Meteor Lake processors, featuring integrated CPU, GPU, and NPU. It supports up to 96GB DDR5 memory and offers expandable options for networking, serial connections, and wireless. Designed for edge AI, it provides up to 14% better CPU performance and improved graphics.

The TGS-1000 Series offers up to five independent displays through two HDMI and three DP ports. It features a variety of I/O connections, including up to 5x USB 3.0 ports (4x Type-A and 1x Type-C) and one 2.5GbE LAN supporting TSN, making it ideal for vision and automation applications. Its modular design allows flexible expansion for USB, isolated DIO, COM, LAN, or 4G/LTE, suitable for AI, smart retail, office communication, and gaming. The TG-1500 series adds support for MXM graphics cards.

Earlier, we covered the stackable Mixtile Blade 3 SBC, powered by the Rockchip RK3588, featuring a quad-core Cortex-A76 and a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor with a NEON co-processor. Feel free to check it out if you’re interested.

Vecow TGS-1000 Series specification:

Processor:
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) processor @ 1.4 / 5.0 GHz with 24MB cache, Intel AI Boost NPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 135H 14-core (4P+8E+2LPE) processor @ 1.7 / 4.6 GHz with 18MB cache, Intel AI Boost NPU
GPU:
- TGS-1000: Intel Arc GPU (built-in)
- TGS-1500: Adds MXM Graphics with NVIDIA Ada Lovelace/Ampere/Turing and Intel Xe HPG microarchitectures
SIO: IT8659E chipset
System Memory: 2 x DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM, up to 96GB
Storage:
- 1x M.2 Key M Socket (2280, PCIe 4.0 x4)
- 1x M.2 Key M Socket (2242, PCIe 4.0 x4)
Video Output:
- TGS-1000:
  - 2x HDMI 2.1 ports up to 4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
  - 1x DisplayPort (DP) 1.4 up to 3840 x 2160 @ 60Hz by USB Type-C
- TGS-1500 additional ports – 2x Display Port (DP) 1.4 up to 4096 x 2304 @60Hz by MXM
Audio: Realtek ALC888S-VD, 7.1 Channel HD Audio, 1 Mic-in, 1 Line-out
Networking: Intel I226 2.5GbE LAN with TSN support
USB:
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type C (5V/3A)
- 2x USB 2 Type A
Expansion:
- 1x M.2 Key E Socket (2230, PCIe x1/USB)
- 2x expansion connector for docking module
Stackable docking modules:
- TGS-101: 16-bit GPIO
- TGS-102: 16-bit Isolated DIO (8 DI, 8 DO)
- TGS-103: Type-A MXM GPU (without MXM GPU)
- TGS-104: 2 Isolated COM (RS-232/422/485)
- TGS-105: Dual USB 3.0
- TGS-106: Dual 1GbE LAN
- TGS-107: 4G LTE module with SIM socket
Accessories:
- WiFi & Bluetooth module with antenna
- Mini PCIe 4G/GPS module with antenna
- M.2 Key-M storage module
Miscellaneous:
- Power, HDD LEDs
- Watchdog Timer: Reset 1 to 255 sec./min. per step
- Smart Management: Intel vPro, TCC, TSN, PXE, Wake on LAN
- HW Monitor: Temperature and voltage monitoring with auto-throttling
Power Supply:
- TGS-1000: DC 12V to 24V with V+, V-, Frame Ground
- TGS-1500: DC 24V Only with V+, V-, Frame Ground
Dimensions:
- TGS-1000: 117 x 120 x 38mm
- TGS-1500: 117 x 120 x 88.3mm
Weight:
- TGS-1000: 900gms
- TGS-1500: 1.4Kg
Temperature Range:
- Operating Temperature:
  - TGS-1000 : 0°C to 55°C
  - TGS-1500 : 0°C to 45°C
- Storage: -40°C to 85°C
Humidity: 5% to 95% Humidity, non-condensing
Shock: IEC 61373: 2010
Vibration: Rolling Stock Equipment, Shock and Vibration Tests
EMC: CE, FCC, ICES, EN50155, EN50121-3-2

The TGS-1000 has an integrated Intel Arc GPU, while the TGS-1500 supports independent MXM graphics. The GPU architectures include NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace, Ampere, and Turing, with up to 9,728 CUDA cores, 384 Tensor Cores, or 76 RT Cores, providing up to 41.15 TFLOPS peak FP32 performance for high-performance computing, gaming, and professional tasks. Another Intel’s Xe HPG microarchitecture delivers up to 72 TOPS for AI processing. The system supports compact MXM accelerators, including NVIDIA RTX A2000, RTX A3500 Ada, RTX 5000 Ada, Quadro T1000, Quadro RTX 3000, and Quadro RTX 5000 modules, as well as Intel Arc A370M modules.

The system can be mounted on a wall using a bracket, with VESA or DIN Rail mounts also available. Vecow supports Windows 11/10 and Linux on the fanless TGS-1000 Series. Optional software includes VHub AI Developer, VHub ROS, and VHub EtherCAT, with OpenVINO toolkits supporting over 500 AI models optimized for AI computing.

Vecow stackable embedded computer is available in four variants: TGS-1000-165H/135H and TGS-1500-165H/135H. The company hasn’t provided availability or pricing details.

For more information about the TGS-1000 and TGS-1500 can be found on the product page.