News

IoT Sensor Prototyping and Development Platform

January 08, 2019 by Scott McMahan

Rohm and Kionix have introduced the RoKiX IoT Prototyping and Development Platform, a platform for evaluating sensor hardware and for prototyping and deploying algorithms and IoT solutions, as well as connecting to various cloud services for data analysis, machine learning, or remote monitoring. The RoKiX IoT development platform processes data from the RoKiX Sensor Node. This RoKiX Sensor Node can use a variety of different power sources including a rechargeable Li-Polymer battery, replaceable coin cell batteries, or micro USB.

The development platform will aid developers across a spectrum of consumer applications including wearables, health and wellness, games and toys, and smart home devices. Additional potential prototypes include Industrial IoT applications such as smart city sensor networks, building and asset management, logistics, and factory automation.

The RoKiX Sensor Node can be employed to collect data for proof-of-concept studies and even provide the architectural foundations for full-fledged production solutions. The node comes in a compact (42x67x22mm) housing and has a programmable RGY LED, expansion capability with extended I/O connectors, and features 8Mb of flash memory. Included is a multi-purpose mounting accessory to attach it to surfaces with screws or connect a watch band for wearing it on one's wrist.

The architecture allows connectivity to a host of other hardware platforms including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Cypress, 96 Boards, Sony Spresense, and more.

The RoKiX Sensor Node utilizes the latest Bluetooth 5 SoC (nRF52840) from Nordic Semiconductor, which boasts better throughput and wider range compared to the Bluetooth 4.2. The node is based on an ARM Cortex-M4F processor with Floating Point Unit (FPU) running at 64 MHz, enabling quick and efficient computation for applications.  The SoC also includes 1MB/256kB of flash/RAM memory.

Options for the sensor node included a Windows® GUI, a Python-based Command Line Interface (CLI), or an Android Data Logger App. The sensor node can also be used with the nRF52 SDK from Nordic Semiconductor, ARM® Mbed, and can employ the DFU tool from Nordic Semiconductor for wireless firmware loading.

Sensors included in the standard sensor node

●    3-axis accelerometer

●    Combination 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis magnetometer

●    Combination 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope

●    3-axis magnetometer

●    Barometer

●    Expansion bus allowing the use of additional sensors

Features

●    Bluetooth® 5 (IEEE 802.15.4-2006) with an integrated crystal antenna and a connector for an external antenna

●    Low power consumption and long battery life

●    Expansion bus for extended connectivity and functions

The RoKiX IoT Platform will be showcased at CES 2019. The RoKiX Sensor Node is sampling now and will be widely available in 2019 Q2.