Embedded software boosts IoT connectivity choices

26th February 2018

Alice Matthews

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Datasheet

With the introduction of a Sigfox package that simplifies development and gives extra flexibility to connect IoT devices to long-range, low-power wireless networks, STMicroelectronics has extended its STM32 software ecosystem. The new X-CUBE-SFOX package is ready to use with ST’s B-L072Z-LRWAN1 Discovery Kit, which is already LoRa enabled through I-CUBE-LRWAN embedded software.

Developers can now work with either of these established Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies on the same hardware, and create products that can use the two protocols individually or alternatively.

The Discovery Kit features the Murata CMWX1ZZABZ-091 module powered by an STM32L072 microcontroller, a sub-GHz radio transceiver SX1276 from Semtech, and is expandable via Arduino headers to add sensors or other IoT-device functions and capabilities.

X-CUBE-SFOX contains a complete set of Sigfox libraries and application examples for the STM32L0, and can be ported to other microcontrollers in the STM32 family.

With over 700 STM32 variants, from ultra-low-power to high-performance lines, developers can leverage what is supposedly unrivaled flexibility to optimise the performance and features of IoT devices that take advantage of Sigfox services including basic connectivity, radio recognition, and GPS-free location.

The software’s low memory footprint and efficient CPU utilisation minimise demand for system resources, helping to lower bill-of-materials (BOM) costs and power consumption.