The introduction of mbed IoT Device Platform

23rd February 2016

Enaie Azambuja

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Semtech and ARM recently released LoRaWAN development through ARM mbed with LoRa-based shields and platforms. The LoRaWAN end-device source code, standardised by the LoRa Alliance, is also available through mbed simplifying device prototyping and accelerating the development of IoT applications.

By offering an easily programmable tool that comes pre-installed with editable source code, the LoRa-equipped mbed platform allows developers to easily develop IoT applications and connect to LoRaWAN gateways. This gives developers and other interested parties the tools necessary to test the capabilities of LoRa RF technology and create IoT solutions.

“The easy-to-use, free online development platform from ARM combined with our LoRa transceiver improves the access for developers who want to explore the benefits and capabilities of LoRa,” said Hardy Schmidbauer, Director of Wireless for Semtech’s Wireless, Sensing and Timing Product Group. “By creating a more accessible tool, we anticipate even more realised IoT applications in the near future.”

The mbed supported NAMote72 platform is integrated with Semtech’s SX1272 LoRa transceiver and a STMicroelectronics STM32L1 series ultra-low-power MCU. This tool is designed for the 915MHz frequency band and includes a front-end module that can test the technology limits at the highest allowable regulatory output power. In addition to the NAMote72, Semtech and ARM released two LoRa and mbed enabled shields, the SX1276MB1MAS and SX1276LB1LAS, based on Semtech’s SX1276 transceiver.

These tools, designed for the ISM frequency bands of Europe and China (SX1276MB1MAS) and North America (SX1276LB1LAS), give developers source code to enable RF tests, simple point-to-point communication and other device compatibility. The mbed shields plug into any mbed microcontroller development platforms from STMicroelectronics, NXP and others.

“The ARM mbed platform enables developers to quickly and easily create commercial, standards-based IoT solutions,” said Zach Shelby, vice president of marketing, IoT business, ARM. “By integrating ARM mbed technology with Semtech’s LoRa transceivers we are providing developers with the tools to use the standards-based LoRaWAN technology. We look forward to seeing Semtech utilise mbed technology to streamline and rollout IoT applications at scale.”

LoRaWAN LPWANs will be deployed for Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany. The ARM mbed IoT Device Platform will be displayed at the LoRa Alliance and Semtech booths to showcase its functionality with the live LoRaWAN network.