IoT development expands the ARM mbed OS ecosystem

11th September 2015

Siobhan O'Gorman

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Freescale Semiconductor has announced that its advanced FNET software will serve as the TCP/IP stack in version 3 of the ARM mbed OS, playing a key role in the platform’s connectivity capabilities.

Poised to become the de facto OS for the IoT, the cost-free mbed OS is a comprehensive platform for the creation of next-gen IoT devices. The OS includes the connectivity, security and device management functionalities required in virtually every IoT device. When deployed on Freescale’s Kinetis MCUs or heterogeneous i.MX processors, developers can bypass low-level software tasks and spend their time on higher-level development, user-experience enhancement and other differentiating features.

In addition to its contributions to mbed OS, Freescale has also made great strides in helping to build out the mbed ecosystem. ARM and Freescale recently collaborated to create the industry’s first mbed-based solution featuring Thread connectivity.

The implementation is a fully functional cloud connected IoT edge device. It combines the Freescale Freedom FRDM-CR20A evaluation board, a low power 802.15.4 radio, and the Freescale Freedom-K64F platform featuring a Kinetis K64F MCU. ARM mbed OS runs on the Kinetis MCU, as does the mbed Thread low-power mesh wireless connectivity stack. The new platform represents the first instantiation of a broad-based IoT solution combining sensors, wireless connectivity, and microcontrollers with the mbed OS.

“Wireless connectivity, combined with TCP/IP, is the lifeblood of the IoT, and Freescale’s FNET TCP/IP software will serve as the connectivity heart of the ARM mbed OS architecture,” said Zach Shelby, Vice President of Marketing, IoT business, ARM. “Freescale’s substantial contribution to mbed OS is an impressive illustration of the ARM ecosystem helping to fuel the growing adoption of mbed OS among IoT start-ups and established OEMs.”

“Freescale’s broad portfolio of sensors, Kinetis MCUs and i.MX processors work seamlessly with the mbed OS, resulting in a truly comprehensive hardware/software platform for the IoT,” commented Geoff Lees, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Freescale’s MCU group. “mbed OS running on Freescale silicon provides a robust platform that is suitable for IoT product teams looking to focus on higher level, differentiating software instead of time-consuming, low-level development tasks.”

Freescale plans to demonstrate its Thread-based IoT edge device solution this fall at ARM TechCon.