Global technology distributor Avnet introduced the new LSR Wireless Shield, a low-cost platform with customizable sensor/peripheral capabilities for the prototyping of wireless connected Internet of Things (IoT) products using SmartFusion2 system-on-chip (SoC) field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) from Microsemi Corporation. The solution allows developers to leverage new connected applications with secure access via BLE, Wi-Fi or the cloud on any Android, IOS device or PC, with software, apps, PC graphical user interface (GUI) and hardware board files available now.
In support of markets’ growing need for IoT solution development and prototyping support, Avnet also released a new TiWiConnect Wi-Fi Cloud Connectivity reference design, which integrates Avnet’s SmartFusion2 KickStart Development Board with the new LSR Wireless Shield, providing the ability to quickly begin prototyping a cloud-based solution utilizing the TiWiConnect IoT platform from LS Research (LSR), a Laird business.
The LSR Wireless Shield features dual wireless modules from LSR, Arduino-compatible shield and Pmod-compatible expansion connectors for maximized versatility in prototyping wireless-connected IoT products. The LSR Wireless Shield is populated with LSR’s TiWi-C-W WLAN b/g/n and SaBLE-x Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) certified wireless modules, offering ultra-low power performance for Wi-Fi and BLE that most IoT applications demand. Further, the TiWi-C-W can be quickly configured as a cloud agent providing seamless connectivity to LSR’s TiWiConnect end-to-end IoT platform, giving customers a range of cloud implementation options (turnkey/subscription/user-developed/hosted).
“Avnet’s new TiWiConnect Wi-Fi Cloud Connectivity Reference Design exemplifies Avnet’s expertise in IoT connectivity and our continued commitment to providing our customers with unparalleled technical support by leveraging the technology strengths of leading suppliers, like Microsemi and LSR, to build a portfolio of time-saving and affordable design solutions,” says Tom Curran, senior technical marketing engineer, Avnet Electronics Marketing.
“Adding the new LSR Wireless Shield with LSR’s TiWiConnect IoT cloud connectivity platform to the SmartFusion2 KickStart Development Kit gives customers developing products and applications requiring secure cloud connectivity a simple and cost-effective solution for embedding Wi-Fi-based cloud connectivity.”
With purchase of the LSR Wireless Shield, the company includes free developer account access to the avnet.tiwiconnect.com online portal, which features a host of IoT cloud services and tools such as device management, alerts, dashboards and mobile app to further accelerate their development effort.
The Avnet LSR Wireless Shield is priced at $49.95. The suggested companion SmartFusion2 KickStart Kit is also available from Avnet, priced at $59.95.
New IoT Starter Kit
Avnet also introduced the Avnet MicroZed Industrial IoT Starter Kit, an out-of-the-box system, backed by industry-leading solutions from IBM, Wind River and Xilinx, designed to simplify prototype and development efforts, while providing an easy and quick transition to production.
The MicroZed Industrial IoT Starter Kit builds on Avnet’s commitment to support edge-to-cloud development of Internet-connected solutions and includes all the necessary building blocks for developing a production-ready, IoT-enabled, industrial processing system. The platform is based on Avnet’s MicroZed system-on-module (SoM) with a Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC from Xilinx and pluggable sensor solutions from Maxim Integrated and STMicroelectronics.
The kit integrates the IBM Watson IoT Platform agent on top of a custom-configured, certified image of the Wind River Pulsar Linux operating system, now standard on MicroZed and PicoZed system-on-modules. Using a standard MQTT messaging protocol, IBM’s Watson IoT Platform agent enables registered, secure connection to the Watson IoT Platform and additional cloud services and applications from the IBM Bluemix portfolio. These provide a rich palette of composable services to rapidly enhance IoT solutions with cognitive capabilities.
“The market for IoT-connected systems is exploding, but ensuring that all the pieces of an edge-to-enterprise solution work properly requires a broad range of technologies and expertise,” said Eric Williams, vice president, Internet of Things, Avnet, Inc. “Avnet has done much of the integration from sensor data collection to cloud connectivity, saving IoT developers months of effort, while giving them a superior foundation for building and producing truly differentiated IoT-enabled, industrial processing systems.”
The Avnet Industrial IoT Starter Kit sells for $299 and is available now.
www.avnet.com
