STMicro makes IoT sensing easier with plug-and-play module

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

STMicroelectronics is launching SensorTile.box , a ready-to-use wireless IoT and wearable sensor platform kit, for any skill level from students and makers to expert designers and developers. The IoT sensing evaluation kit helps designers understand how to collect and send sensor information to the cloud, and it shows how easy it is to connect to the cloud.

One of the platform’s best features is that it can be configured for any skill level. The modules can be used for learning, prototyping, or using the modules for commercial products.

• For beginners, the IoT plug-and-play module connects easily with Bluetooth Low Energy to a smartphone so that users can watch the sensors function in different applications such as a pedometer or asset tracker. They can also evaluate vibration monitoring, data recording, inclinometer/level sensing, digital compass, and baby-monitoring applications.

• In developer or expert modes, it helps experienced designers build more sophisticated applications via a graphical wizard or by writing custom embedded code. Professional users can develop applications within the STM32 Open Development Environment (STM32 ODE), leveraging the STM32CubeMX configurator and code generator and the STLink-V3 programmer and debugger.

• Developers can also activate or shut down individual sensors to optimize power consumption, use sensor fusion by combining data from multiple sensors to improve overall accuracy, and individually calibrate sensors after final assembly. Advanced users can also use the LSM6DSOX  machine-learning core and AI extensions in the STM32Cube development ecosystem to run neural networks for sophisticated pattern recognition such as activity tracking and audio-scene classification.

The SensorTile.box  module provides certified out-of-the-box connection to Microsoft Azure IoT Central on Microsoft Azure. This simplifies connecting smart devices to the cloud for data capture and analysis, whether you’re a beginner or IoT professional.

Targeting a range of sensing, tracking, and monitoring uses cases, the SensorTile.box contains ST MEMS devices for motion, context, and environmental sensing housed in a 57 × 38 × 20-mm IP54 plastic container. The MEMS sensors are managed using an ultra-low-power STM32L4R9 microcontroller.

The on-board sensors include:

• STTS751 high-accuracy temperature sensor
• LSM6DSOX low-power six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) with machine-learning core (MLC)
• LIS3DHH and LIS2DW12 three-axis accelerometers
• LIS2MDL magnetometer
• LPS22HH pressure sensor/altimeter
• MP23ABS1 analog microphone
• HTS221 humidity sensor

SensorTile.box is delivered ready to use with a 500-mAh lithium battery and 8-GB microSD card. It is expected to be available in June at www.st.com/sensortilebox  or from ST’s distributors . The commercial module and associated services are provided by FAE Technology , an authorized ST Partner company.