Modular IoT development platform reduces design complexity

Renesas Electronics Corp. has introduced a modular IoT development platform that simplifies the prototyping of IoT systems. The Quick-Connect IoT system consists of standardized boards and interfaces that enable designers to connect a wide range of sensors to microcontroller (MCU) development boards. The platform also includes core software building blocks that are portable between boards, helping to reduce coding requirements.

As part of the platform, Renesas has worked with Diligent, Inc. to create a new expanded I2C Pod Interface, Type 6A, for wider coverage. The company standardized on the new Pod 6A connector for new sensor Pods and MCU development kits, enabling designers to select the optimal combination for their prototype designs. MCU boards will have two Pod connectors, one for a sensor Pod, and another for a communications module. In addition, the Pods can be cascaded for greater flexibility.

Initially, the Quick-Connect IoT system will include over a dozen new Renesas sensor Pods and other modular boards, including air quality sensors, flow sensors, bio-sensing, time of flight, temperature, and other sensing elements. Additional sensor Pods are under development that will include a variety of sensors and peripherals.

Over 25 MCU development boards and kits spanning the RA, RX, and RL78 families are compatible with the new Pod Type 6A standard, either directly or through a small interposer board developed by Renesas, said the company. RE and RZ development boards will be supported in the near future.

Renesas said it also redefined common software application program interfaces (APIs) and hardware abstraction layer (HAL) code for a variety of sensors. These are embedded into the Renesas e² studio integrated development environment. This means designers only need to graphically select their sensor and write a few lines of code instead of writing and testing hundreds of lines of driver code.

The Quick-Connect IoT design system is available today. Customers can order development kits, sensors, and interposer boards through Renesas’ sales and sample channels. Click here for a list of available boards, links to software downloads, literature, and how-to videos.