Silicon Labs has introduced a cost-effective prototyping vehicle that makes it easy to connect wireless sensor nodes to mobile devices and the cloud to help businesses make data-driven decisions. Silicon Labs’ new Thunderboard React developer kit features a battery-powered, sensor-rich demonstration board with Bluetooth® low energy technology and a powerful ARM®Cortex®-M4 processor for IoT connectivity, along with open-source design files and software for mobile apps running on Android and iOS devices. All hardware schematics, firmware, mobile apps and cloud software are available at no charge to developers.
Thunderboard React simplifies IoT design by providing the sensing, processing and wireless components needed to connect a battery-powered sensor node to a cloud database. The on-board sensors measure motion, light and environmental conditions, and this real-time sensor data is transmitted to the cloud over a Bluetooth connection. An intuitive mobile app displays the data on smartphones and tablets while enabling the user to control the board.
No RF expertise is required to develop wireless sensing applications with Thunderboard React. Developers can get up and running in minutes with Silicon Labs’ easy-to-use wireless development tools, and the pre-certified Bluetooth low energy module minimizes the time and effort required for global wireless certifications.
The Thunderboard React kit includes the following Silicon Labs components and software:
- BGM111 globally pre-certified Bluetooth low-energy module
- Si7021 relative humidity and temperature sensor
- Si1133 UV index and ambient light sensor
- 6-axis gyro/accelerometer
- Hall effect position sensor
- Open-source design files
- Android and iOS mobile app
The energy-efficient components on the Thunderboard React board enable developers to create IoT nodes powered by small coin-cell batteries. Silicon Labs has optimized the provided firmware and mobile app to take advantage of the power-saving features of the board components. The components can be easily integrated and modified to enable Bluetooth-to-cloud connectivity for a developer’s particular IoT application.
An optional Pinewood Derby-style car kit can be ordered to use with Thunderboard React, providing an ideal vehicle for demonstrating the real-life capabilities users can unleash. The Thunderboard React board fits neatly into the body of the derby car and displays acceleration, speed, distance, inertia, proximity, humidity and temperature. Popularized by the Cub Scouts, Pinewood Derby cars and races have been a scouting tradition since 1953, and Silicon Labs has modernized the racing experience by making them “smart cars.”
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