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February 6, 2024February 6, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

DFI MTH968 Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” COM Express module to power industrial AI PCs

DFI MTH968 is a COM Express Compact Type 6 computer-on-module equipped with an Intel Core Ultra Meteor Lake processor designed for industrial AI PCs thanks to the integrated Neural Processor Unit (Intel AI Boost) and designed for industrial automation, smart transportation, and smart agriculture. It’s not quite the first COM Express module based on the new Core Ultra Meteor Lake SoCs, as we previously covered the ADLINK cExpress-MTL and conga-TC700 with a similar range of features, and the MTH968 provides another alternative with the company highlighting a fanless wide temperature design operating from -40°C to 85°C, DDR5 memory, and NVMe SSD storage (soldered on module). DFI MTH968 specifications: Meteor Lake U/H-series SoC (one or the other) Intel Core Ultra 7 165H 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) processor @ 0.9 / 1.4 / 5.0 GHz (Turbo) with 24MB cache, 8x Xe-cores Intel Arc graphics @ 2.3 GHz, Intel AI Boost NPU; TDP: 28W Intel […]

January 31, 2024January 31, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

NXP launches MCX A14x and MCX A15x Arm Cortex-M33 MCUs along with FRDM-MCXA153 development board

NXP has just announced the launch of the MCX A series Arm Cortex-M33 microcontrollers with the MCX A14x running up to 48 MHz and the MCX A15x running up to 96 MHz. The devices support up to 128KB flash and 32KB SRAM, offer I2C, I3C, and SPI sensor interfaces, and integrate support for BLDC/PMSM motor control. NXP first unveiled the NXP MCX general-purpose Arm MCU family with 30 times faster machine learning at Embedded World 2022, but at the time we had limited information although four series were planned with the MCX N Advanced series up to 250 MHz, the MCX A essential series up to 96 MHz, the MCX W Wireless series with Bluetooth LE, and the MCX L Low-power series. The MCX A series has just been launched, and the high-end MCX N also has its own product page with the N94x and N54x variants. We’ll focus on […]

January 30, 2024January 29, 2024 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 5 Comments

Review of SONOFF SNZB-03P new Zigbee motion sensor with eWelink and Home Assistant

SONOFF continues to release new Zigbee products series including the wireless switches/buttons (SNZB-01P) and temperature and humidity sensors (SNZB-02P) that we reviewed last year. Today, we will review another new sensor, that is the Zigbee 3.0 motion sensor (SNZB-03P) and we’ll need a Zigbee Hub/Bridge/Dongle to receive Zigbee signals to make it work. The technology of this sensor remains PIR, which uses infrared waves similar to before. This is different from the Human Presence sensors that are gaining popularity, which use mmWave (millimeter wave, frequency 3-30GHz). Both types have their pros and cons. SONOFF has also recently released a Human Presence sensor, namely the SNZB-06P which we will review soon. The SONOFF SNZB-03P is suitable for applications where motion needs to be detected (staying standstill won’t work) and places where it is not feasible or practical to run power cables. The latter is advantageous compared to Human Presence sensors because […]

January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Entry-level Industrial Shields ESP32 PLC 14 sells for 100 Euros

Boot & Work Corp has just introduced an entry-level PLC based on ESP32 wireless microcontroller with the “Industrial Shields ESP32 PLC 14” that comes with seven inputs and five outputs, as well as I2C, RS485, Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth communication interfaces. We first covered “Industrial Shields” automation devices in 2017 when the company introduced panel PCs based on Banana Pi, Raspberry Pi, and Hummingboard (NXP i.MX 6) SBCs, as well as a few Arduino and Raspberry Pi PLCs. Boot & Work Corp then launched a Raspberry Pi 4-based PLC in 2021, and now the company has introduced the ESP32 PLC 14 part of a larger family of PLC devices as we’ll see further below. ESP32 PLC 14 specifications: Wireless module – ESP-WROOM-32U with ESP32 dual-core wireless microcontroller @ 240 MHz with 4MB SRAM, 4MB flash, 2MB PSRAM I/Os through terminal blocks 4x Digital Outputs 12/24 V DC (can also act […]

January 23, 2024January 23, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

LILYGO T-Panel – A 4-inch HMI display and WiFi, BLE, and 802.15.4 gateway based on ESP32-S3 and ESP32-H2

T-Panel 4-inch ESP32-S3 and ESP32-H2 gateway

LILYGO T-Panel is both a 4-inch HMI display and IoT gateway based on ESP32-S3 WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5 microcontroller and an ESP32-H2 module with Bluetooth LE 5 and an 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee, Thread, and Matter connectivity. Last year, Espressif introduced the ESP-Thread Board Router/Zigbee gateway board with ESP32-S3 and ESP32-H2 to show how both chips could be combined to create IoT gateways. But I don’t think I had seen a company design a product based on both ESP32-S3 and ESP32-H2 until I saw the T-Panel which also includes an RS485 interface and Qwiic expansion connectors for good measure. T-Panel specifications: Wireless chips/modules Wireless SoC – ESP32-S3R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ 240 MHz 2.4 GHz 802.11n WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Memory – 8MB PSRAM Wireless module – ESP32-H2-MINI-1 module MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-H2 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller at up to 96 MHz with 320 […]

January 21, 2024January 20, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 5 Comments

Jetway launches the JF35-ADN1– A 3.5” Intel N97 SBC designed for industrial robotics applications

Jetway, an AAEON-affiliated manufacturer, has released a new single-board computer, the JF35-ADN1, targeted at industrial robotics applications. The JF35-ADN1 is a subcompact, 3.5” board that is powered by the Intel N97 (formerly Alder Lake) processor. It features several high-speed interfaces and peripherals for its target applications including two 2.5GbE ports, a total of eight USB 2.0 ports (physical ports and internal connectors), two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (Type-A and Type-C), and supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM via a SO-DIMM socket. It can power up to three displays via two HDMI 2.0b ports and a DisplayPort over USB-C port. The Jetway JF35-ADN1 SBC is aimed at Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) applications, but it is stated to be versatile enough to accommodate other uses such as machine vision and payment systems solutions. The JF35-ADN1 features the same Intel N97 processor as AAEON’s Up Xtreme 7100 and is intended for […]

January 19, 2024January 19, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

8 Euros ESP32-H2-DevKit-LiPo is an open-source hardware Bluetooth 5 LE and 802.15.4 (Zigbee/Thread/Matter) board

Olimex ESP32-H2-DevKit-LiPo is an open-source hardware board based on ESP32-H2-MINI-1-N4 wireless module with Bluetooth 5 Low Energy (LE) and an 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee, Thread, and Matter connectivity, and that can be powered by a LiPo battery. The ESP32-H2 RISC-V microcontroller is coupled with 4MB flash in the wireless module, and the board comes with two rows of 15 pins for up to 19 GPIOs with alternate functions such as ADC, SPI, UART, I2C, etc… plus pUEXT and Qwiic/Stemma connectors for expansion modules. The board also features two USB-C ports, one for connected directly to the ESP32-H2 and the other for USB to UART programming/debugging. ESP32-H2-DevKit-LiPo specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-H2-MINI-1-N4 MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-H2 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller at up to 96 MHz with 320 KB SRAM, 128 KB ROM, 4 KB LP memory, Bluetooth 5.2 LE/Mesh and 802.15.4 (Zigbee/Thread/Matter) radios. Storage – 4MB flash storage PCB antenna Dimensions […]

January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

AAEON UP Xtreme 7100 robotics SBC and mini PC is offered with Core i3-N305 or Processor N97 CPU

AAEON UP Xtreme 7100 SBC and Mini PC powered by an Intel Core i3-N305 or Processor N97 Alder Lake-N CPU and designed as an “all-in-one robotics solution” providing the sensor data processing, graphics, and other resources required for path planning and control algorithms used in AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). The UP Xtreme 7100 single board computer and UP Xtreme 7100 Edge mini PC are both offered in compact form factors suitable for robots and feature terminal blocks for serial communication (RS-232/422/485 port and CAN bus) and a 30-pin Phoenix connector with 24V digital I/O and GPIOs. Other features useful for industrial use include 9V to 36V DC input, vibration/shock resistance, and lockable I/O ports. UP Xtreme 7100 specifications: Alder Lake N-series SoC (one or the other) Intel Processor N97 quad-core processor up to 3.6 GHz with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel UHD Graphics Gen 12 @ […]