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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 269 Comments on Giveaway Week 2025 – M5Stack Tab5 ESP32-P4 IoT devkit

Giveaway Week 2025 – M5Stack Tab5 ESP32-P4 IoT devkit

M5Stack Tab5 default GUI

It’s that time of the year when we organize CNX Software Giveaway Week, a global contest where we give away review samples or get companies to send units to readers. For the 12th edition of the contest, we have seven items to give away this time around: five review samples I will send myself, and two prizes from companies offering a router board and an industrial development kit. As usual, the contest is open worldwide, and CNX Software Thailand has a separate contest with four additional items for people with an address in Thailand. The first prize will be the M5Stack Tab5 ESP32-P4 IoT development kit featuring a 5-inch touchscreen display, a 2MP front-facing camera, a speaker, a dual-microphone array, a microSD card slot, an ESP32-C6 for wireless connectivity, sensors, and more. I had some fun reviewing the M5Stack Tab5 devkit by building the default firmware with the ESP-IDF framework, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on M5Stack Cardputer-Adv ESP32-S3 computer gains improved antenna, larger 1,750 mAh battery, ES8311 audio codec

M5Stack Cardputer-Adv ESP32-S3 computer gains improved antenna, larger 1,750 mAh battery, ES8311 audio codec

M5Stack Cardputer-Adv

In 2023, M5Stack introduced the Cardputer, a mini portable computer based on an ESP32-S3 module and equipped with a display and a keyboard. The Cardputer-Adv is an update based on the Stamp-S3A core module, with the same 1.14-inch LCD and 56-key keyboard, but featuring a range of upgrades. These include enhanced audio with an ES8311 audio codec, a high‑SNR MEMS microphone, an NS4150B amplifier, a 1W speaker, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an improved antenna design, a larger 1,750 mAh battery, and a built-in BMI270 6-axis IMU. M5Stack Cardputer-Adv specifications: (bold highlights show improvements/changes over the original Cardputer) Wireless MCU module – M5Stack M5Stamp S3A with SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8 CPU Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz RISC-V ULP co-processor Memory – 512KB SRAM Storage – 8MB flash Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE + Mesh 2.4GHz 3D antenna USB […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 3 Comments on Upbeat introduces UP201 and UP301 ultra-low power RISC-V MCUs with always-on AI processing

Upbeat introduces UP201 and UP301 ultra-low power RISC-V MCUs with always-on AI processing

Upbeat UP201 and UP301 Series AI MCUs No BG

Upbeat Technology, in collaboration with SiFive, has introduced UP201 and UP301 always-on AI MCUs for ultra-low-power AI and IoT applications such as wearables, drones, and sensor-based systems. The UP201 is designed for compact, battery-driven devices such as smartwatches, hearing aids, and IoT sensor nodes, whereas the UP301 targets AI and vision-based applications for more complex edge systems such as smart glasses, robotics, and industrial AI equipment. Both chips feature a dual-core RISC-V architecture. The SiFive E21 lightweight core is Always-On (AON), managing continuous low-power sensing, whereas the SiFive E34 performance core activates for higher workloads. The MCUs also integrate a 2.5D GPU and various I/O options. UP201 and UP301 MCU specifications: CPU cores (SiFive Essential RISC-V IP cores) E21 core in Always-On (AON) domain for continuous low-power sensing E34 performance core in the Non-AON domain for higher workloads Up to 400 MHz operating frequency Up to 717 DMIPS performance Near-threshold […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 features Sensirion SEN55 environmental sensor and SCD40 CO2 sensor

M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 features Sensirion SEN55 environmental sensor and SCD40 CO2 sensor

M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1

M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 is an ESP32-S3-based air quality monitor equipped with Sensirion SEN55 and SCD40 sensors capable of monitoring PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4, PM10 particulates, temperature, humidity, VOC, and CO2 concentration in the air. The first version was introduced in January 2024, but M5Stack just introduced the v1.1 model with Stamp-S3A master control, power consumption optimizations, an improved Wi-Fi antenna design, and a larger button for a “better feel”. M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 specifications: Wireless module – M5Stack StampS3A WiSoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8 CPU Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz RISC-V ULP co-processor Memory – 512KB SRAM Storage – 8MB flash Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 LE + Mesh Connectivity 2.4 GHz WiFi 4, 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidth, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n protocol, up to 150 Mbps Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth Mesh, with support for 125 Kbps, 500 […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on SiFive introduces 2nd Gen Intelligence RISC-V AI CPUs: X160, X180, X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2

SiFive introduces 2nd Gen Intelligence RISC-V AI CPUs: X160, X180, X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2

SiFive Intelligence X180 Gen 2 Core Complex

SiFive has just launched its 2nd Generation Intelligence family, featuring five new RISC-V-based products: the new X160 Gen 2 and X180 Gen 2, and upgraded X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2 processors, all featuring scalar, vector, and matrix processing (XM only) capabilities designed for AI workloads. The original Intelligence X280 64-bit RISC-V CPU was introduced in 2021, following the Intelligence X390 NPU in 2023, and the Intelligence XM Series in September 2024. The X160 Gen 2  (32-bit) and X180 Gen 2 (64-bit) are entry-level AIoT CU cores targeting edge compute and IoT applications for automotive, autonomous robotics, industrial automation, and smart IoT applications. The upgrade models get support for the RVA23 profile and a few other changes. SiFive X160/X180 Gen 2 CPUs Key features and specifications: Scalar processing Intelligence X160 Gen 2 – 32-bit RISC-V ISA (RV32I) Intelligence X180 Gen 2 – 64-bit RISC-V ISA (RV64I) Dual […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on PwrTool 500 – An open-source battery & DC power monitor for Home Assistant (Crowdfunding)

PwrTool 500 – An open-source battery & DC power monitor for Home Assistant (Crowdfunding)

PwrTool 500

Voidbox’s PwrTool 500 is a battery and power monitor for Home Assistant based on the company’s FLIP_C3 ESP32-C3 board with a 60V-tolerant buck converter that is designed for off-grid and other DC-powered applications. The PwrTool 500 is designed for most 12-48V DC systems and is capable of handling up to a 500A peak current across a 6-60V DC range. The board supports ESPHome firmware for easy integration with Home Assistant, and provides data about your energy flow, generation, storage, and usage. PwrTool 500 specifications: Main board – FLIP_C3 Controller Board Wireless Module – ESP32-C3-MINI-1 SoC – ESP32-C3 MCU – RISC-V core @ 160 MHz Wireless – Wi-Fi and BLE 5 connectivity PCB antenna USB – USB-C port for firmware flashing and recovery Expansion Stemma QT and Qwiic connectors (I2C and UART) 9-pin + 10-pin headers with GPIO, I2C, SPI, PWM, UART, 5V,. 3.3V, and GND Misc Level-shifted WS2812 output, capable […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - No Comments on NXP MCX A34 mixed-signal Cortex-M33 MCU delivers 17x faster math acceleration for motor control and HVAC systems

NXP MCX A34 mixed-signal Cortex-M33 MCU delivers 17x faster math acceleration for motor control and HVAC systems

FRDM-MCXA346 development board

NXP has launched the MCX A34 mixed-signal Arm Cortex-M33 industrial MCU, an upgrade of the MCX A14x and MCX A15x MCUs, which were introduced in 2024. While the A14x/A15x offered Cortex-M33 cores up to 96 MHz, 128 KB Flash, 32 KB SRAM, a 12-bit ADC, the A34 scales up with a 180 MHz core, up to 1 MB Flash, 256 KB SRAM, four 16-bit ADCs (3.2 Msps), four OpAmps, a 12-bit DAC, and FlexPWM with enhanced quadrature decoding. It also features a dedicated Math Acceleration Unit (MAU) that executes trigonometric, reciprocal, and square root operations up to 17x faster than CMSIS-DSP, a SmartDMA coprocessor for offloading data transfers, and advanced security features with tamper detection and secure boot. Connectivity is also richer, with up to six UARTs, four I²C, two SPI, and a CAN FD interface. MCX A34 specifications: MCU core – Arm Cortex-M33 core clocked at up to 180 […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments on 80 GHz mmWave liquid level detection sensor supports ModBus, offers 40m range

80 GHz mmWave liquid level detection sensor supports ModBus, offers 40m range

80GHz mmWave Liquid Level Detection Sensor

I’ve just come across a no-name non-contact, high-precision 80 GHz mmWave radar sensor for liquid level detection with a 40m range, ±5mm accuracy, and Modbus communication over UART. We had seen 24 GHz and 60 GHz mmWave sensors mostly for precise motion detection, but it’s the first time I’ve seen an 80 GHz mmWave sensor, or more exactly, 79 GHz. It operates on the same principle of Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar as most other mmWave sensors and connects to an Arduino or other board over UART. It targets applications such as smart water management, industrial process control, and environmental disaster prevention/monitoring. Specifications: MCU – GigaDevice GD32F405 Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ 168 MHz with 192KB SRAM, 3MB flash, 1MB code-flash Transmit frequency – 77–81 GHz (79 GHz mid frequency), 4 GHz bandwidth Output power (EIRP) – 13 to 20dBm Beamwidth (-3dB) Horizontal ±25°, Vertical ±25° With external lens: Horizontal […]

UP 710S Alder Lake-N Credit Card-size SBC