To integrate cellular connections into internet of things (IoT) designs, Microchip Technology Inc. has introduced a mini development board that connects IoT devices to an available 5G network.
Called the AVR-IoT Cellular Mini Development Board, the solution is based on the AVR128DB48 8-bit microcontroller and comes in a small form factor for developers wanting to enable cellular connections to IoT devices.
Microchip said the board would be critical for devices on the go or those located in remote areas with limited availability to long range (LoRa) networks or other low power wide area networks (LPWANs).
The board comes pre-configured to send data from on-board light and temperature sensors to the cloud. Microchip’s sandbox portal allows users to track and monitor devices in real time from a remote location.
This applies to a range of industries including:
- Agriculture
- Transportation of goods
- Alarm systems
- Building automation
- Remote monitoring
Microchip partnered with Sequans to include the Monarch 2 GM02S single-chip radio equipped with 5G LTE-M and narrowband IoT and partnered with Truphone to provide the SIM card for cellular service.
Microchip said the board works for professionals but could also be used for makers and hobbyists as it fits the Adafruit Feather form factor. It is also Arduino compatible and includes a Quwiic/Stemma I2C connector for an easier path to production.
