A closer look at Atmel’s SAM R21 Xplained Pro

Atmel’s SAM R21 Xplained Pro evaluation kit allows developers to more easily design connected lighting, smart metering and wireless sensor network systems based on true Internet-connectivity and open standards such as IPv6 and 6lowpan.

Key hardware specs include:

• Atmel’s ARM-based ATSAMR21G18A microcontroller (MCU)
• Embedded debugger (EDBG) and USB interface
• Programming and debugging on board SAM R21 via SWD
• Virtual COM-port interface to target via UART
• Atmel Data Gateway Interface (DGI) to target via SPI and TWI
• Four GPIOs connected to target for code instrumentation
• Digital I/O
• Two mechanical buttons (user and reset button)
• One user LED
• Two extension headers
• Three possible power sources
• External power
• Embedded debugger USB
• Target USB
• 32KHz crystal
• 16MHz crystal
• Atmel Software Framework support

The SAM R21 Xplained Pro was recently showcased at Atmel’s Embedded World 2014 booth by Thingsquare. Indeed, a number of Thingsquare’s demonstrations were powered by the evaluation board, illustrating the seamless integration of Thingsquare’s software stack with Atmel’s new SAM R21 ultra-low power wireless microcontroller (MCU).

As Atmel Product Marketing Director Magnus Pedersen notes, developers are demanding complete, easy-to-use IoT solutions that can quickly bring a full system to market.

“Our cooperation with Thingsquare is an example of that, with a web-based toolchain and open source firmware to offer our customers a fully integrated hardware and software solution for various IoT applications.”

Thingsquare CEO Adam Dunkels expressed similar sentiments.

“The addition of Atmel’s hardware solutions provides our customers additional options,” he said. “Atmel’s new SAM R21 wireless microcontroller is an important step forward in the emerging IoT space.”

The ATSAM R21 Xplained Pro board is available at the official Atmel Store, with Atmel currently sampling the ATSAM R21 series to select customers. Public sampling will be available the end of March with production quantities slated for July 2014. Pricing for the SAM R21? Starting at $2.75 in 10,000-piece quantities.

Interested in learning more? The SAM R21 device combined with the Thingsquare open source firmware is available at http://thingsquare.com and as a separate delivery via Atmel’s Studio 6 Gallery.

In related IoT news, Bits & Pieces readers may also want to check out the Atmel-backed 2014 IPSO challenge. Essentially, IPSO strives to advance the development and standardization of the Internet of Things (IoT).

The initiative challenges participants to submit working prototypes from innovative concepts in interfaces, interactions and applications which demonstrate the use of the Internet Protocol (IP) in real world sensor/control and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. 

In 2014, IPSO and its sponsors will offer prizes and incentives worth over $50,000. All ten semi-finalists will be given the opportunity to demonstrate working prototypes to industry experts and investors at Sensors Expo 2014, the largest event devoted to sensor and actuator-integrated technology in North America.

Interested in learning more? You can click here for additional details.