Single chip MCU + DSP architecture for automotive = SAM V71

---

Automotive apps are running in production by million units per year, and cost is a crucial factor when deciding on an integrated solution.

---

It’s all about Cost of Ownership (CoO) and system level integration. If you target automotive related application, like audio or video processing or control of systems (Motor control, inverter, etc.), you need to integrate strong performance capable MCU with a DSP. In fact, if you expect your system to support Audio Video Bridging (AVB) MAC on top of the targeted application and to get the automotive qualification, the ARM Cortex-M7 processor-based Atmel SAMV70/71 should be your selection: offering the fastest clock speed of his kind (300 MHz), integrating a DSP Floating Point Unit (FPU), supporting AVB and qualified for automotive.

Let’s have a closer look at the SAM V71 internal architecture, shall we?

A closer look at Atmel | SMART ARM based Cortex M7 – SAMV71 internal architecture.

When developing a system around a microcontroller unit, you expect this single chip to support as many peripherals as needed in your application to minimize the global cost of ownership. That’s why you can see the long list of system peripherals (top left of the block diagram). Meanwhile, the Atmel | SMART SAM V71 is dedicated to support automotive infotainment application, e.g. Dual CAN and Ethernet MAC (bottom right). If we delve deeper into these functions, we can list these supported features:

• 10/100 Mbps, IEEE1588 support
• MII (144-pin), RMII (64-, 100, 144-pin)
• 12 KB SRAM plus DMA
• AVB support with Qav & Qas HW support for Audio traffic support
• 802.3az Energy efficiency support
• Dual CAN-FD
• Up to 64 SRAM-based mailboxes
• Wake up from sleep or wake up modes on RX/TX

The automotive-qualified SAM V70 and V71 series also offers high-speed USB with integrated PHY and Media LB, which when combined with the Cortex-M7 DSP extensions, make the family ideal for infotainment connectivity and audio applications. Let’s take a look at this DSP benchmark:

ARM CM7 Performance normalized relative to SHARC (Higher numbers are better).

If you are not limited by budget consideration and can afford integrating one standard DSP along with a MCU, you will probably select the SHARC 21489 DSP (from Analog Devices) offering the best-in-class benchmark results for FIR, Biquad and real FFT. However, such performance has a cost, not only monetarily but also in terms of power consumption and board footprint — we can call that “Cost of Ownership.” Automotive apps are running in production by million units per year, and cost is absolutely crucial in this market segment, especially when quickly deciding to go with an integrated solution.

To support audio or video infotainment application, you expect the DSP integrated in the Cortex-M7 to be “good enough” and you can see from this benchmark results that it’s the case for Biquad for example, as ARM CM7 is equal or better than any other DSP (TI C28, Blackfin 50x or 70x) except the SHARC 21489… but much cheaper! Good enough means that the SAMV70 will support automotive audio (Biquad in this case) and keep enough DSP power for Ethernet MAC (10/100 Mbps, IEEE1588) support.

Ethernet AVB Architectures (SAM V71)

In the picture above, you can see the logical SAM V71 architectures for Ethernet AVB support and how to use the DSP capabilities for Telematics Control Unit (TCU) or audio amplifier.

Integrating a DSP means that you need to develop the related DSP code. Because the DSP is tightly integrated into the ARM CM7 core, you may use the MCU development tools (and not specific DSP tools) for developing your code. Since February, the ATSAMV71-XULT (full-featured Xplained board, SAM V71 Xplained Ultra Evaluation Kit with software package drivers supporting basic drivers, software services, libraries for Atmel SAMV71, V70, E70, S70 Cortex-M7 based microcontrollers) is available from Atmel. As this board has been built around the feature-rich SAM V71, you can develop your automotive application on the same exact MCU architecture as the part going into production.

Versatility and Integrated DSP built into the ARM CM7 core allows for MCU development tools to be used instead of having to revert to specific DSP tools. You can develop your automotive application on exactly the same MCU architecture than the part going into production.

Interested? More information on this eval/dev board can found here.

---

This post has been republished with permission from SemiWiki.com, where Eric Esteve is a principle blogger as well as one of the four founding members of SemiWiki.com. This blog first appeared on SemiWiki on April 29, 2015.

Connect your Philips Hue lights to real world data with Zymbit

---

Change the color of your office’s Philips Hue lights based on subscribed data streams.

---

In today’s constantly connected world, it seems like we’re notified of just about everything from emails and missed calls to social media updates and appointments. As a result, a growing number of innovators are seeking less obtrusive ways to provide you with your daily notifications. This will enable you to keep tabs on important information without constant interupttings and having to look up at a computer screen or down at a phone.

And so, Zymbit co-founder Roberto Aguilar has devised a slick system which connects his office’s Philips Hue lights to real world data through the use of Zymbit’s pub/sub framework. Rather than having to be alerted through irritating sounds or unnecessary vibrations, the Maker has created a much more natural, less distracting way of consuming content. Take for instance, the weather or mass transportation. A blue illuminated wall can indicate that it is freezing outside, while red illuminations can denote that the subway is quickly approaching. In his case, Aguilar has employed an Arduino Yún-powered LED device on his desk that he calls Zymbob. Essentially, the Arduino subscribes to the color data stream and controls the lights.

In order to bring this idea to life, the Maker began by coding a simple app for his friends to tweet a color to his LEDs. Whenever a color is mentioned in a tweet, it is published though Zymbit’s pub/sub. According to Aguilar, at first the app knew less than a dozen or so colors, and has since been extended to over 500. Meanwhile, another app running on a Raspberry Pi Model B+ subscribes to the color messages and adjusts the bulb’s Hue accordingly. Luckily, the app is small enough and can run on the Yún (ATmega32U4) to modify Zymbob’s lights.

As for its software, the project called upon the Tweepy Python package to connect to the Twitter API, the phue Python library to sync with the Philips Hue bridge, the Zymbit Python package to pair with the Zymbit itself, as well as the Zymbit pub/sub engine. Beyond that, Arduino sketches were completed within its IDE.

“All in all, the project was quite successful! The biggest problem is the way I listen to tweets; there can be pretty long delays between sending a tweet and having the lights change colors. There’s probably a better way to ‘listen’ for tweets than constantly polling,” Aguilar writes.

Moving ahead, the Maker hopes to subscribe to more data streams, thereby allowing him to command the Hue lights directly from his Raspberry Pi rather than having to piggyback the Hue bridge.

Seems cool, right? In case you’re unfamiliar with Zymbit, the end-to-end IoT platform enables Makers, engineers and developers to transform their smart ideas into real-world, connected products in blistering speed. On the hardware side, the solution gives users the ability to transition their Arduino or Raspberry Pi proof-of-concept to a professional-grade item using its modular Atmel | SMART-based, ATECC108-protected devices. What’s more, the team has designed remote management software that will let users easily connect and control their gadget from anywhere, both securely and transparently — as seen in the Hue Data Channel project.

Intrigued? Head over to Zymbit’s official page to learn more.

Atmel and MXCHIP develop Wi-Fi platform with secure cloud access for IoT apps

---

SAM G MCU + WILC1000 Wi-Fi SoC + MiCO IoT OS = Secure Cloud Access 

---

Atmel and MXCHIP, a top 10 China IoT start-up according to Techno, have announced that the two companies are coming together to develop an ultra-low power Internet of Things (IoT) platform with secure Wi-Fi access to the cloud, enabling designers to quickly bring their connected devices to market. This collaboration combines ultra-low power Atmel | SMART SAM G ARM Cortex-M4-based MCUs and the SmartConnect WILC1000 Wi-Fi solution with MXCHIP’s MiCO IoT operating system, servicing a full range of smart device developers for IoT applications.

“We are excited to team with MXCHIP to bring secure cloud access to IoT developers with this ultra-low power and secure, connected platform,” said Reza Kazerounian, Atmel SVP and General Manager, Microcontroller Business Unit. “In an effort to accelerate the growth of IoT devices, such as wearables and consumer battery-operated devices worldwide, this platform enables embedded designers to focus on their differentiated smart devices without requiring expertise on lowering power consumption, security and wireless connectivity. Our joint efforts will enable more designers of all levels to bring their smart, connected designs quickly to market.”

With the rapid growth of the IoT market, these smart devices will require secure access to the cloud on what will likely be billions of battery-operated devices. The new platform will pair Atmel’s proven ultra-low power SAM G series of MCUs, designed for wearables and sensor hub management, and the secure ultra-low power SmartConnect WILC1000 Wi-Fi solution along with MXCHIP’s leading MiCO IoT OS for next-generation IoT applications. This integrated platform gives IoT designers the confidence that their battery-operated devices will have longer battery life and their data will be securely transferred to the cloud.

The Atmel WILC1000 is an IEEE 802.11b/g/n IoT link controller leveraging its ultra-low power Wi-Fi transceiver with a fully-integrated power amplifier. This solution delivers the industry’s best communication range of up to +20.5dBm output, ideal for connected home devices. Embedded within packages as small as a 3.2mm x 3.2mm WLCSP, the WILC1000 link controller leverages in this platform Atmel’s SAM G MCU, an ideal solution for low-power IoT applications and optimized for lower power consumption, incorporating large SRAM, high performance and operating efficiency with floating-point unit in an industry-leading 2.84mm x 2.84mm package.

When combined with secure Wi-Fi technology, the joint IoT platform connects directly to each other or to a local area network (LAN), enabling remote system monitoring or control. For increased security, the platform comes with an optional Atmel ATECC508A — the industry’s first crypto device to integrate ECDH key agreement, making it easy to add confidentiality to digital systems including IoT nodes used in home automation, industrial networking, accessory and consumable authentication, medical, mobile and other applications.

“This collaboration combines synergies from both companies to IoT designers including Atmel’s global presence with MXCHIP’s local resources enabling IoT designers to smoothly implement cloud services for their smart, connected devices in China and around the world,” said Wang Yong Hong, CEO, MXCHIP. “Our platform combines both ease-of-use and simplicity allowing IoT designers from all levels to access cloud services worldwide ranging from professional designers for smart, connected IoT devices to Makers, educators and hobbyists. We will also collaborate on a number of other fronts with Atmel including IoT research, promotions, and share our IoT knowledge on smart, secure and connected devices across multiple industries.”

Interested? To accelerate the IoT design process, the platform — which will be available in May 2015 — includes the MiCOKit-G55 development kit, technical documentation, application notes and a software development kit.

This Arduino-compatible board makes it easy to automate your home

---

This versatile, AVR-based board allows users to easily program their own home automation systems.

---

Though the number of smart home devices continue to rise, a number of consumers still remain a bit hesitant in shelling out the big bucks to automate their homes. Instead, many Makers have already begun to devise connected in-house gadgets using easy-to-use platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi. With this in mind, one Miami-based startup has launched a Kickstarter campaign for an ATmega328P based board that looks to help streamline the process for Makers looking to install home automations of their own using the Arduino IDE.

Created by the GarageLab team, the aptly-named Automation Board packs a wide range of features including relay triggering, Wi-Fi, Internet connectivity, various sensors, as well as RS-485 communication. The extremely versatile platform is entirely compatible with the Arduino Uno, and offers all of the necessary resources one would require to create a smart home system.

With its power source soldered onto the unit itself, the device is charged from the electrical grid with voltages between 100 to 240VAC and 50-60Hz, making it adaptable to any grid around the globe. It also has four relays to trigger alarms, electronic locks, fans, lamps or any other compatible load.

Knowing all too well that connecting sensors can be a tedious task for Makers, the Automation Board was designed to expedite the process. Meaning, the pins that are ready to link to a sensor can be either digital or analog, and include 5V and ground. This lets users attach several kinds of sensors, ranging from an IR sensor to create communication with a TV remote or motion to trigger an alarm.

Similar to the incredibly popular Arduino platform, the Automation Board offers tremendous expandability through the use of shields. What’s more, the platform allows for RS-485 connection, ideal for applications in industrial automation systems or in settings with electromagnetic interference. It should be pointed out that users will be able to utilize spcific programs to integrate with existing professionals systems as well.

Through its dedicated headers for XBee modules, Makers will be able to connect as many Automation Boards as they wish to a network. Beyond that, they can wirelessly communicate with a PC via a simple XBee Dongle USB, or even access their automation system over the web using a SparkFun WiFly module.

“In order to make your system even more versatile, we’ve created this ‘Sidekick’ board as a very interesting accessory. It’s compact and can be powered directly from the electrical grid as it has connectors for XBee and 2 relays,” the GarageLab crew writes. “This board can be controlled by signals sent from an Automation Board, allowing it to trigger distant loads through a wireless network. You will be able to use as many ‘Sidekicks’ as you wish, triggering several charges in a same wireless installation.”

Are you thinking of using an Arduino to automate your home? Hurry over to the Automation Board’s Kickstarter campaign, where the GarageLab team is currently seeking $3,000. Delivery is expected to begin in August 2015.

The Wired In sign eliminates unwanted distractions in the office

---

Finally, there’s a Bluetooth sign that tells your coworkers when you’re busy.

---

Every office has that one guy. He walks around the floor, gazing into each cubicle, looking to spark a conversation. Not before long, he glances your way, makes eye contact and begins to head in your direction. As he approaches, he utters the infamous words, “It’ll be quick.” However, let’s face it, it’s never quick. An hour later, not only has he drained you of your creative energy, but you just lost 60 minutes of productivity.

With open workspaces on the rise, it’s important for companies to maintain in-office efficiency. Chances are, that by now, you’ve seen the movie, The Social Network. Recall the scene when Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield) approaches an unresponsive Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), only to learn from Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) that he’s “wired in?”

For years, headphones like those worn by Zuckerberg in the flick were pretty clear indication that someone didn’t want to be bothered. However, thanks to one Salt Lake City-based startup, the universal sign for “I’m in the zone” will literally a sign that reads “I’m in the zone” — or whatever you would like.

The device, which is aptly-dubbed Wired In, works exactly how it seems: When you want to focus on a task at hand, turn on your sign and eliminate unwanted distractions. When powered, the acrylic lights up with a series of LED lights in your favorite color, sending a clear busy signal to those around you. Once turned off, it blends right into your workspace.

Wired In features a sleek aluminum base with rounded edges and a clear replaceable laser-etched acrylic sign. What’s nice is that the signs are completely customizable. Not only can you change the color of the light, you can replace the acrylic message as well. While it comes with standard sayings like “On Air,” “Wired In” and “In the Zone,” users are encouraged to come up with their own clever text or even upload a vector image to be etched into the sign (keep in mind, this is the portion that is illuminated). Ultimately, this lets owners explore their imagination and be as unique as their own personality!

The much-needed piece — which is the brainchild of Maker trio Josh Howland, Caleb Hicks, Andrew Madsen — was devised to sit nicely on your desk without taking up too much space. Because after all, that would be a distraction in itself. The base measures about 238mm x 48mm x 25mm, while the sign adds about another 80mm in height. Wired In will come in a few different versions: one that is powered by USB connection, another by rechargeable batteries. However, for its initial model, the gadget is juiced up by a pair of AA batteries. Unlike the others, though, this one lacks any connectivity or integrations. Simply turn it on and off like a lamp.

Wired In is equipped with a fully open-soure Arduino controller and Bluetooth 4.0 which allows it to sync with any other BLE device, such as a Mac, an iPad or an iPhone. What’s more, the gadget integrates with everything from a mobile remote app to the newly-launched Apple Watch to third-party services like IFTTT and Slack. Users can easily control their sign with its accompanying iOS app, and with REST API, developers can create their own programs. The sign also works with iBeacons, which for example, enable you to brighten your sign as you approach your desk.

At the moment, pilot signs have already been implemented in a number of offices, from Walmart to Adobe. (Maybe soon Atmel?) Want one of your own? Head over to Wired In’s official Kickstarter campaign, where the team is currently seeking $25,000. Shipment is slated for November 2015.

The 10 challenges of securing IoT communications

---

From the very beginning of developing an IoT product, IoT security must be a forethought.

---

One of the hottest topics at last week’s IoT StreamConf was security. In other words, how are we going to secure communication for billions of connected devices? How can we ensure that attackers can’t take control of our devices, steal information, disrupt services, or take down entire networks of expensive, imperative devices?

With IoT is still in its early stages, security is not fully understood and well-defined when compared to other industries, like the financial and e-commerce sectors. From the very beginning of developing an IoT product, whether it’s small-scale like a wearable device, to massive-scale IoT deployments, like an oil field sensor network or global delivery operation, IoT security must be a forethought.

In this talk, Rohini Pandhi, Product Manager at PubNub, walks through the ten challenges of securing Internet of Things communication. Rohini discusses flexible and secure messaging design patterns for IoT communication, and how they can be implemented and scaled. There are a number of security considerations, but after watching this talk, you should have a good idea of how you can secure your IoT deployment.

(Scroll below video for a table of contents of when individual concepts are talked about in the video).

Video Table of Contents

1. Defining the Internet of Things (10:27)
2. Unprotected devices will be attacked (13:15)
3. Encryption (15:46)
4. Single security model for all communications (17:56)
5. Access control (20:13)
6. Tracking device metadata (21:14)
7. Provisioning in the field (22:38)
8. Firmware updates in the field (24:07)
9. Compliance with regulations (25:15)
10. Reinventing the wheel (26:17)

More Resources on Securing IoT Communication

Below are a couple great pieces on IoT security, and some code tutorials for IoT developers:

• The Next Generation of IoT: PubNub CEO Todd Greene walks through the evolution of the IoT stack, and how it’s continuing to change, with security at the forefront.
• Securing the Internet of Streams: Doron Sherman discusses the need for a new approach to IoT security, built on a loosely-coupled, smarter network.
• World-class embedded security solutions ensures trust for every system design: Data security is directly linked to how exposed the cryptographic key is to being accessed by unintended parties. How to thwart? Keep the “secret key secret” locked in protected hardware devices.
• IT cloud vs. IoT cloud: Kaivan Karimi, Atmel VP and GM of Wireless Solutions, shares the top 10 factors to consider when transitioning from IT cloud to IoT cloud.
• Become a Crypto Expert by securing all the layers of IoT. Securing valuable pieces to solve your security puzzle for any stage or level of the design cycle.
• Ultra-secure Hardware-based Key Storage: CryptoAuthentication installed into the architecture of element devices with hardware-based key storage ensure that a product, consumables it uses, firmware it runs, accessories that support it, and the network nodes it connects to are not cloned, counterfeited, or tampered with.
• Complete Security for PCs and Embedded Systems: The TPM includes integrated, protected nonvolatile storage for cryptographic keys, secrets, and authorization information.
• Making EEPROMs a Safe Place for Sensitive Data: CryptoMemory chips are the world’s largest family of EEPROMs with a 64-bit embedded hardware encryption engine, four sets of nonreadable, 64-bit authentication keys, and four sets of nonreadable, 64-bit session encryption keys.

Building an open-source, smart ecosystem for your plants

---

Botani.st helps you monitor and analyze your garden environments with ease — and prevents you from killing your plants again.

---

Many find gardening to be a rather enjoyable hobby, where after buying and planting seeds, you watch your soil transform into an array of beautiful plants. However, for others, the activity can be downright frustrating as those seeds fail to flourish or your greens begin to wither.

Luckily, the Botani.st crew has developed a smart gardening assistant that will not only monitor your plants, but act before it’s too late. The project was first conceived as a way to provide folks with an affordable solution that would place countless sensors throughout their gardens, which in turn, would generate the amount of environmental and plant health data needed to make accurate recommendations. Secondly, with the Maker community in mind, its creators wanted to ensure that it was not only open-source, but modular so that others could build both hardware and software for it.

The system itself is comprised of a gateway, a hub, some sensors and a smart outlet. First, the sensors are tasked with measuring a plant’s environment, like soil moisture, temperature and light, as well as gathering data from external sources such as weather sites. This collected information is then processed, analyzed and compared with desired values using an easy-to-follow web and mobile dashboard — all that data is also archived for comparison with previous years. From there, users can create events based on the analysis. For instance, a user will receive a notification on their smartphone if they happen to be overwatering, or if it gets too cold in their greenhouse, they will be informed to utilize the smart outlet to start a heater.

“One thing we recognized early in our design phase was that people who grow in greenhouses doesn’t mind having cords, hoses and steel wires around so there we could go with wired devices. This not only allows us to skip radio hardware but also batteries and a lot of other hardware in the sensors itself to keep costs down,” team member Claes Jakobsson explains.

And so, the crew devised a hub that would provide the necessary power and connectivity along with a gateway that would link to their service through Wi-Fi, yet still be compatible with wires when available.

What’s nice is that users can add multiple gateways to their account — something that will surely come in handy should barriers like concrete walls severely reduce the RF signal or for when trying to reach parts off in the distance. Beyond that, if the device happens to lose contact with Botani.st’s service, its built-in memory will store all of the data and automatically sync right back up when running again. Each hub consists of eight ports, which can handle up to 64 devices (via an extender) and a micro-USB port if battery proves not to be enough.

As eluded to above, the system comes with both wireless and wired sensors. Ideal for those outdoor and indoor settings where cords might be unwanted or inaccessible, Botani.st’s wireless sensors can be recharged using both battery and solar cells, and are entirely waterproof to withstand rain and watering. In addition, an LED indicator reveals the current status — green if everything is okay, orange if a minor problem and red if an urgent matter that requires attention.

As for the radio portion of the project, this required something with extremely low power consumption, ease of use, few external components, and as any startup will tell you, minimal cost. Lo’ and behold, it wasn’t before long that the team employed the Atmel | SMART SAM R21. Meanwhile, its tethered counterpart — which is based on ATtiny48/88 — packs most of the same functionalities, except without radio, battery and solar cell.

“We looked at many options from Texas Instruments, NXP, Nordic Semiconductor and more and had almost settled on a chip when Atmel presented the SAM R21 which combined a ARM Cortex-M0+ with their RF233 802.15.4 radio. The SAM R21 was an excellent match,” its creators note.” With the Xplained evaluation kits we could very easily get going. Now we run on our own boards with a PCB antenna that gives us about 50 meter range in free-line-of-sight. However, since the Atmel LWMesh stack that we use provides automatic meshing, we are confident that this range won’t be a problem even when there are obstructions in the way.”

“Since we had plenty of prior experience with AVR MCUs, and the fact that it’s a hugely popular target for Makers, it’s was a no-brainer to build on that. Especially thanks to the big span of possible MCUs, from the very tiny 6-pin ATtiny to large 100-pin ATmega,”Jakobsson discusses their MCU selection for the wired sensors. “Having it being provided in both 28-DIP and 32-TQPF has eased during prototyping and the 28-QNF and 32-QFN packages will make it possible to save precious PCB space in production.”

At the moment, Botani.st continues to work hard on finalizing the hardware and software components to their smart gardening platform. And once completed, they will be releasing example schematics for both the sensors and actuators as well as a SDK for AVR that will enable DIYers — and other plant aficionados — to create their own platform.

“What most excites us about using Atmel apart, from their strong Maker popularity (of course), is the availability of affordable tools such as AVR programmers and excellent documentation. Having an open-source toolchain in the form of gcc both for AVR and ARM is also a huge plus.”

Getting ready to plant this spring? Head over to the the project’s official page here.

4 reasons why Atmel is ready to ride the IoT wave

---

The IoT recipe comprises of three key technology components: Sensing, computing and communications.

---

In 2014, a Goldman Sachs’ report took many people by surprise when it picked Atmel Corporation as the company best positioned to take advantage of the rising Internet of Things (IoT) tsunami. At the same time, the report omitted tech industry giants like Apple and Google from the list of companies that could make a significant impact on the rapidly expanding IoT business. So what makes Atmel so special in the IoT arena?

The San Jose, California–based chipmaker has been proactively building its ‘SMART’ brand of 32-bit ARM-based microcontrollers that boasts an end-to-end design platform for connected devices in the IoT realm. The company with two decades of experience in the MCU business was among the first to license ARM’s low-power processors for IoT chips that target smart home, industrial automation, wearable electronics and more.

Goldman Sachs named Atmel a leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

Goldman Sachs named Atmel a leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) market

A closer look at the IoT ingredients and Atmel’s product portfolio shows why Goldman Sachs called Atmel a leader in the IoT space. For starters, Atmel is among the handful of chipmakers that cover all the bases in IoT hardware value chain: MCUs, sensors and wireless connectivity.

1. A Complete IoT Recipe

The IoT recipe comprises of three key technology components: Sensing, computing and communications. Atmel offers sensor products and is a market leader in MCU-centric sensor fusion solutions than encompass context awareness, embedded vision, biometric recognition, etc.

For computation—handling tasks related to signal processing, bit manipulation, encryption, etc.—the chipmaker from Silicon Valley has been offering a diverse array of ARM-based microcontrollers for connected devices in the IoT space.

Atmel has reaffirmed its IoT commitment through a number of acquisitions.

Finally, for wireless connectivity, Atmel has cobbled a broad portfolio made up of low-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee radio technologies. Atmel’s $140 million acquisition of Newport Media in 2014 was a bid to accelerate the development of low-power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips for IoT applications. Moreover, Atmel could use Newport’s product expertise in Wi-Fi communications for TV tuners to make TV an integral part of the smart home solutions.

Furthermore, communications across the Internet depends on the TCP/IP stack, which is a 32-bit protocol for transmitting packets on the Internet. Atmel’s microcontrollers are based on 32-bit ARM cores and are well suited for TCP/IP-centric Internet communications fabric.

2. Low Power Leadership

In February 2014, Atmel announced the entry-level ARM Cortex M0+-based microcontrollers for the IoT market. The SAM D series of low-power MCUs—comprising of D21, D10 and D11 versions—featured Atmel’s signature high-end features like peripheral touch controller, USB interface and SERCOM module. The connected peripherals work flawlessly with Cortex M0+ CPU through the Event System that allows system developers to chain events in software and use an event to trigger a peripheral without CPU involvement.

According to Andreas Eieland, Director of Product Marketing for Atmel’s MCU Business Unit, the IoT design is largely about three things: Battery life, cost and ease-of-use. The SAM D microcontrollers aim to bring the ease-of-use and price-to-performance ratio to the IoT products like smartwatches where energy efficiency is crucial. Atmel’s SAM D family of microcontrollers was steadily building a case for IoT market when the company’s SAM L21 microcontroller rocked the semiconductor industry in March 2015 by claiming the leadership in low-power Cortex-M IoT design.

Atmel’s SAM L21 became the lowest power ARM Cortex-M microcontroller when it topped the EEMBC benchmark measurements. It’s plausible that another MCU maker takes over the EEMBC benchmarks in the coming months. However, according to Atmel’s Eieland, what’s important is the range of power-saving options that an MCU can bring to product developers.

“There are many avenues to go down on the low path, but they are getting complex,” Eieland added. He quoted features like multiple clock domains, event management system and sleepwalking that provide additional levels of configurability for IoT product developers. Such a set of low-power technologies that evolves in successive MCU families can provide product developers with a common platform and a control on their initiatives to lower power consumption.

3. Coping with Digital Insecurity

In the IoT environment, multiple device types communicate with each other over a multitude of wireless interfaces like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy. And IoT product developers are largely on their own when it comes to securing the system. The IoT security is a new domain with few standards and IoT product developers heavily rely on the security expertise of chip suppliers.

Atmel offers embedded security solutions for IoT designs.

Atmel, with many years of experience in crypto hardware and Trusted Platform Modules, is among the first to offer specialized security hardware for the IoT market. It has recently shipped a crypto authentication device that has integrated the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) security protocol. Atmel’s ATECC508A chip provides confidentiality, data integrity and authentication in systems with MCUs or MPUs running encryption/decryption algorithms like AES in software.

4. Power of the Platform

The popularity of 8-bit AVR microcontrollers is a testament to the power of the platform; once you learn to work on one MCU, you can work on any of the AVR family microcontrollers. And same goes for Atmel’s Smart family of microcontrollers aimed for the IoT market. While ARM shows a similarity among its processors, Atmel exhibits the same trait in the use of its peripherals.

Low-power SAM L21 builds on features of SAM D MCUs.

A design engineer can conveniently work on Cortex-M3 and Cortex -M0+ processor after having learned the instruction set for Cortex-M4. Likewise, Atmel’s set of peripherals for low-power IoT applications complements the ARM core benefits. Atmel’s standard features like sleep modes, sleepwalking and event system are optimized for ultra-low-power use, and they can extend IoT battery lifetime from years to decades.

Atmel, a semiconductor outfit once focused on memory and standard products, began its transformation toward becoming an MCU company about eight years ago. That’s when it also started to build a broad portfolio of wireless connectivity solutions. In retrospect, those were all the right moves. Fast forward to 2015, Atmel seems ready to ride on the market wave created by the IoT technology juggernaut.

Interested? You may also want to read:

Atmel’s L21 MCU for IoT Tops Low Power Benchmark

Atmel’s New Car MCU Tips Imminent SoC Journey

Atmel’s Sensor Hub Ready to Wear

---

Majeed Ahmad is author of books Smartphone: Mobile Revolution at the Crossroads of Communications, Computing and Consumer Electronics and The Next Web of 50 Billion Devices: Mobile Internet’s Past, Present and Future.

Ottobox is a self-learning home automation system

---

This smart outlet will cut your electric bill in half.

---

One thing we just love about the Maker Movement is that it continues to spur innovation and drive young entrepreneurs to build their own prototypes, pitch their own products, and ultimately, establish their own businesses — and if they are lucky, be backed on a crowdfunding site. Just ask our friends 14-year-old Quin Etnyre and college student Pamungkas Sumasta, both of whom were able to exceed their initial pledge goals in recent months. Hoping to join that list of up-and-comers is 18-year-old Ameer Sami, who has devised a plug-and-play home automation device that is capable of learning a homeowner’s schedule in a matter of two weeks and cutting their electric bill in half.

The Ottobox accomplishes this feat by turning off appliances when they aren’t in use. This not only eliminates phantom electricity (which refers to the power devices draw when they are turned off but still plugged in), but reduces energy bills by up to 50%. Even better, there are no monthly fees.

Unfortunately, when a TV, printer, microwave and whatever other in-home appliances are plugged into the wall, they’re still consuming power — even when off. However, the Ottobox was designed to essentially act as a middleman between the outlet and the plug. How it works is pretty simple: First, a user downloads its accompanying app or accesses its web-based dashboard. From there, they plug any gizmo into the Ottobox and then insert the Ottobox into the wall outlet. What’s nice is that given its 1.5” x 1.5” x 4.25” size, the unit is compact enough to allow a user to fit two in a single outlet.

Each Ottobox is equipped with two USB ports, Wi-Fi that connects to a home network and enables users to remotely control and monitor their house, Bluetooth Low Energy for tracking and activating devices, an LED indicator surrounding a three-pronged plug for visual notifications, as well as an energy efficient ARM-based microcontroller. What’s more, the startup’s patent-pending technology is even able to learn a family’s habits and then control the household’s electricity accordingly.

As with countless other Maker projects, Sami began the prototyping process by employing an easy-to-use Arduino Uno (ATmega328) housed inside a 3D-printed enclosure before graduating to the ARM-based processor.

The question is: Are you ready to start saving on your electric bill? If so, head over to Ottobox’s Kickstarter page, where Sami and his team are currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is expected to begin in December 2015 — just in time for the holiday season! And for those of you wondering, the system is available internationally as it supports 120V, 220V and 230V outlets.

Report: 8.6 billion “things” to be conneccted in Asia/Pacific by 2020

---

By 2020, the total Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) market size will increase from $250 billion to $583 billion.  

---

The Asia/Pacific Internet of Things (IoT) industry will continue its strong growth with the number of connected units expected to increase from 3.1 billion to 8.6 billion by 2020. According to a new report from IDC, over this same period, the market size for the entire region excluding Japan (APeJ) will jump from $250 billion to $583 billion.

Charles Reed Anderson, AVP and Head of Mobility & Internet of Things at IDC Asia/Pacific, said the IoT industry has matured considerably over the past year, with a number of large government initiatives across APeJ, and China in particular, driving demand.

“This increase in market demand has led to an increased focus on IoT from leading ICT vendors, as well as startups – with each keen to grab their share of the growing IoT market.”

IDC’s IoT Market Forecast reveals that China will not only continue to dominate the Asia/Pacific region — accounting for 59% of the APeJ market opportunity by 2020 — but will be emerge as one of the leading markets throughout the world with nearly one out of every five units connected over the net five years to be in China. However, market size is not the same as market maturity. In fact, the top three “most mature markets” are South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, while China came in sixth out of the 13 APeJ Countries.

“High-level IoT market forecasts of information by region or country can be useful to certain audiences. It adds little value to those functional areas with more specific requirements. Sales and marketing, for instance, require IoT forecasts aligned to industry verticals so they can effectively set targets and tailor their go-to-market messaging; while product management requires IoT forecasts aligned to use cases such as digital signage so they can understand the addressable market for their solution portfolio across multiple industries,” adds Anderson.

The IoT market forecast also looks at which industries are leading the way with IoT. The government industry tops the charts, as national, regional and city governments aggressively try to leverage smarter solutions to drive new revenue streams, reduce costs and enhance citizen services as part of their smart government initiatives. What’s more, an even more recent study from IDC found that more than 50% of government agencies with direct citizen engagement missions will direct at least 25% of their programmatic budget to third platform technologies and IoT.

Other leading industries include utilities, discrete manufacturing, healthcare and retail.

“For the vendors looking at IoT, it is vital they understand which industries are driving the markets they are targeting as each country has its own unique drivers. Singapore’s leading industries, for instance, are telecoms, consumer and transport, none of which are ranked in the APeJ top five industries for market opportunity. Having this level of market knowledge will allow the vendor community to tailor their go-to-market messaging for each market and increase their chances of success.”

Want to learn more? Download the research firm’s entire report here.