Page 43 - EE Times Europe Magazine | June2020

EE|Times EUROPE — Sensors Insert 43

MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS
MEMS Multi-Sensor Kit Targets IoT Developers

from Novices to Pros

By Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio

TMicroelectronics’ STEVAL-MKSBOX1V1 SensorTile.box
wireless multi-sensor development kit lets users design IoT and
industrial applications based on wearable, environmental, and
Sremote motion sensors. The SensorTile.box builds on the expe-
rience ST has gained since its 2016 release of the SensorTile module
and associated SensorTile Curriculum, an open-source, university-level
introductory course developed in collaboration with the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and still available today.
ST’s stated aim for the SensorTile modules and classes are twofold.
The first is to support students around the world in learning about the
broad applications of sensors in everyday life through IoT technology.
The second is to develop the modules further to enhance power and
ease of use in order to bring more devices to the internet of things.
SensorTile.box (Figure 1) thus takes a leap forward over its predecessor.

Figure 3: Application possibilities (Image: STMicroelectronics)

many predefined IoT applications (Figure 3), non-professional pro-
grammers can use it to create wireless IoT projects and wearable sensor
applications quickly and easily. When connected to a smartphone via
Bluetooth Low Energy, the IoT plug-and-play module lets users observe
and calculate the data detected by the sensors, including step counts,
trajectory, speed and distance traveled, and environmental monitoring
data such as altitude, humidity, temperature, and pressure. For more
experienced designers, SensorTile.box offers a development model that
Figure 1: allows sophisticated applications to be created using graphical wizards,
The SensorTile.box along with the ability to write custom embedded code.
development board (Image: STMicroelectronics)
THREE USAGE MODES
SensorTile.box lets developers of all skill levels, including home The development kit can be used in entry, expert, or pro mode to
hobbyists, easily experiment with designs for IoT applications. Starting accommodate the full range of potential user groups.
from a small, 5 × 3-cm board, you can design and program an IoT solu- Entry mode, as the name implies, is for non-experts. The simple and
tion to perform a range of practical tasks and procedures. For example, intuitive graphical interface allows activation and reading of various
you could monitor a child sleeping in the next room with the digital sensors and applications, including step counting, vibration monitor-
microphone, check the temperature and humidity in the home environ- ing, audio recording, a compass, and a baby monitor.
ment, or assess the working conditions of a machine by monitoring Expert mode does not require knowledge of integrated development
its vibrations. environments (IDEs) or C language programming. It allows you to cre-
The STEVAL-MKSBOX1V1 IoT node is ready for immediate use. It is ate applications by selectively activating some of the available sensors
delivered with a 500-mAh lithium and to use machine learning to generate inferences. Sensors available
battery and an 8-GB microSD board in expert mode to achieve more complex implementations include a
already installed. The integrated digital temperature sensor, six-axis inertial units, three-axis acceler-
sensors leverage ST’s extensive ometers, three-axis magnetometers, altimeters, pressure sensors, audio
and proven set of microelectrome- sensors, and humidity sensors. It is an interesting opportunity for those
chanical system (MEMS) devices. who want to start using IoT platforms.
SensorTile.box fits into an IP54 Pro mode is for experienced professionals who want to program
plastic enclosure measuring applications within an IDE. SensorTile.box includes an interface for
57 × 38 × 20 mm (Figure 2). firmware programming and debugging that allows professional users
Connections are made via Bluetooth. Figure 2: The box to develop complex software for powerful applications. The STM32
Because SensorTile.box supports (Image: STMicroelectronics) open development environment (STM32 ODE) is used for this purpose.

www.eetimes.eu | JUNE 2020