06.13.19
STMicroelectronics will demonstrate its IoT solutions for industrial applications at Embedded Technology West, Grand Front Osaka, June 13-14, 2019.
ST’s centerpiece Smart Industry demo shows the increasing potential for collaboration among humans, robots, and facilities. Other key ST exhibits focus on Industrial IoT (IIoT) and embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ST’s Smart Industry demonstration integrates a humanoid robot, a robot arm, and a belt conveyor equipped with a range of functions including face recognition, voice control, AI-based image recognition, vibration detection, and cloud connection working together under the direction of an operator.
The demo uses a broad range of STM32 microcontrollers, motion sensors, ranging sensors, MEMS microphones, and a Bluetooth Low Energy IC, in addition to ST development boards, including the BlueCoin sensor development board, the STM32 Nucleo board, the X-NUCLEO function extension board, and an industrial multi-sensor development kit.
Smart industrial systems require technologies that enable constant, accurate monitoring. At Embedded Technology West, ST will feature a demo on detection of mechanical vibrations caused by motor malfunctions. Another demo will show noise detection of ultrasonic frequencies from gas leaks in high-pressure pipes. Both demos use ST’s industrial IoT development kit equipped with an STM32 microcontroller, accelerometer, MEMS microphone, and other components. This development kit enables proactive maintenance of manufacturing equipment as it detects the slightest changes at early stages of failure – before major damage or expenses occur. ST will also showcase its new IoT Plug-and-Play module for Sensor-to-Cloud connectivity, SensorTile.Box.
The growth of IIoT puts increasing demand on communication lines and cloud servers. ST’s AI technologies embedded in STM32 general-purpose microcontrollers reduce the bandwidth needed by performing processing on the edge side. ST’s embedded-AI demos include human-activity recognition based on information captured by motion sensors. ST will also demonstrate how to configure a logic circuit to recognize motion and vibration-patterns on a 6-axis motion sensor with a machine-learning core. Users can install a decision tree using the Company’s proprietary Unico GUI for IMUs.
Technologies underlying today’s industrial systems require ‘real-time’ operation as well as increased graphic performance to improve operability. This will be demonstrated using the STM32MP1, the first microprocessor in the STM32 family. This microprocessor, which supports Linux, uses a multi-core architecture combining Arm Cortex-A and Cortex-M cores and achieves both high-speed computing and graphical processing for industrial devices alongside energy-efficient real-time control. Another demo shows, on a 10-inch display, an advanced user interface created with ST’s TouchGFX software installed on an STM32 microcontroller.
Powerful connectivity technologies are essential for networking with industrial IoT devices in factories, logistics facilities, or construction sites, and other such places. ST’s wide-area logistics tracker uses a sub-GHz communication chipset that supports the Sigfox Monarch global roaming technology. This product allows long-range communication with ultra-low power consumption, enabling real-time acquisition of location information and asset management without using high-cost positioning systems such as GNSS. In short-range communication, ST will show its LED lighting-control solution based on a Bluetooth 5 application processor capable of forming a mesh network with multiple devices within a factory.
The ST booth at Embedded Technology West will also show many other products and technologies including STM32 microcontrollers, secure microcontrollers, an accelerometer with a time-division multiplexing interface, ranging sensors, an NFC reader/writer IC, a wireless charging IC, a USB Power Delivery controller, a motor controller, electronic fuses, and SiC devices. Furthermore, in order to support prototype development for IoT devices, ST will distribute its STM32 Nucleo development boards as well as X-NUCLEO expansion boards equipped with motion and environmental sensors, RF ICs, and motor drivers.
