LoRa Kit for Wireless IoT Devices Based on STM32 Ecosystem Launched

STMicroelectronics (hereinafter ST) has released the P-NUCLEO-LRWAN1, a low-cost development kit that enables the development of IoT prototypes based on LoRa™ WLPWAN (Wireless Low-Power Wide Area Network) connectivity using the STM32 microcontroller ecosystem.

The P-NUCLEO-LRWAN1 kit is priced at around $40, but it features an ultra-low power STM32L073 Nucleo (NUCLEO-L073RZ) board and an RF expansion board based on the Semtech LoRa transceiver SX1272 (I-NUCLEO-SX1272D).

Equipped with power-efficient ARM® Cortex®-M0+ cores and proprietary ultra-low power features, the STM32L073 MCU is ideal for devices such as meters, alarm systems, location tracking devices, trackers, and remote sensors. Its functionality can be further expanded by adding expansion boards, such as the X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 sensor board for motion, humidity, and temperature sensing.

LoRa is a long-distance communication network that offers advantages such as low power consumption and lower costs compared to existing cellular networks. It also features a variety of functions, including multiple communication modes, accurate indoor/outdoor location recognition, and AEX-128 security.

It includes all the elements necessary for implementing a bidirectional terminal compatible with LoRaWAN version 1.0.1 and supports Class A and Class C protocols. Terminal devices can be activated via OTAA (Over-The-Air Activation) or ABP (Activation-By-Personalization). An application for LoRaWAN certification testing is included, and the I-CUBE-LRWAN LoRaWAN stack is also available on the relevant website (www.st.com/i-cube-lrwan).

Through the STM32 ecosystem, you can utilize a wealth of development resources, including software packages such as sample code and Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL), as well as STM32Cube tools. Additionally, it is possible to port to over 700 STM32 MCUs boasting diverse performance, power, package, and price ranges. It is also possible to use familiar IDEs and the free ARM mbed™ online tool.

Various engineers, including freelance developers, university students, and hobby developers, can try developing high-end LoRa while taking advantage of the low cost of the P-NUCLEO-LRWAN1 kit. This kit is currently on sale and can be purchased directly through st.com or distributors.