Atmel Launches Ultra-Low-Power Connected Platform for Cost-Optimized IoT and Wearable Applications

Atmel Corporation launched a complete, ultra-low-power connected platform for cost-optimized applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable markets. The new platform features the world’s lowest power ARM Cortex-M0+, the Atmel | SMART SAM L21, and award-winning BTLC1000 Bluetooth SMART solution, making it the perfect solution for battery-operated applications requiring activity and environment monitoring.

Key components for the low-power connected platform—the Atmel | SMART SAM L21 MCU and the Atmel SMART Bluetooth solution—achieve industry-leading standards. The SAM L21 achieves a staggering ULPBench™ score of 185, the highest recorded score for any Cortex-M0+ while running the EEMBC® ULPBench, the industry marker for low power, with a power consumption down to 35µA/MHz in active mode and 200nA in sleep mode. Atmel’s Bluetooth SMART solution is 25% smaller than the closest competing solution packaged in a 2.2mm X 2.1mm Wafer Level Chipscale Package, enabling designers to build ultra-small industrial designs for next-generation connected IoT and wearable applications.

According to market research, the wearable electronics market will reach nearly $70 billion in 2025—compared to $20 billion in 2015—with the dominant sector in healthcare including medical, fitness and wellness. (IDTechEx, 2015*). With this forecasted growth, manufacturers for smart, connected wearable applications will require platforms that are low in power and easy-to-implement with basic features including a simple user interface, embedded processing for data collection and sensors for environmental tracking.

Atmel’s low-power connected platform is a design-ready unit showcasing the company’s broad portfolio of ultra-low-power smart, secure and connected products, and partner technologies. Embodied in a 30mm X 40mm form factor, the platform integrates the Atmel | SMART ultra-low power MCU, Bluetooth SMART low-energy connectivity, capacitive touch interface, security solution, complete software platform, real-time operating system (RTOS), a BHI160 6-axis SmartHub motion sensor and a BME280 environmental sensor from Bosch Sensortec. The platform can be powered by a simple coin cell utilizing extremely low power consumption, and manufacturers can also leverage Atmel’s extensive list of sensor partners.

To simplify the design process, the new platform is compatible with Atmel’s flagship Studio 7, an easy-to-use and complete integrated development environment, along with Atmel Start, the world’s first intuitive web-based platform for software configuration and code generation. This complete new ultra-low-power wearable platform will be showcased at the 2016 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6-9, 2016 in Atmel’s Meeting Room Area, South Hall 2, Booth #MP25760.

“As a leading provider of ultra-low power IoT solutions, we know that out-of-the-box, easy to implement reference platforms are a necessity to help accelerate the adoption of wearable applications, and enable a rapid time-to-market for new product ideas,” said Andreas Eieland, Director of Product Marketing for the Microcontroller Business Unit, Atmel Corporation. “Atmel’s new reference platform allows our customers to develop differentiated solutions for cost-optimized, yet competitive, markets including healthcare, fitness, wellness and much more. We continue to help drive the IoT and wearable market with simple, ultra-low power platforms with complete hardware and software solutions.”

Availability
The Atmel ultra-low-power wearable reference platform for cost-optimized applications will be showcased at CES 2016 January 6-9, 2016, in the Atmel Meeting Room Area, South Hall 2, Booth #MP25760.