ARM Community: High Performance Low Power MCUs for Talking, Washing and Flying - ARM Community

32-bit microcontrollers continue to move into more every day devices that demand the high performance that a 32-bit architecture can provide in the same power footprint as 8/16-bit architectures. Additionally, OEMs require cost effective solutions to meet consumers’ rising expectations. Consumers unknowingly use ARM microcontrollers every day in devices such as smartphones, washing machines and even airplanes. Embedded World 2011 (EW11) is showcasing innovative ARM-powered solutions meeting these demands from a multitude of ARM Connected Community Partners.

TI highlights MCUs in wireless
It’s no longer just Mobile World Congress where advances in smart mobile devices are discussed. Mobile phones of today are built with multiple, different processors to power applications and connectivity. Jean Anne Booth of Texas Instruments’ Stellaris group (Hall 11 stand 308, Hall 12 stand 436) chatted with Andrew Frame about how TI-powered, ARM Cortex-M3 based cores are the backbone of TI’s Bluetooth and Zigibee-based solutions used in wireless devices. One demo allows you to pair the Bluetooth to your mobile phone and then play audio over the Bluetooth. In the second demo, TI Stellaris evaluation robots maneuver using the same wireless interface across a football/ soccer field. Stop by and challenge Jean Anne to a game. You’ve got a fair chance of winning. Intrigued by the robot? Read more in TI’s recent blog and video Putting FUN in Function and Form in Evaluation Kits –TI’s EVALBOT



Smart energy with NXP in meters, lights and washing machines
NXP (Hall 12 stands 218 and 221) continues their tradition of educating us on how every day devices are powered by NXP’s ARM-based microcontrollers. NXP has the full line of ARM Cortex family processors (Cortex-M4, M3, M0) and has 3 demos home-based demos to showcase how to manage your energy usage with smart meters, lighting displays and a washing machine. The first demo, Smart Energy, using the Cortex-M0, allows full wireless connectivity so you can see your energy usage from a remote location. The second demo, Smart Bridge with a web server, using the Cortex-M3, wirelessly uploads meter readings to Google powermeter. In the Smart Building demo, there are networked lights with different example sensors (daylight, occupancy) powered by Cortex-M0 that can be remotely monitored and adjusted. The final demo, Smart Appliance using Cortex-M0, shows the inner workings of a washing machine. You can remotely monitor the power usage of the washing machine via Zigibee. If you haven’t seen an NXP-based, ARM Cortex-M3 powered Bosch coffee machine, the video from last year is worth the watch. Our every day appliances continue to grow in complexity and are powered by ARM-based microcontrollers.



HMI solutions from Microsemi that help us fly and drive
Microsemi (formerly Actel) (Hall 12 stand 329) demoed their latest SmartFusion devices which use analog, FPGA and digital Cortex-M3 based technology. Ever wonder how the altimeter in an airplane is powered? The first example is a commercially available cockpit for propeller airplanes using SmartFusion microcontroller technology. Did you know MCU technology might be enabling your automotive map display? The second demo shows an example of a LCD display and camera might be used when parking your car or for remote monitoring in a home security system.



ARM Embedded World News
Embedded World shows again how ARM Partners continue to innovate with ARM based cores. Interested in more? Check out my colleagues’ and Partners EW11 related blogs:
Embedded World: Driven by Innovation of ARM Partners
Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 Announces Another Investment in ARM
The Low Cost, Mass Market Connected Home is Finally Here
Hold the Front Page! ARM Partner News Avalanche at Embedded World
ARM Ecosystem Gets Smart at Embedded World
ARM & Embedded Labs: Refining Industrial Automation at EW2011
Time to Spice Up Embedded
ARM Cortex-M4 Struts its Stuff at Embedded World

I can’t wait to see what more videos from EW2011 tomorrow. Maybe I’ll learn again how ARM technology is powering gadgets I use every day.

After EW2011, we’ll continue the embedded discussion in our new community: Embedded. Gary Atkinson’s gives a short introduction on how the Embedded Community aims help you.

Lori Kate Smith, Sr. Manager Community Programs, ARM, has the best job at ARM because she gets to work with ARM Partners developing programs that enable broader support for the ARM architecture in her role of managing the ARM Connected Community. She’s passionate about creating communities where engineers can share information, find answers to their questions and talk about cool technologies. Prior to ARM, Lori Kate spent time in multiple different industries including EDA (Cadence, Verisity, Axis Systems), Enterprise Software and dot bomb (HelloBrain), and wireless (Metricom (Ricochet), AT&T, and MCCaw Cellular equally splitting her time between every marketing and buz dev role you can imagine and major account sales. If there’s a new technology to launch or sell, she’s game. Lori Kate even managed to get a few degrees at Santa Clara University (MBA) and Middlebury College (BA.)